وَالْوَالِدٰتُ يُرْضِعْنَ اَوْلَادَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ لِمَنْ اَرَادَ اَنْ يُّتِمَّ الرَّضَاعَةَ وَعَلَى الْمَوْلُوْدِ لَهٗ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوْفِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ اِلَّا وُسْعَهَا لَا تُضَآرَّ وَالِدَةٌ ۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوْلُوْدٌ لَّهٗ بِوَلَدِه وَعَلَى الْوَارِثِ مِثْلُ ذٰ لِكَ فَاِنْ اَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِّنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا وَاِنْ اَرَدْتُّمْ اَنْ تَسْتَرْضِعُوْٓا اَوْلَادَكُمْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ اِذَا سَلَّمْتُمْ مَّآ اٰتَيْتُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوْفِ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَاعْلَمُوْٓا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِيْرٌ (233)
Quran Ayah Data not found….for Surah:2, Ayah:233 and Translation:24
Quran Surah:2 Ayah:233
“233. Mothers (should) suckle theirchildren for two full years, for onewho wants to complete the (period of)suckling. It is the obligation of the oneto whom the child belongs that heprovides food and clothing for them(the mothers) with fairness. Nobody isobligated beyond his capacity. Nomother shall be made to suffer onaccount of her child, nor the man towhom the child belongs, on account ofhis child. Likewise responsibility (ofsuckling) lies on the (one who maybecome an) heir (of the child). Now, ifthey want to wean, with mutualconsent and consultation, there is nosin on them. And If you want to getyour children suckled (by a wetnurse),there is no sin on you whenyou pay off what you are to give withfairness, and fear Allah, and beassured that Allah is watchful of what you do.”
In the verses appearing above, many instructions have been given for the parents as well as they are obligated to these injunctions in order to safeguard the rights of their offspring against violation. Some of them are as follows:
- Since, the separation taking place between parents causes a gravest effect of their child specially when he is a baby in the sense that his mother goes to her father’s house while his father is not capable of nurturing him, as a consequence, the baby is subject to undergo many troubles and hardships.
It is for this reason that, in order to save the child from bad effect in such hard condition, Allah, the Almighty gave some instructions to his parents with regard to his upbringing.
As for mother, she is instructed to suckle her baby if necessary after the separation or divorce given by her husband. She has no right to refuse suckling her child due to her hostility or displeasure with her husband since that is the due right of her child, or else, she will be a sinner. And the same instruction applies to the husband that if required, keeping aside the displeasure, he must pay her wife for suckling their baby – so that the baby is not deprived of the milk of his real mother as no other diet can compensate it.
- Another instruction for the parents of a baby contained in this verse is that the period of suckling a baby isحَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ‘full two years’. Obviously, the restriction added by Allah to suckle full two years carries some importance as a baby naturally demands it.
It is also based on the experiences carried out by the doctors and scientists that the basic stage for the healthy and wholesome growth of a baby is the first initial two years after his birth. If he is developed well during this period and the baby is saved from all possible dangers, the next stage too will certainly prove well for his growth and he will be saved against all kinds of severe deceases.
During this period, moderate diet and sufficient care plays an important role in the well growth of the baby which is not possible from anyone else beside his real mother, since the milk of mother is considered to be the best and most moderate diet which is safe from all types of bacteria, rather, is supposed to be bactericide. Hence, it is recommended to suckle the baby till the completion of this two years period.
These days, the way the mothers are avoiding to suckle her baby with view to care her health is absolutely against Islamic teachings and harmful for baby’s health. It is based on a research that doing so is not harmful for only the baby but also for mother. The women practicing this way are soon subject to complex problems like breast-cancer and so on. Hence, even to save themselves, they must avoid behaving their child in this way. As for safeguarding the beauty, it is out of question without good health.
- The saying: وَعَلَي الْمَوْلُوْدِ لَهٗ رِزْقُهُنَّalso contains an instruction as to ascribe the baby to his father because it is the lineage which comes from father and guarantees one’s accurate genealogy. Thus, the baby possesses an authentic standard socially. It is something which determines the respect, honour and dignity of a man. Hence, the lineage must be declared in its clear form rather than keeping it ambiguous.
There is a sever warning and admonition for those who ascribe their lineage wrongly. It is narrated on the authority of HazratSaee’d bin Jubair (R.T.A.) that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Paradise is haram (forbidden) on one who ascribes his lineage to one other than his father even knowing that he is not his real father.’ (Bukhari & Muslim) As it also appears in another tradition: ‘Never avoid ascribing your lineage to your real father, as doing so amounts to disbelief.’ (Bukhari)
As the lineage means a permanent reference of one’s genealogy, it must remain in the same condition even after one gets married. It is totally wrong to ascribe your lineage to your husbands imitating the western culture, since it causes the adulteration in one’s lineage. Allah, the Almighty commands us:
اُدْعُوْهُمْ لِاٰبَآئِهِمْ هُوَ اَقْسَطُ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ فَاِنْ لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوْۤا اٰبَآءَهُمْ فَاِخْوَانُكُمْ فِى الدِّيْنِ وَمَوَالِيْكُمْ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ فِيْمَاۤ اَخْطَاْ تُمْ بِه وَلٰكِنْ مَّا تَعَمَّدَتْ قُلُوْبُكُمْ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِيْمًا (5)
Quran Ayah Data not found….for Surah:33, Ayah:5 and Translation:24
Quran Surah:33 Ayah:5
“Call them by (the name of) their(real) fathers; It is more equitable inthe sight of Allah. And if you do notknow their fathers, then they are yourbrothers in faith and your friends.There is no sin on you in the mistakeyou make, but in that which you dowith intention of your heart; and Allahis Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.”
- Later, in the subject verse, it is said وَعَلَي الْوَارِثِ مِثْلُ ذٰلِكَ, though there is no instruction for the parents but it does apply to the principle of safeguarding the rights of children, that is, those who are entitled to be inheritors of the child, if his parents die, would be the ones responsible for his sustenance. Everyone will share this responsibility in proportion to their share in the inheritance.
But, in contrast to it, these days the inheritors are ever ready when it comes to receive their share when comes to its distribution. But, they avoid it when it is the time of accepting responsibility of baby’s sustenance. Indeed, this is something absolutely contrary to both Islamic teachings and human nature. Besides receiving one’s right, he must be also prepared to accept his responsibility. May Allah, the Almighty grant us Taufique to observe this injunction too! (Ameen!)