Is breastfeeding the children obligatory for the wife?

Or should you get paid for it from the husband?

Did the Sharia not stipulate that the wife should serve her husband and prepare food for her family?

What is the position of religion on the matter?

Questions that summarize a great debate that is currently being raised in Egyptian society, and on news websites, television channels and social networking sites, after statements by a member of the National Council for Human Rights, lawyer Nihad Abu al-Qumsan, in which she said that the wife is not obligated to breastfeed her children, and the husband must pay her for that.

Abu al-Qumsan posted - on her personal Facebook page - a video clip in which she said that the Holy Qur'an did not force women to breastfeed their children.

She added that in response to a question by a young man, whether the mother is not obligated to breastfeed her children, and if she does, she must receive a fee;

That this is not her opinion, but rather what was mentioned in the Qur’an in Suras Al-Baqarah and Al-Talaq.

The lawyer based her opinion on two verses from the Holy Qur’an;

The first is in Surat Al-Baqarah and its text (And mothers breastfeed their children for two full years, for whoever wants to complete the breastfeeding, and the newborn shall have their provision and clothing in a reasonable manner) verse 233.

As for the second verse, it was from Surat Al-Talaq and its text: “Reside in them as far as you live, whoever finds you, and do not quarrel with them, lest you narrow them down, and if they are pregnant women, then spend on them until they give birth.

The pace of this controversy also increased after similar statements by Doctor Heba Kotb, in which she said that the wife is also not obligated to prepare food for her husband and children.

Heba Kotb said during her hosting on a television program that there is no legal or legal basis forcing a woman to commit to cooking for her husband without participating or exchanging roles.

These statements and opinions provoked varying reactions from specialists, activists and celebrities within the Egyptian society, as well as the interactions they provoked through social networking sites between supporters and opponents of what was stated in the statements of Nihad Abu al-Qumsan and Heba Qutb.

Supporters are based on the fact that the wife is not obligated to breastfeed her children or serve her husband, but the jurists differed in that, as the majority (Shafi’is, Hanbalis and some Malikis) said that serving the husband is not obligatory for her, but the first for her to do what was customary, while some of the people of Knowledge to necessity.

Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University, Souad Saleh, said that a woman should not do household chores, but rather devote herself to raising children and the husband's requests.

She indicated during a television interview this evening, Thursday, that it is desirable for a woman to prepare food for her children and husband, adding that "a woman cooks and sweeps in her house out of chivalry, grace and charity, and not out of necessity," according to what was reported by the Egyptian newspaper, "Al-Masry Al-Youm."

As for those who reject what was stated in these statements, especially some preachers and sheikhs, they considered that they were actually based on verses from the Holy Qur’an, but without a correct understanding of the purpose of the verses, as well as ignoring the authentic hadiths and what was narrated from the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, regarding women’s service. to her husband.

Explanations

And according to what was mentioned in a number of interpretations that dealt with these noble verses, what is meant is divorced women, as it was mentioned in the interpretation of al-Tabari, for example: “If your divorced women are pregnant, then spend on them during their waiting period until they deliver their pregnancy, and if they breastfeed their children for you for a fee, then pay them their wages.” And let some of you command each other with what is known of tolerance and kindness.

This group also cited what was narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari on the authority of Asma bint Abi Bakr, may God be pleased with them, who said: I used to serve al-Zubayr to serve the whole house, and he had a mare, and I used to groom him, and I used to grouse him and stand on him.

And it is true from her that she was feeding his horse, watering the water, beading the bucket, kneading, and moving the kernels on her head from his land over two-thirds of a league.

They also cited what the Hanafi school held, as the Hanafi school of thought said that a woman must serve her husband as a religion, not a judge;

Based on what the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, did when he divided the works between Ali and Fatima, may God be pleased with them, so he made the work of the inside on Fatima, and the work of the outside on Ali, and for this it is not permissible for the wife - according to them - to take from her husband a wage for her service to him.

new temptation

In turn, the former Secretary of the Islamic Research Academy, Sheikh Ali Abdel-Baqi, denounced the statements about the reward of breastfeeding, and said in statements to the “Echo of the Country” website that this causes a new sedition within Egyptian families, stressing that the interpretation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an and an intentional statement should not be based on personal whims or desires. Ethnic or sexual tendencies.

He asked: "Do we find in liberal European societies those who abstained from breastfeeding on the pretext that they do not receive a breast-feeding fee? Where do we find today in Egyptian society women who are breast-feeding so that the fathers can provide them to breastfeed their children?"

tent pole

Far from addressing the matter from a religious point of view, some media professionals and celebrities criticized these statements from a social point of view, as the journalist and sports critic Ahmed Schubert criticized the statements of Heba Qutb and Nihad Abu al-Qumsan.

Schubert tweeted, "What is the story, guys, our longevity and the mother is everything in the house. She cooks while she is happy and breastfeeds her children while she is happy, and no one is forced into need."

What is the story, guys, all our lives, and the mother is everything in the house. She cooks while she is happy and breastfeeds her children while she is happy and no one is forced into anything. What is the occasion of the campaign that exists now? The mother does not breastfeed, does not cook, or not!!???

The mother is the pillar of the tent away from your fascicle

— Ahmed Shobier (@ShobierOfficial) September 1, 2022

He continued, "What is the occasion of the campaign that exists now? The mother does not breastfeed, does not cook, or does not!!? The mother is the pillar of the tent away from your fascicles."

And the mothers breastfeed their children for two full years


.

This verse is against the wife..and we know the reason..

9/9

— Roudy Mohamed (@R_MGSA) September 1, 2022

Al-Azhar settles the controversy

Al-Azhar Al-Sharif resolved this controversy today, Thursday, when he said, through the supervisor of the fatwa, Dr. Abbas Shoman, that the wife does not deserve payment for breastfeeding, but only the divorced woman.

good relationship

In the same context, the Director of Sharia Research at the Egyptian Dar al-Ifta, Dr. Ahmed Mamdouh, said that married life between a man and a woman is not based on rights and duties, but rather cohabitation with kindness, generosity and grace.

He added - in statements to the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram - that the jurisprudential opinion that says that the wife should not serve her husband and do household chores is one saying and not the consensus of the jurists;

It is not right that we cling to it and do not see others.

As for the Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence and Islamic Law at Al-Azhar University, Dr. Ahmed Karima, he confirms - in statements to the same newspaper - that the jurists agreed that the wife cooperates with her husband inside the house and the husband as well, citing the words of God Almighty, "and they have the like of those who are obligated to be kind."

He pointed out that some of the majority of jurists said that the wife’s service to the husband is not obligatory, and the most correct opinion is that the wife serves her husband in what was customary, as the wives of the Prophet were serving the Messenger, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, explaining that the wife is hired and rewarded when she appoints her husband in the service as much as her capacity, and the husband's permission to serve his wife.