In Islam, mothers are encouraged to breastfeed for two full years (24 months), as recommended in the Quran, but it's a flexible guideline, not a strict mandate, allowing parents to mutually decide on weaning earlier for valid reasons, with the father obligated to support the mother throughout the process. While two years is the ideal, some traditions suggest 21 months as a minimum for full benefits, and weaning beyond two years is generally permissible if needed, though not the primary recommendation.
Breastfeeding has a religious basis in Islam and it is recommended that the mother suckle her offspring for 2 years if possible.
Most Muslims see breastfeeding as the God (Allah) given right of the child according to the rules of Shariah (Islamic Law). The religious laws regarding breastfeeding are all from the Quran and give parents a degree of flexibility and choice.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend continued breastfeeding along with introducing appropriate complementary foods for up to 2 years or longer.
Quran and hadith
Breastfeeding is implied as a basic Maternal bond in Quran 22:2, which considers a mother neglecting nursing of her child as an unusual sign. Breastfeeding is considered a basic right of every infant, according to the Qur'an. Quran 2:233.
As for the question whether a mother can breastfeed past the two years, the answer is: there is nothing in the sources to indicate that it is wrong to do so. So, parents are free to do so if they deem it conducive to the wellbeing of their child.
The "777 Rule in Islam" primarily refers to a parenting philosophy based on dividing a child's upbringing into three seven-year stages: 0-7 years (play, love, bonding); 7-14 years (teaching, discipline, character building); and 14-21 years (mentorship, guidance, treating them as friends/companions). This framework, rooted in prophetic guidance, emphasizes intentional connection and age-appropriate engagement to raise balanced, resilient Muslim children, contrasting with a simpler "7-minute rule" for daily connection.
The 5-3-3 rule is a baby sleep training method for night weaning, suggesting a baby sleeps 5 hours after bedtime, then is fed if they wake after 3 more hours, and then sleeps another 3 hours before morning, using non-feeding soothing methods for earlier wakings to encourage longer stretches, though it's often used for older babies as a guideline for gradual feeding reduction rather than strict adherence, says Reddit users and Momcozy. It's a middle ground, allowing for comfort while reducing night feeds, but always consult a pediatrician, as it's not for newborns and should adapt to your baby's needs, say Reddit users and Momcozy.
Coco Austin defended her choice to breastfeed her and husband Ice-T's daughter Chanel, now 9, until she was 6 years old, saying it was an opportunity to bond.
Rule #2: The Breast Milk Storage Guidelines.
The 4-4-4 Rule. Or the 6-6-6 rule. Basically, breast milk is good at room temperature for 4 or 6 hours, in the refrigerator for 4 or 6 days, and in the freezer for 4 or 6 or 12 months. Different professional organizations have varying recommendations.
Muslim mothers explained adopting several coping strategies for breastfeeding in public, such as using nursing covers, and shopping at stores with breastfeeding rooms. However, they noted, feeding infants food and drinks alternatively was always an easier option: Aaysha: : '…
It is haram to drink one's wife's milk because it's impure for the husband. Only a child can benefit from a mother's milk, as outlined by the Faqaha. It is unlawful to take benefit from a human body is unlawful.
① Raḍāʿat al-Kabīr (breastfeeding an adult) is not a general ruling in Islam. ② The case of Sahlah and Sālim was a specific exception granted by the Prophet ﷺ. ③ The ḥadīth is authentic and well-accepted by the scholars of ḥadīth.
Galactorrhea (say "guh-lak-tuh-REE-uh") happens when a teen's breasts make milk but she is not pregnant. The milk may leak from one or both breasts. Sometimes milk leaks only when the breast is touched. At other times, milk leaks without any touching.
If women are exclusively breastfeeding their babies, they are not expected to fast during Ramadan. Most Muslim scholars believe that women who are breastfeeding have permission not to fast.
The World Health Organization recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months, then gradually introduced to appropriate foods after 6 months while continuing to breastfeed for 2 years or beyond. Stopping breastfeeding is called weaning.
The "4-4-4 rule" for breast milk is a simple storage guideline: fresh milk is good for 4 hours at room temperature (up to 77°F/25°C), for 4 days in the refrigerator (39°F/4°C or colder), and up to 4-6 months (or longer) in a standard freezer (0°F/-18°C). It's a handy mnemonic, though some organizations like the CDC recommend up to 6 months in the freezer and the AAP up to 9 months, with deeper freezers offering even longer storage.
Kourtney Kardashian has revealed she's still breastfeeding her two-year-old son, Rocky.
Although extended breastfeeding is not the social norm in the United States, and is in fact almost taboo in Western cultures, it is normal to breastfeed children until 2- to 5-years-of-age in many parts of the world.
Most experts agree that breastfeeding through the first year of life is most beneficial to your baby. After that, babies often lose interest in breastfeeding because they are becoming more mobile. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for the first 2 years of life.
1. Demand is Equal to Supply: The principle of demand and supply is fundamental to breastfeeding. The more your baby nurses, the more signals your body receives to produce milk.
In order to achieve optimal young child growth and development, WHO recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life (1). Thereafter, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond (2).
Islamic parenting is an approach to child-rearing based on Islamic values, derived from the Quran, Hadith, and the life practices of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Baumrind divides parenting styles into three categories: authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative (democratic).
Major sins: Al-Kaba'ir
Hard on self-esteem: We know that yelling and harsh parenting are associated with lower self-esteem for kids, and can affect their performance in school. Kids who are the object of verbal aggression are at risk for aggressive or disruptive behavior.