Allah is Ar Razzaq
Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an:
“And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision [rizq], and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register.” (Qur’an, 11:6)
When a child is born, Allah blesses the child with the very first meal effortlessly. Right from the days when women gave birth in deserts, there was no apprehension about what the baby would feed on. Allah has created enough food and drink for the child for months in the mother’s bosoms.
Allāh (SwT) mentions in Surat al-Baqarah, Verse 233:
} وَالْوَالِدَاتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلاَدَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ لِــمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ الرَّضَاعَةَ {
“Mothers shall suckle their children for two full years, – that for such as desire to complete the suckling.”
SubhanAllah. It is the right of a child to be breastfed.
And the wisdom of Allah in creating the perfect nourishment of the child in his mother’s milk has been proven through scientific and medical research with time.
In an age where everything is questioned & analyzed, ideas are ripped apart and put together, we see the benefits of breastfeeding, for the child being fed as well as the mother, everywhere, from billboards to pamphlets. Islam has encouraged breastfeeding as long as 1400 years ago. The WHO has only recently brought about breastfeeding a major component of the Global Nutrition Target 2025.
Published in 2014, it states,
“Exclusive breastfeeding – defined as the practice of only giving an infant breast-milk for the first 6 months of life (no other food or water) – has the single largest potential impact on child mortality of any preventive intervention. It is part of optimal breastfeeding practices, which also include initiation within one hour of life and continued breastfeeding for up to 2 years of age or beyond.
Exclusive breastfeeding is a cornerstone of child survival and child health because it provides essential, irreplaceable nutrition for a child’s growth and development. It serves as a child’s first immunization – providing protection from respiratory infections, diarrheal disease, and other potentially life-threatening ailments. Exclusive breastfeeding also has a protective effect against obesity and certain non-communicable diseases later in life.”
Advantages of Breastfeeding
Some of the incomparable advantages Of breastfeeding, that we probably know yet often, take for granted are:
- It takes the psychological and emotional bond between the mother and her child to a new level.
- The elements and nutrients needed for the child specifically caters to the child. There are studies where a pair of twins is made to nurse from only one breast each, and the milk the respective breast substantially changes when that child falls sick. SubhanAllah! The nutritional composition changes according to the baby’s needs, from birth to the time of weaning!
- Unlike milk from any other source that contains proteins that may be difficult to digest, breast milk contains just the right proportion and amounts of protein and sugar that suits the baby
- The mother’s milk is maintained at a temperature comfortable to the baby & is sterile.
Allah has made breastfeeding moms of benefit, so much so that the father is enjoined to spend on the breastfeeding mother. Which other culture encourages this? And they say women in Islam are oppressed!
Rewards for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Some rewards in Islam for pregnancy and breastfeeding that have been recorded via various narrations are:
Raashid ibn Hubaysh narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) entered upon ‘Ubaadah ibn al-Saamit when he was sick and said, “Do you know who is a shaheed (martyr) in my ummah?” The people remained silent, then ‘Ubaadah said, “Help me to sit up.” They helped him to sit up, then he said, “O Messenger of Allaah, (is it) the patient one who seeks reward from Allaah for his patience?” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Then the martyrs among my ummah would be very few. Being killed for the sake of Allaah is martyrdom, the plague is martyrdom, drowning is martyrdom, stomach disease is martyrdom, and if a woman dies during the post-partum period, her child will drag her to Paradise by his umbilical cord.”
There is no doubt that a woman’s pregnancy and giving birth is fulfilling an aim of sharee‘ah that is dear to Allah, which is increasing the progeny of the Muslims who proclaim the Oneness of Allah, the followers of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). The reward that goes into taking responsibility for bringing up a sound Muslim would be undoubtedly worth trials!
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no calamity that befalls a Muslim but Allaah expiates (sin) thereby, even a thorn that pricks him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5640; Muslim, 2572.
The difficulties encountered by the pregnant and breastfeeding woman, including pain and sickness, and health, psychological and physical problems in many cases, will all bring great reward that will be recorded for the women, in sha Allah. Allah will reward the Muslim for everything that befalls him in this world. Even if a thorn pricks him, Allah will expiate thereby some of his sins, and the pains of labour and pregnancy are far greater than that.
Breastfeeding is bittersweet
After the initial cracked sore nipples and never ending late hours of feeding on the couch, while doing chores and trying to get into comfy position to sleep, you only try to think of the rewards promised and always wonder with awe what you have done to deserve those big beautiful eyes staring at you with wonder as you nurse and nurture the tiny human.
May Allah bless every woman with this beautiful journey and accept our deeds and reward us!
Written by Haifa Tajudeen, an interior designer by profession, graphic designer by choice, & mother of two boys.
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