Answered by: Maulana Moinul Abu Hamza
Question
Can a non-Muslim woman breastfeed or foster a Muslim child? If yes, will she be called a foster mom?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
There is no prohibition stated, so there is nothing prohibiting one from using a non-Muslim for breastfeeding providing the issue of mahram is considered.
In relation to this, we have something called a milk mother. In the Qur’an we have the ayah, “And your mothers who breast-fed you…” [Quran 4:23]. This makes breastfeeding a means of forming a mahram relationship without restriction to the number of times it took place. Mufti Taqi Usmani states that mahram relations are established by “little or much”.[1]
Also, it is important to note that if a child older than thirty months is breastfed; no fostering relationship will be established.[2]
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Moinul Abu Hamza
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham