C) The Duration of Nursing
“And the mothers shall suckle their children for two whole years for the one who desires to complete the period of suckling …”1
“… and We did enjoin upon man concerning his parents, did his mother bear him with fainting upon fainting and his weaning takes two years …”2
188. Imām al-Sādiq (a.s.) said: “Nursing is to twenty one months, and anything less than that is injustice to the infant.”3
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Choosing a Righteous Wet-nurse to Breastfeed
189. Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “Choose [a righteous wet-nurse] for breastfeeding [the infant] the same way that you choose someone for marriage, for milk changes one’s nature.”4
190. Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “Be mindful of the one who breastfeeds your children, for a child will grow up based on that [milk].”5
191. Imām al-Bāqir (a.s.) said: “Feed your child with the milk of an attractive wet-nurse, and avoid the milk of the unattractive ones, for milk transmits [the characteristics of the wet-nurse to the child].”6
1.. Qurān, ۲:۲۳۳.
2.. Qurān, ۳۱:۱۴.
3.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۶, p. ۴۰, h. ۳. Tahdhib al-Ahkām, vol. ۸, p. ۱۰۶, h. ۳۵۷. Kitāb Man lā Yahdarhu al-Faqih, vol. ۳, p. ۴۷۴, h. ۴۶۶۱. All narrating from Samā‘ah.
4.. Qurb al-Isnād, p. ۹۳, h. ۳۱۲, narrating from al-Husain ibn ‘Alwān from Imām al-Sādiq (a.s.) from his father (a.s.). Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۱۰۳ p. ۳۲۳, h. ۱۰.
5.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۶, p. ۴۴, h. ۱۰, narrating from Ghiyāth ibn Ibrāhim from Imām al-Sādiq (a.s.).
6.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۶, p. ۴۴, h. ۱۲, narrating from Muhammad ibn Marwān. Tahdhib al-Ahkām, vol. ۸, p. ۱۱۰, h. ۳۷۶, narrating from al-Haytham ibn Muhammad ibn Marwān.
