{"_id":"676abbcb631b2ecff5b5cb3d","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Should a child be weaned before their second birthday or by any other specific age?\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"I am trying to find out what the Islamic period of breastfeeding a child is and whether there is any evidence or established opinion of scholars that a child must be weaned by a certain age. From what I’ve read, a child is entitled to be breastfed for 2 years (can be weaned earlier with mutual consent of parents for any reason or hardship), but I haven’t been able to find any maximum age for breastfeeding. Should a child be weaned before their second birthday or by any other specific age?\\n\\nFor example, if one plans to wean a few weeks after the child’s second birthday, due to convenience of the parents, would that be sinful as exceeding a maximum breastfeeding age?\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"No, it is not sinful to breastfeed after two years. According to the Shafi'i school, the child should ideally be weaned at age two, as per the Quranic teaching:\\n\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"\\\"Mothers shall suckle their children for two whole years, if they wish to complete the term\\\" [2:233]. \"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\nHowever, breastfeeding beyond two years is not considered sinful but is seen as no longer beneficial to the child. The Shafi'i school suggests that the maximum age for breastfeeding could be until the age of discernment, typically around seven years old.\\n\\nAccording to Abu Hanifa, breastfeeding can be extended to thirty months, while other scholars set the limit at two years. Out of consideration for the scholarly difference, one should aim to wean at two years of age, but if it goes beyond by a few months, it is not a problem.\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668da0010b76658b4c232b9d","tag":"Relationships: Parent and Child","count":111},{"_id":"668da0210b76658b4c232ef6","tag":"Breastfeeding","count":7}],"createdOn":"2024-12-24T13:48:59.901Z"}