Chapter 9

Breastfeeding
Food for the Newborn Child
Allh (swt) has placed food and water for the child in the body of the mother, and has
created an amazing system of feeding the newborn child in a manner which is perfect and
most beneficial.
It is narrated from Imm as-Sdiq (as) !"h #other of Ishq, don$t feed the child from
%&st one breast, b&t feed from both, as one is the s&bstit&te for food, and the other is a
s&bstit&te for water.'()*+,
In another tradition, it is narrated from the -rophet (s) !Allh (swt) has placed the
s&stenance (rizq) of the child in the two breasts of the mother, in one is his water, and in
the other his food.'()./,
As we are now on the s&b%ect of directly feeding the newborn child from the mother, it is
once again necessary to mention and highlight the importance of hall income, the paying
of 0h&ms and 1a2t, the &se of p&re and hall food by the mother and its effect on the
child. Allh (swt) has mentioned the necessity of eating hall and good food se3eral times
in the 4oble 5&r$an().6, and traditions ha3e clearly highlighted that lac2 of adherence to
this is one of the main ca&ses of bad A2hlq, aggression and oppression. It has e3en been
cited as the ca&se of the lac2 of heed paid to Imm 7&sain (as) by the enemy and th&s,
the tragedy of 0erbal.
-ertaining to the effects of eating harm food, the -rophet (s) has narrated !83ery time a
bite of harm food enters the stomach of a person, all the angels of the hea3ens and the
earth send c&rses on him, and &ntil the time that the harm bite is in his stomach, Allh
(swt) does not loo2 in his direction. 83ery person that eats a bite of harm food is
gathering ca&ses of Allh (swt)$s wrath. 9hen, if he repents, Allh (swt) accepts his
repentance and if he lea3es this world witho&t repentance, he is deser3ing of the fire (of
hell).'().:,
Three Examples
In order to highlight the abo3e, as well as some recommended methods of breastfeeding
and their conseq&ences, three e;amples of the li3es of o&r scholars ha3e been mentioned
below
6. It was said to the mother of Shay2h Ansr<, one of the hono&rable Sh<=a scholars
!#sh-Allh (swt), what a good child ha3e yo& gi3en to society>' 9he mother replied
!I had higher e;pectations of my son beca&se I ga3e him mil2 for two years and I was
ne3er witho&t ?&d@. ?hen my child cried in the middle of the night and wanted mil2, I
got &p, did ?&d@, and then ga3e my child mil2.'().),
:. It was as2ed of the mother of #&qaddas Ardab<li, that what is the ca&se of the high
stat&s of yo&r sonA She replied !I ne3er ate a do&btf&l bit (of food), before gi3ing mil2
to the child I did ?&d@, I ne3er loo2ed at a non-mahram (someone with whom marriage
is permissible), and after his weaning, I endea3o&red in his training, obser3ed cleanliness
and p&rity and made him sit with good children.'().B,
). 7a% Shei2h Cadhl&llh 4@r<, an esteemed #&%tahid who was h&ng in his time, had a
child who was the type of person who tried to get his father e;ec&ted. "ne of the great
scholars reports I went to meet #arh&m 4@r< in %ail and as2ed him, !9his son of yo&rs
sho&ld ha3e been the son of a gentleman, and an e;cellent inheritor of yo&rs. ?hy is he
so low that he spea2s badly of yo& and is e3en happy with yo&r e;ec&tionA'
#arh&m 4@r< replied !Des, I 2new this and had this 3ery fear.' 7e then contin&ed !9his
child was born in 4a%af. ?hen he came into this world, his mother became sic2 and co&ld
not prod&ce breast mil2. ?e were forced to get a wet n&rse so as to gi3e him mil2. After
a while of breastfeeding, we realised that this woman is corr&pt (not of a good nat&re),
and on top of that, an enemy of Imm =Al< (as) and the Ahl&l Eayt (as). At that time, the
warning bells started ringing for me.'
At the time of the e;ec&tion of his father, his son stood and appla&ded along with other
foolish people, and he too e3ent&ally deli3ered a son to society who is none other than
4o&reddin 0ian&ri the leader of 7izb-e 9&de (Iranian Fomm&nist -arty)().*,G this is the
son of the 3ery person who clapped at the e;ec&tion of his father.()..,
Reward of Breastfeeding
9here are many traditions narrating the rewards of breastfeeding, s&ch as those narrated
in the Importance of #otherhood section in Fhapter *, where the breastfeeding mother
has been li2ened to one who fights for Allh (swt) , and if she dies d&ring this time, she
attains the reward of a martyr.
