ٱلْبَقَرَة : ٢٣٣

  • وَٱلۡوَٰلِدَٰتُ And the mothers
  • يُرۡضِعۡنَ shall suckle
  • أَوۡلَٰدَهُنَّ their children
  • حَوۡلَيۡنِ (for) two years
  • كَامِلَيۡنِۖ complete
  • لِمَنۡ for whoever
  • أَرَادَ wishes
  • أَن to
  • يُتِمَّ complete
  • ٱلرَّضَاعَةَۚ the suckling
  • وَعَلَى And upon
  • ٱلۡمَوۡلُودِ the father
  • لَهُۥ (on) him
  • رِزۡقُهُنَّ (is) their provision
  • وَكِسۡوَتُهُنَّ and their clothing
  • بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ in a fair manner
  • لَا Not
  • تُكَلَّفُ is burdened
  • نَفۡسٌ any soul
  • إِلَّا except
  • وُسۡعَهَاۚ its capacity
  • لَا Not
  • تُضَآرَّ made to suffer
  • وَٰلِدَةُۢ (the) mother
  • بِوَلَدِهَا because of her child
  • وَلَا and not
  • مَوۡلُودٞ (the) father
  • لَّهُۥ (be)
  • بِوَلَدِهِۦۚ because of his child
  • وَعَلَى And on
  • ٱلۡوَارِثِ the heirs
  • مِثۡلُ (is a duty) like
  • ذَٰلِكَۗ that
  • فَإِنۡ Then if
  • أَرَادَا they both desire
  • فِصَالًا weaning
  • عَن through
  • تَرَاضٖ mutual consent
  • مِّنۡهُمَا of both of them
  • وَتَشَاوُرٖ and consultation
  • فَلَا then no
  • جُنَاحَ blame
  • عَلَيۡهِمَاۗ on both of them
  • وَإِنۡ And if
  • أَرَدتُّمۡ you want
  • أَن to
  • تَسۡتَرۡضِعُوٓاْ ask another women to suckle
  • أَوۡلَٰدَكُمۡ your child
  • فَلَا then (there is) no
  • جُنَاحَ blame
  • عَلَيۡكُمۡ on you
  • إِذَا when
  • سَلَّمۡتُم you pay
  • مَّآ what
  • ءَاتَيۡتُم (is) due (from) you
  • بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۗ in a fair manner
  • وَٱتَّقُواْ And fear
  • ٱللَّهَ Allah
  • وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ and know
  • أَنَّ that
  • ٱللَّهَ Allah
  • بِمَا of what
  • تَعۡمَلُونَ you do
  • بَصِيرٞ (is) All-Seer
Mothers may nurse [i.e., breastfeed] their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]. Upon the father is their [i.e., the mothers'] provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity. No mother should be harmed through her child, and no father through his child. And upon the [father's] heir is [a duty] like that [of the father]. And if they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them. And if you wish to have your children nursed by a substitute, there is no blame upon you as long as you give payment according to what is acceptable. And fear Allāh and know that Allāh is Seeing of what you do.
Mothers, shall, suckle their children for two full years (kaamilayn, 'two full ones', is an adjective for emphasis); this is, for such as desire to fulfil the suckling, and this is the maximum length of time. It is for the father to provide, food for, them, the mothers, and clothe them, during the suckling if they be divorced, honourably, to the best of his ability. No soul is charged save to its capacity, its ability; a mother shall not be harmed by her child, that is, on account of the child, by being forced to suckle it, if she does not want to; neither, should, a father, be harmed, by his child, that is, on account of it, by being charged with more than he is able to bear. The mention of both parents here in relation to the child is intended to show sympathy [for both]. The heir, the one inheriting from his father, that is, the young man who is the trustee of his [father's] property, has a similar duty, to that of the father in terms of providing sustenance and clothing for the [other] parent. But if the two, parents, desire by mutual consent, agreement, and consultation, so that the child's best interests are clear, to wean, that is, to effect ablactation before the completion of the twoyear period, then they would not be at fault, in this matter. And if you (addressing the parents) desire to seek nursing, from other than the mothers, for your children, you would not be at fault, in this respect, provided you hand over, to them, what you have given, what you intend to give them in the way of wages, honourably, in kindness and good nature; and fear God, and know that God sees what you do, and that nothing of it can be hidden from Him.