Some hospitals keep mother's milk in a fridge and feed any baby

371

Fatwa no. 15990 All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, and his family, and Companions.The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' reviewed the request submitted to His Eminence the Grand Mufty (Islamic scholar qualified to issue legal opinions) by His Excellence the Minister of Health, which was referred to the Committee by the Secretariat General of the Council of Senior Scholars under Number (1939) on 23/4/1413 A.H. The following question was posed:Some doctors feed babies breast milk that is collected from some mothers whose babies are kept in the department. (Part No. 21; Page No. 44) The milk is kept in a refrigerator and is given to different babies, without telling their mothers or families, on the pretext that breast milk improves immunity against diseases. We hope Your Eminence would give us the Shar`y (Islamically lawful) ruling on this issue. It is worth mentioning that all health departments have been ordered to stop this sort of breastfeeding - in case it is practiced - in pursuance of Circular Number (171 1038 26) on 29/3/1413 A.H. We thank your distinguished efforts in serving Islam and Muslims.After studying the question, the Committee answered:

According to Shari`ah (Islamic law), it is not permissible to extract milk from mothers and keep it to be used for feeding different babies. This action involves lack of knowledge and leads to violating the taboos on breastfeeding, which by authority of Shari`ah creates a relationship of Mahrams (unmarriageable relatives) from the sides of the breastfeeding woman, the milk owner (i.e. Her husband), and the suckling. It is known that breastfeeding relations prohibit what blood relations do (regarding marital relations). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever guards themselves against doubtful things keeps their religion and honor blameless." Accordingly, it is not permissible to establish milk banks to feed babies in need of human milk. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.