Children & Parenting

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْعَقِيقَةِ وَ الْحَلْقِ وَ التَّسْمِيَةِ بِأَيِّهَا يُبْدَأُ قَالَ يُصْنَعُ ذَلِكَ كُلُّهُ فِي سَاعَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ يُحْلَقُ وَ يُذْبَحُ وَ يُسَمَّى ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ مَا صَنَعَتْ فَاطِمَةُ ع لِوُلْدِهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ يُوزَنُ الشَّعْرُ وَ يُتَصَدَّقُ بِوَزْنِهِ فِضَّةً.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the ‘Aqiqah, shaving, giving a name to the newborn and that which one should come first. He (the Imam) said, ‘All of it should be done in one hour, shaving, slaughtering the animal offered for ‘Aqiqah and naming the child.’ He (the Imam) then mentioned what Fatimah, ‘Alayha al

سَمَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص- حَسَناً وَ حُسَيْناً ع يَوْمَ سَابِعِهِمَا وَ عَقَّ عَنْهُمَا شَاةً شَاةً وَ بَعَثُوا بِرِجْلِ شَاةٍ إِلَى الْقَابِلَةِ وَ نَظَرُوا مَا غَيْرُهُ‌[2] فَأَكَلُوا مِنْهُ وَ أَهْدَوْا إِلَى الْجِيرَانِ وَ حَلَقَتْ فَاطِمَةُ ع رُءُوسَهُمَا وَ تَصَدَّقَتْ بِوَزْنِ شَعْرِهِمَا فِضَّةً.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, named al-Hassan and al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, on the seventh day from their birth, offered a sheep for ‘Aqiqah, one leg of the sheep was sent to al-Qabilah (the special nurse) and the rest was kep

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ التَّهْنِئَةِ بِالْوَلَدِ مَتَى فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ قَالَ لَمَّا وُلِدَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ هَبَطَ جَبْرَئِيلُ‌ بِالتَّهْنِئَةِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فِي الْيَوْمِ السَّابِعِ وَ أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يُسَمِّيَهُ وَ يُكَنِّيَهُ وَ يَحْلِقَ رَأْسَهُ وَ يَعُقَّ عَنْهُ وَ يَثْقُبَ أُذُنَهُ وَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ حِينَ وُلِدَ الْحُسَيْنُ ع أَتَاهُ فِي الْيَوْمِ السَّابِعِ فَأَمَرَهُ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ

It was the birth of al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.). Jibril descended to congratulate the Holy Prophet (saww) on the seventh day and instructed to name him and give him a Kunyah, shave his head, offer ‘Aqiqah for him and pierce a hole in his ear. When al-Husayn (a.s.), was born Jibril came on the seventh day and instructed si

عَقَّ أَبُو طَالِبٍ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص يَوْمَ السَّابِعِ وَ دَعَا آلَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالُوا مَا هَذِهِ فَقَالَ عَقِيقَةُ أَحْمَدَ قَالُوا لِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ سَمَّيْتَهُ أَحْمَدَ قَالَ سَمَّيْتُهُ أَحْمَدَ لِمَحْمَدَةِ أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has narrated from his father who has said that abu Talib offered ‘Aqiqah for the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, on the seventh day and invited members of his family who asked, ‘What is this?’ He replied, ‘It is

اخْتِنُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ لِسَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّهُ أَطْهَرُ وَ أَسْرَعُ لِنَبَاتِ اللَّحْمِ وَ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَتَكْرَهُ بَوْلَ الْأَغْلَفِ.[2] - وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ ثَقْبَ أُذُنِ الْغُلَامِ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ وَ خِتَانَهُ لِسَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ.