Importance of Breast Milk
It is narrated from the -rophet (s) !Cor a child, there is no mil2 better than the mil2 of
the mother.'().H, 9he -rophet (s) has also said that there is nothing that can ta2e the
place of food and water e;cept mil2.().I, Ji2ewise, it is narrated from Imm =Al< (as)
that for a child, there is no mil2 that has more blessings than the mil2 of a mother.().+,
Ereastfeeding is not only feeding yo&r child, b&t is the e;change of lo3e and
strengthening of the so&l. ?hen the child is feeding, heKshe can hear the so&nd of the
mother$s heart and this leads to rela;ation and calmness. Ereastfed children tend to be
healthier and so&nder in terms of bodily and spirit&al health and psychologists belie3e
that breastfeeding 2eeps children happy and content and e3en has an effect on their
A2hlq.
Eeing breastfed is one of the rights of a child and is also co&nted as the right of a mother,
and has been strongly recommended in the 4oble 5&r$an and traditions. Indeed, its
benefits are widely accepted in the world today. "f co&rse, it sho&ld be 2ept in mind that
breastfeeding is only recommended if it does not pose any ris2 to mother or child.
Benefits of Breast Milk[!"#
6. Ereast mil2 contains all the necessary ingredients that the child needs in the first B-.
months of life.
:. Ereast mil2 contains the s&itable proteins and fats to satisfy the nat&ral needs of the
child.
). 9here are higher q&antities of lactose in breast mil2 than other types of mil2, as this is
what is needed by the child.
B. 9here are eno&gh 3itamins in the breast mil2, ens&ring that no e;tra 3itamins or fr&it
%&ices are needed.
*. 9he iron in breast mil2 is eno&gh for the child. 83en tho&gh the le3els are not 3ery
high, the child$s ability to absorb the necessary amo&nt is 3ery good.
.. Ereast mil2 contains eno&gh water for the child, e3en if one li3es in a dry climate.
H. Ereast mil2 contains eno&gh salt, calci&m and phosphate for the child.
I. Ereast mil2 contains the enzyme lipase that digests fats.
+. 9he breastfed child is less s&sceptible to infections d&e to increased imm&nity.
6/. Ereast mil2 is the most important protector against two main ca&ses of death among
children diarrhetic illnesses and
respiratory infections.
66. Eeing breast fed red&ces illnesses res&lting from allergies s&ch as asthma, eczema,
etc, and helps pre3ent or red&ce some diseases when the child is in the teenage years and
abo3e.
6:. Liabetes and some digesti3e problems are fo&nd less in breast fed children.
6). Ereast feeding helps ill children reco3er fasterG therefore, it is important that it is not
stopped d&ring this time.
6B. Ereast mil2 is easy and q&ic2 to digest, therefore, breastfed children tend to get
h&ngry faster than children fed on other types of mil2.
6*. Ereast mil2 is always ready and has no need for any preparation.
6.. Ereast mil2 ne3er spoils or becomes so&r, e3en if the child hasn$t fed for a few days.
6H. Meg&lar feeding, and feeding when the child desires it, pre3ents conception.
6I. 9he reg&lar contact between mother and child in the first days of its life increases the
spirit&al and physical bond between the two, leading to a deep and lo3ing relationship
and better training and fostering of the child.
6+. Ereast mil2 doesn$t req&ire any e;penses.
:/. Ereastfed children de3elop sight and tal2ing and wal2ing s2ills faster.
:6. 9he s&c2ing of the child soon after birth ca&ses the stim&lation of o;ytocin which
res&lts in the contraction of the womb, and th&s less bleeding from the mother.
::. #others that breastfeed are less li2ely to get breast or o3ary cancer.
:). Ereastfeeding women ret&rn to their pre-pregnancy body sooner, as their maternal fat
is being &sed &p faster.
:B. Ereast mil2 of the mother changes according to the daily needs of the child. 9here are
also differences between mothers depending on the needs of their children, e.g. the mil2
of a mother of a premat&re child and the mil2 of a mother of a f&ll term child.
:*. Ereastfed childfcren are more intelligent e3en as newborns (i.e. the first fo&r wee2s of
their li3es). Mesearch has shown that these children mo3e more in the first two wee2s and
show more reactions than other children.
:.. Ad&lts who were breastfed tend to be more stable and temperate by nat&re.
Recommended Time $eriod of Breastfeeding
Allh (swt) mentions in S&rat al-Eaqarah, Nerse :))
%

