The Holy Quran 2:233 — Surah Al-Baqarah

Arabic text

۞ وَٱلْوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَـٰدَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ ۖ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْمَوْلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَا تُضَآرَّ وَٰلِدَةٌۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوْلُودٌ لَّهُۥ بِوَلَدِهِۦ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْوَارِثِ مِثْلُ ذَٰلِكَ ۗ فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا ۗ وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن تَسْتَرْضِعُوٓا۟ أَوْلَـٰدَكُمْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا سَلَّمْتُم مَّآ ءَاتَيْتُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

Translation

Mothers should breastfeed their children for two whole years, (that is) for those who wish to complete the (period of) breastfeeding. The duty of feeding and clothing them (the nursing mothers) in a good manner (according to his means) rests with the one for whom the child was born (the father of the child). No soul is burdened with more than it can bear. A mother should not be made to suffer because of her child (she may not be forced into breastfeeding if she does not want to) nor should the one for whom the child is born (the father be made to suffer) because of his child. The same (paying for the child's expenses) is compulsory for the heir (the close relatives of the child if the father is not available). If the couple decide to wean the child by mutual consent and consultation (before two years), there shall be no sin on either of them. If you wish to have your children breastfed (by other women), there is no sin on you provided that you pay what you (have agreed to) pay (them) in a kind manner. Fear Allaah and know that most definitely He sees what you do (you can hide nothing from Him).

Tafsir (excerpt) — التفسير الميسر

وعلى الوالدات إرضاع أولادهن مدة سنتين كاملتين لمن أراد إتمام الرضاعة، ويجب على الآباء أن يكفُلوا للمرضعات المطلقات طعامهن وكسوتهن، على الوجه المستحسن شرعًا وعرفًا; لأن الله لا يكلف نفسًا إلا قدر طاقتها، ولا يحل للوالدين أن يجعلوا المولود وسيلة للمضارة بينهما، ويجب على الوارث عند موت الوالد مثل ما يجب على الوالد قبل موته من النفقة والكسوة.

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