[ms] Breastfeeding and Milk Bank According to Islam

Abstract

Breastfeeding is proven to help mental and physical growth of children. Significance and privileges of breast milk has been recognized in Islam as well by researchers of medical science and nutrition. This article aims to discuss pillars and rights to breastfeed in Islam and also on the issue of establishing milk bank in Islam.The research methodology used is content analysis that focuses on related books of fiqh. The discussion discovers that there are three pillas of breastfeeding in Islam, they are women who breastfeed, breast-fed infant and the father of the infant. The discussion on issues of breastfeeding as children’s rights, mother’s rights and father’s rights is discussed based on arguments of Muslim scholars. Discussion discovers that Islam does not merely recognize the advantages of mother’s milk but also emphasizes on the issue of conviction of consanguinity due to breastfeeding. Thus the issue of setting up milk banks is prohibited in Malaysia, to avoid the problem of determining the lineage. Further Islam recognizes that breastfeeding is the right of the child, but is not compulsory for mother to breast feed her child because discussion of breastfeeding has specified on certain rights of the child and the mother. Husband’s right is to prohibit his wife to breastfeed the children of others in order to get side incomes. Thus the husband has no right to prevent his wife to breastfeed their children and also children of his wife with ex-husband.