’Circumcise your children on the seventh day from their birth; it is more clean and allows the flesh to grow quicker. The earth dislikes the urine of one who is not circumcised.”’ Through the same chain of narrators as that of the previous Hadith the following is narrated: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Piercing a

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ طَهِّرُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ يَوْمَ السَّابِعِ فَإِنَّهُ أَطْيَبُ وَ أَطْهَرُ وَ أَسْرَعُ لِنَبَاتِ اللَّحْمِ وَ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ تَنْجَسُ مِنْ بَوْلِ الْأَغْلَفِ أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Cleanse (circumcise) your children on the seventh day of their birth; it is more clean and allows the flesh to grow quicker. The land remains unclean fo

أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع أَنَّهُ رُوِيَ عَنِ الصَّادِقِينَ ع أَنِ اخْتِنُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ يَوْمَ السَّابِعِ يَطَّهَّرُوا وَ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ تَضِجُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ بَوْلِ الْأَغْلَفِ وَ لَيْسَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لِحَجَّامِي بَلَدِنَا حِذْقٌ بِذَلِكَ وَ لَا يَخْتِنُونَهُ‌[1] يَوْمَ السَّابِعِ وَ عِنْدَنَا حَجَّامُ الْيَهُودِ فَهَلْ يَجُوزُ لِلْيَهُودِ أَنْ يَخْتِنُوا أَوْلَادَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَمْ لَا إِ

’Circumcise your children on the seventh day from their birth; the earth cries before Allah because of the urine of an uncircumcised person.’ I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, people performing circumcision in our city are not very knowledgeable and they do not do it on the seventh day but ther

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع خَتَنَ نَفْسَهُ بِقَدُومٍ عَلَى دَنٍ‌[3] فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ لَيْسَ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ كَذَبُوا عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع قُلْتُ وَ كَيْفَ ذَاكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ ع كَانَتْ تَسْقُطُ عَنْهُمْ غُلْفَتُهُمْ مَعَ سُرَرِهِمْ فِي الْيَوْمِ السَّابِعِ فَلَمَّا وُلِدَ لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ ع مِنْ هَاجَرَ[4] عَيَّرَتْ سَارَةُ هَاجَرَ بِمَا

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘We are told that Ibrahim ‘Alayhi al-Salam circumcised with an adze on a base. He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah is free of all defects, it is not the way they say it is. They have lied against Ibrahim.’ I then asked, ‘How did it happen?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘In the case of the prophets,

ثَقْبُ أُذُنِ الْغُلَامِ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ وَ خِتَانُ الْغُلَامِ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Piercing the ears of a boy is of the Sunnah as well as his circumcision.’”

مِنْ سُنَنِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ الِاسْتِنْجَاءُ وَ الْخِتَانُ.

‘Of the Sunnah of prophets is draining al-Istinja’ (one’s urine) and circumcision.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنْ خِتَانِ الصَّبِيِّ لِسَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ هُوَ أَوْ يُؤَخَّرُ وَ أَيُّهُمَا أَفْضَلُ قَالَ لِسَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ وَ إِنْ أُخِّرَ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about circumcision of a child, if on the seventh day is of Sunnah or it can be delayed and which one is better. He (the Imam) said, ‘On the seventh day is of Sunnah but delaying is not harmful.’”

مِنَ الْحَنِيفِيَّةِ الْخِتَانُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Circumcision is of pure obedience to Allah.’”

الْمَوْلُودُ يُعَقُّ عَنْهُ وَ يُخْتَنُ لِسَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘For a newborn ‘Aqiqah is offered on the seventh day and the child is circumcised.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِذَا أَسْلَمَ الرَّجُلُ اخْتَتَنَ وَ لَوْ بَلَغَ ثَمَانِينَ.

Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘If a man becomes a Muslim he must circumcise even if he is eighty years old.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الْجَارِيَةِ تُسْبَى مِنْ أَرْضِ الشِّرْكِ‌[1] فَتُسْلِمُ فَتُطْلَبُ لَهَا مَنْ يَخْفِضُهَا فَلَا نَقْدِرُ عَلَى امْرَأَةٍ فَقَالَ أَمَّا السُّنَّةُ فِي الْخِتَانِ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ.

