Al-Baqarah · Madani · ayah 233 of 286

Al-Baqarah 2:233

۞ وَٱلْوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَـٰدَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ ۖ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْمَوْلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَا تُضَآرَّ وَٰلِدَةٌۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوْلُودٌ لَّهُۥ بِوَلَدِهِۦ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْوَارِثِ مِثْلُ ذَٰلِكَ ۗ فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا ۗ وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن تَسْتَرْضِعُوٓا۟ أَوْلَـٰدَكُمْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا سَلَّمْتُم مَّآ ءَاتَيْتُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

“Mothers may nurse [i.e., breastfeed] their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]. Upon the father is their [i.e., the mothers'] provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity. No mother should be harmed through her child, and no father through his child. And upon the [father's] heir is [a duty] like that [of the father]. And if they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them. And if you wish to have your children nursed by a substitute, there is no blame upon you as long as you give payment according to what is acceptable. And fear Allāh and know that Allāh is Seeing of what you do.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Even when parents part, the child comes first: nursed with care, provided for fairly, decided for by consultation, and never used as a weapon.

A reflection

He sees the night feeds

After a separation, each parent may start performing for an audience. One posts photographs of every outing. The other tells the relatives how much he pays. Each wants to be seen, by family, by friends, perhaps by a court, as the good parent.

The ayah ends with a different audience. 'Be mindful of Allah, and know that Allah sees what you do'. A modern commentary adds: nothing of it is hidden from Him, and He will repay you for it.

That sentence humbles the performance. The posts, the stories and the speeches to the relatives count for nothing in themselves. What He sees is what was actually done: the payment made on time or late, the handover kind or cold. He sees the 3am feed that nobody photographed, and the silence kept when a cutting word was ready.

The ego wants witnesses for its virtue and darkness for its faults. The ayah offers neither. There is one Witness, and He sees both.

That is not only a warning. It is also a deep comfort. Much of the best parenting is invisible. A mother nursing in the dark. A father driving three hours for a two-hour visit. A parent swallowing a reply for the child's sake. No one claps. He sees.

Does He need us to know that He sees? He is the Free of need (35:15). We need to know it. It frees us from performing, and it holds us to account where no one else can.

The full entry has 6 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.