The Concept of Human Milk Donation and Milk Kinship in Islam

Abstract

Breastfeeding is the initial and the best feeding to infants after birth. Breast milk has countless benefits to children and mothers in matter of health, education, economy, social, and psychology. The aim of this paper is to generally discuss the point of brief concept of human milk donation and milk kinship in Islam. Despite this, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the duration of 6 months for exclusivity of breastfeeding and continues up to two years old. This is in line with the statement in Quran that mothers should breastfeed their children for two years [al Baqarah 1: 233]. However, not every mother may succeed to breastfeed their children up to two years and the infants are exposed to many risks with the introduction of infant formula milk. With that, WHO and UNICEF had made a joint statement to suggest on human milk banks development to fit infants need in appropriate situations. In Islam, breastfeeding is virtue and milk sharing practice will lead to a new milk kinship called “Rada” or “Milk-Suckling Mahram”. The milk kinship make the infants are forbidden to marriage with the donors and donors relatives. The concept of Islam would make the operation of milk bank complex, but with some precautions it is still likely that also in Muslim communities a human milk sharing initiative can be successfully established.