Concentration on Breast Feeding

In the first month of the child's life, milk is the basic and only source the child feeds on, so the breast feeding is the best milk because breast feeding has its emotional effect on the child. The mother is in the best position to grant him sympathy and warmed emotion because of the mother's instinct inducement which Allah has given to the women, where as the child's feelings and sensation centered on the early days breast feeding 92.

Through breast feeding the bond of love between the child and the mother will be more firm, then the child's tense will be little and having rest of mind and blissful condition 93.

Narrations and advices came from the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) emphasizing the concentration on the mother's milk.

The commander of the faithful Ali bn Abitalib (peace be upon him) said: "There is no any milk having greater blessing in breast feeding the child other than that of his mother's own" 94.

Scientifically the best food for the baby is that of the mother's milk, in addition through breast feeding the child will feel secured, safe and protected. But in exceptional situations which affect the breast feeding like insufficient milk of the mother or her sickness or loosing her either by divorce or death, the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) has laid emphasis on choosing a suitable and appropriate foster mother base on the specified attributes. The commander of the faithful (peace be upon him) said: "Observe her who gives breast feeding to your children because the child grows on it" 95.

The milk and the type of the foster mother have effect on the child in terms of his physical and psychological growth. Verily an experience has established the teachings of the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) in this aspect. There are some attributes while choosing the foster mother that has been approved by the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them).

Imam Mohammad Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: "Breast feed your child with good milk and be aware of bad milk because milk transits" 96.

He (peace be upon him) said: "Be aware of pure wet nurse because milk transits" 97

Prohibition came from breast feeding child by some foster mother.

Imam Jaafar Assadiq (peace be upon him) forbids breast feeding from Magians. From the authority of Abdullah bn Halal, he said, I asked him about magian wet nurse, "he said, no but the people of the book" 98

He conditioned breast feeding with the women of the book by preventing them from drinking wine. He said: "If they breast feed for you, prevent them from taking wine" 99.

On the authority of Ali bn Jaafar, from Imam Musa bn Jaafar Al-kazim (peace be upon them) he said: I asked him, is it polite for a Muslim men to employed women Jews and Christian for breast feeding while they drink wine? He (peace be upon him) said: "Prevent them from taking wine hence they breast feed for you" 100.

Imam Jaafar Assadiq (peace be upon him) prohibits breast feeding from a prostitute whose milk originates from fornication, he (peace be upon him) also said: "Don't seek breast feeding from her and her daughter" 101.

Imam Mohammad Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: "The milk of a Jews, magian and a Christian is more preferable to me than that of fornicator child's milk" 102.

The effect of the milk in the child's innate is the wisdom behind the prohibition because a prostitute leaves in anxiety, psychological troubles, feeling of sin and short-comings right from the first day the embryo convene, she remain in this condition through out the stages of pregnancy and during her labor and delivery. All this anxiety and troubles has its effect on the emotional feelings of the child.

The holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) has commanded us to protect ourselves from the milk of a prostitute and a mad woman. He (Peace be upon him and his escendants) said: "Protect your children from the milk of a prostitute and a mad woman because milk transits" 103.

He (peace be upon him and his descendants) said: "Don't breast feed from a foolish because the child grows with it" 104.

Imam Mohammad Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: "Verily Ali as he says: Don't breast feed from a foolish because her milk over-comes the nature" 105.

The doctors has emphasized that the mother should be at rest when breast feeding and to touch with kindness and protection of the child. It is incumbent on the mother not to force him to focus his face towards her breast as that puts him in a state of disconcert and confusion 106.

The Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) have laid down programs for the manners and period of breast feeding, that is breast feedings from both sides and prolonging its period till twenty one months.

Imam Jaafar Assadiq (peace be upon him) said to the mother of Ishaq daughter of Suleiman: "O' mother of Ishaq, don't breast feed with one side of the breast rather breast feeds with both breasts, one of them will serve as food while the other will serve as water" 107.

He (peace be upon him) said: "Breast feeding is for twenty months; it is a crime to an infant if the period is reduced" 108.

Long period of breast feeding has positive effect on the psychological and emotional feeling of the child. It is the most important stage for the growing of the child's emotional feelings where as the mother laps her child and let him closer to her chest while the child will then feel the continuous sympathy and emotional warmness. In this respect a lady psychologist LUIZ KABILAN says: "Verily the child who is blessed with the flow of sympathy of his mother within the first and the second year of his life feels of security and don't normally feels anxiety or fear and spontaneously moves when he reaches his third or forth years. The children that feel of tranquil psychologically enjoy deal and mix simply with the child of his age grade" 109.