! "

&
Mothers shall suckle their children for two full years, - that for such as desire to
complete the suckling.
And in S&rat al-Ahqf, Nerse 6*, 7e states
% #

&

'

&

(
)

* &
And his gestation and weaning take thirty months
As o&tlined in the abo3e 3erses, the recommended time in Islam for breastfeeding is
appro;imately two years. It is also apparent from traditions, that the period of
breastfeeding of Imm 7&sain (as) was also :B months.()H6,
9he Ahl&l Eayt (as) ha3e se3eral recommendations on the period of breastfeeding. In
some traditions, it has been narrated that breastfeeding for less than :6 months is co&nted
as oppression and aggression against the child.()H:, In other traditions, breastfeeding for
:6 months is seen as necessary and a m&st.()H), Similarly, it is narrated in traditions that
breastfeeding for more than two years is also forbidden.()HB,
Recommended 'cts[!(#
6. 9he mother sho&ld ha3e taqwa (piety), and sho&ld be caref&l that the mil2 sho&ld not
be contaminated d&e to lac2 of piety and 3irt&e. 8specially d&ring the period of
breastfeeding, one sho&ld stay away from all types of sin. #&stahab acts and closeness to
Allh (swt) ha3e positi3e effects on the child.
:. Say !Eismillah' before starting to breastfeed. It is narrated from the -rophet (s) !Any
important and 3al&able act that is carried o&t witho&t the dhi2r !Eismillahi Mahmani-
Mahim,' will be imperfect and witho&t a (good) concl&sion.'
). Ereastfeed the child with the remembrance of Imm 7&sain (as), as it is narrated from
the Imm !"h my Sh<=a, e3ery time yo& drin2 wholesome water, remember me.'
B. At the time of breastfeeding, loo2 at the child and tal2 to himKher. In partic&lar, tal2ing
abo&t the martyrdom and birth of the #a$s@m<n (as) is recommendedG do not be worried
abo&t whether the child &nderstands or not. A mother who wants to pass on the c&lt&re
and traditions of the Ahl&l Eayt (as) to her child needs to ha3e the c&lt&re of the religion
herself and implement this when training and feeding her child.
*. -atience and rela;ation, anger and hot-temperedness, healthy and &n-healthy tho&ghts,
genero&s disposition and 2indness and st&bbornness and re3engef&lness all ha3e an effect
on the child. It is important to remember that the f&t&re of the child is in the hands of
yo&r actions.
.. 8ach day of the wee2, carry o&t yo&r daily d&ties s&ch as coo2ing, cleaning, eating and
breastfeeding, with the remembrance of the #a$s@m<n (as) of that day, as specified in
#afatih&l Oinan
Sat&rday -rophet #&hammad (s).
S&nday Imm =Al< (as) and 7adrat Ctima (as).
#onday Imm 7asan and Imm 7&sain I.
9&esday Imm 1ain al-$Abid<n, Imm #&hammad al-Eqir (as) and Imm Oa$far as-
Sdiq (as) (as).
?ednesday Imm #@s al-0dim, Imm =Al< al-Mid, Imm #&hammad al-9aq< and
Imm =Al< al-4aq< (as).
9h&rsday Imm 7asan al-$As2ar< (as).
Criday Imm #ahd< (as).
H. As recommended by the -rophet (s), begin yo&r actions with 5&r$an, and
remembrance of Allh (swt) and the Ahl&l Eayt (as) (incl&ding L&$a al-Cara% for Imm
#ahd< (as)).
I. 9han2 and praise Allh (swt) after breastfeeding
+. Pltimately, carry o&t all yo&r actions, especially breastfeeding, with the intention of
see2ing Allh (swt)$s pleas&re and closeness.
)eaning[!*#
It is necessary to remind the reader that altho&gh there are many recommended methods
of weaning, this man&al only mentions a few that ha3e been ha3e been mentioned in
Islamic so&rces and by the Ahl&l Eayt (as)
6. Lo not &se harshness with the child, and stay away from techniq&es li2e r&bbing spices
on the breast, etc.
:. ?hen a child insists on breastfeeding, do not chase himKher away from yo&.
). ?ith attention to the fact that breastfeeding is not only a so&rce of food b&t a so&rce of
closeness and comfort for the child as well, it is important that along with adeq&ate food
replacements, adeq&ate lo3e and q&ality time with the child are pro3ided as well.
B. Fhoosing a good time and place for the beginning and end of all acts, especially those
with importance and 3al&e, is one of the techniq&es of the scholars of Islam. 9herefore, it
is only appropriate that for the weaning of a child from s&ch an important act as
breastfeeding, a good place and time is chosen, and acted &pon by ta2ing into acco&nt the
readiness of the child and presentation of a good opport&nity.
*. ?here possible, the best place for weaning is the harm (shrine) of the #a$s@m<n (as)
or Immzade (sons or da&ghters of the Imms).
.. 9he recommendation of a scholar is as follows
In the last months of breastfeeding when the decision has been made to slowly wean the
child, do ?&d@ and enter the harm in a rit&ally clean state. "nce yo& ha3e reached the
dar<h (noble gra3e), recite the rele3ant ziyrat and as2 for tawass&l (Li3ine Intercession)
of the noble person. 9hen, ta2e a peeled sweet pomegranate and sit facing the 5ibla.
?hile reciting S&rat Ds<n, feed the child from both breasts &ntil the mil2 is finished, and
blow on the pomegranate from time to time. At the end of the recitation, send the reward
of the recitation to the so&l of .-month old =Al< Asghar and his mother. 9hen pray to
Allh (swt) to accept the period of breastfeeding by his generosity, and to gi3e
meaningf&l s&stenance to yo&r children with the end of breastfeeding. 9hen feed the child
the whole pomegranate (or the %&ice of it).
4"98 9he sweetness of the pomegranate has been emphasized in partic&lar. Also in
general, eating pomegranate is 3ery &sef&l, especially on Cridays, and has been lin2ed to
increased rela;ation, the remo3al of agitation and worries.
4"98 If going to the harm is not possible for geographical or other reasons, it is
possible to ma2e the intention of 3isiting the shrine and performing all the recommended
acts at home.
Notes+
()*+,
al-Kf, 3ol. ., pg. B/, no. :
()./,
Wasil ash-Sha, 3ol. :6, pg. B*)
().6,
Srat al-Abasa, Nerse :BG Srat al-Baqarah, Nerse 6.H, 6H:
().:,
Thawab al-Aml, pg. *..
().),
Rayhneye Behesht, pg. 6HH
().B,
Mafsid Ml wa !qme "arm
().*, 0ian&ri was the type of person who carried o&t self-confessed acts of !espionage,
deceipt and treason'.
()..,
Tarbeat #ar$and a$ %a$r &slam, pg. I+
().H,
M!stadra' al-Wasil, 3ol. 6*, pg. 6*.
().I,
Tibb an-%ab, pg. :*
().+,
al-Kf, 3ol. ., pg. B/
()H/,
Rayhneye Behesht, pg. 6IB-6IH
()H6,
M!stadra' al-Wasil, 3ol. 6*, pg. 6*H, no. 6HIBI
()H:,
Tahdhib al-Bal(ha, 3ol. I, pg. 6/., no. .
()H),
&bid), 3ol. I, pg. 6/., no. H
()HB,
&bid), 3ol. I, pg. 6/*, no. B
()H*,
Rayhneye Behesht, pg. 6HI-6I/
()H.,
Rayhneye Behesht, pg. :6:-:6)