Talking gently with the child of this stage has effect on his future emotional and linguistic development. Fatima (peace be upon her) talks gently with Al-hassan (peace be upon him) and says:

O' Hassan imitate your father!

Because he extract Right from wrong!

And worship the lord the Owner of favor!

And don't follow the people that feel malice!

She (peace be upon her) also speaks gently to Al-Hussein (peace be upon him):

You resemble my father!

And did not resemble Ali! 110.

The Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) as we've previously said do emphasize the establishment of cordiality and love between the parents and to abstain from problems that will threaten them psychologically especially the mother for the reflection of her emotion, constrictions and psychological problems on the child during the stage of breast feeding.

In this stage the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) have cautioned us to laid importance on the source of the mother's feeding in terms of the type and quality as the only source the child feeds from.

There is concentration again on dates to be among the food the mother feeds on because of its effects on the baby.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) said: "Let the first food after a child bed be a ripe dates ...." It was said to him, O' the Prophet, what if the dates are not ripe? He said: "then seven dates from the medina dates if not, seven from your cities" 111.

Imam Jaafar Assadiq (peace be upon him) bequeath us to eat a type of dates by name ALBARNI. He (peace be upon him) said: "Feed your women after their child bed with ALBARNI as your children will be prudent" 112.

In a Narration from him (peace be upon him): "Feed your women after their child bed with ALBARNI it beautified your children" 113.

The Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) has laid down table for the substance of food that are very important for the growth and health soundness 114.

Wheat flour grows the flesh, strengthens the bone and makes the digestion very easy. Lentil flour pacifies the breaking out of blood and lessens high temperature of the body. Meats especially that of francolin lessen ones anger. Mashes make the body active and grant it liveliness. The olive drives the odor, dried grapes lessens anger. The quince strengthens the mind, the lettuce purifies the blood as they also emphasize on taking honey, egg, milk, and other types of fruits.

The advantages of these food substances transferred from the mother to the child through the milk that forms from it.

The summary of this discussion; it is incumbent to laid importance on breast feeding from the mother's milk.

If it is not possible, then it is necessary to choose a believing wet nurse that is free from physical and psychological sickness. If also it is not possible, then none believing wet nurse but with condition of preventing her from drinking wine and all other things that will affect the health of the child. Given importance to the health of the mother psychologically and physically, satisfies her needs in terms of necessary foods for generating pure and riches milk to positively reflect that on the child's health physically and psychologically.

Notes:

92 - Al-tifl bainal wiraatha WA tarbiyah vol-2:82; by Mohammad Taqqi falsafi, from the book Aqdatul Hiqaarah.

93 - Qaamoos Attifl Attibbi: 11-16.

94 - Al-kafi vol - 6:40/ 1st chapter - Breast feeding.

95 - Al-kafi vol - 6:44 / 1st ch- Those whose milk are offensive and those not offensive.

96 - Al-kafi vol - 6:44 / 12th ch- Those whose milk are offensive and those not offensive.

97 - Al-kafi vol - 6:44 / 13th ch- Those whose milk are offensive and those not offensive.

98 - Al-kafi vol - 6:42 / 2nd ch- Those whose milk are offensive and those not offensive.

99 - Al-kafi vol - 6:42 / 3rd ch- Those whose milk are offensive and those not offensive.

100 - Wasaa'il sh-shiyyah vol-21:465/7 ch-76 book of marriage.

101 - Al-kafi vol-6:42 / 1st chapter - those whose milk are offensive and those who are not.

102 - " " -6:42 / 5th

103 - Makaarimul Akh'laq: 223.

104 - " " : 237.

105 - " " : 237.

106 - Qaamoos Attifl Attibbi: 33.

107 - Al-kafi vol-6: 40 / 2nd chapter of breast feeding.

108 - " " -6: 40 / 3rd

109 - Qaamoos Attifl Attibbi: 257.

110 - Bihaaril Anwaar vol- 43:286.

111 - Al-kafi vol-6:22 / 4th ch- Recommended foods for a pregnant woman.

112 - " " -6:22 / 5th ch-

113 - Makaarimul Akh'laq: 169.

114 - Al-kafi vol-6:305 and after it.

Adapted from the book: "The Child's Education in Islam" by: "Ismail Abdullah"