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the case of a girl who is taken as captive from the pagan’s land then she becomes Muslim and she is asked for Khafd but we are not able against a woman. He (the Imam) said, ’Circumcision is for men and not for women.”’ (It a is reference to lowering or reducing female clitoris )

خِتَانُ الْغُلَامِ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ وَ خَفْضُ الْجَوَارِي لَيْسَ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Circumcision for boys is because of Sunnah but circumcision for girls is not because of Sunnah.”’

خَفْضُ الْجَارِيَةِ مَكْرُمَةٌ[2] وَ لَيْسَتْ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ وَ لَا شَيْئاً وَاجِباً وَ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْمَكْرُمَةِ[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Reducing for girls is a noble trait but it is not of the Sunnah or obligatory; however, a noble trait is a very preferred matter.’”

الْخِتَانُ فِي الرَّجُلِ سُنَّةٌ وَ مَكْرُمَةٌ فِي النِّسَاءِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Circumcision for man is of Sunnah and it is a noble trait for women.’”

كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ يُقَالُ لَهَا أُمُّ طَيْبَةَ تَخْفِضُ الْجَوَارِيَ فَدَعَاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ لَهَا يَا أُمَّ طَيْبَةَ إِذَا أَنْتِ خَفَضْتِ امْرَأَةً فَأَشِمِّي وَ لَا تُجْحِفِي فَإِنَّهُ أَصْفَى لِلَّوْنِ وَ أَحْظَى عِنْدَ الْبَعْلِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that there was a woman called ‘Umm Taybah and she lowered girls. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, called her and said, ‘O ’Umm Taybah, when you lower a woman make it (as little as) a scratch but do not

لَمَّا هَاجَرْنَ النِّسَاءُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص هَاجَرَتْ فِيهِنَّ امْرَأَةٌ يُقَالُ لَهَا أُمُّ حَبِيبٍ وَ كَانَتْ خَافِضَةً تَخْفِضُ الْجَوَارِيَ فَلَمَّا رَآهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لَهَا يَا أُمَّ حَبِيبٍ الْعَمَلُ الَّذِي كَانَ فِي يَدِكِ هُوَ فِي يَدِكِ الْيَوْمَ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ حَرَاماً فَتَنْهَانِي عَنْهُ قَالَ لَا بَلْ حَلَالٌ فَادْنِي مِنِّي حَتَّى أُعَلِّمَكِ ق

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when women migrated to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, among them was a woman called ‘Umm Habib who lowered girls. When the Messenger of Allah saw her, he (the Messenger of Allah) asked her, ‘O ‘

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ مَوْلُودٍ يُحْلَقُ رَأْسُهُ بَعْدَ يَوْمِ السَّابِعِ فَقَالَ إِذَا مَضَى سَبْعَةُ أَيَّامٍ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ حَلْقٌ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the newborn: if shaving his head after seven days from his birth is required. He (the Imam) said, ‘When seven days pass shaving is not required.’”

إِذَا جَاوَزَتْ سَبْعَةُ أَيَّامٍ‌[1] فَلَا عَقِيقَةَ لَهُ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When seven days from the birth of a child pass, then it is not ‘Aqiqah (the way it should have been).”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ فَيَمُوتُ يَوْمَ السَّابِعِ هَلْ يُعَقُّ عَنْهُ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مَاتَ قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ لَمْ يُعَقَّ عَنْهُ وَ إِنْ مَاتَ بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ عُقَّ عَنْهُ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a child who dies on the seventh day: if ‘Aqiqah is still necessary. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he dies before al-Zuhr ‘Aqiqah is not required; but if he dies after al-Zuhr then ‘Aqiqah is required.”’

كُنْتُ جَلِيساً لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَفَقَدَنِي أَيَّاماً ثُمَّ إِنِّي جِئْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي لَمْ أَرَكَ مُنْذُ أَيَّامٍ يَا أَبَا هَارُونَ فَقُلْتُ وُلِدَ لِي غُلَامٌ فَقَالَ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ فَمَا سَمَّيْتَهُ قُلْتُ سَمَّيْتُهُ مُحَمَّداً قَالَ فَأَقْبَلَ بِخَدِّهِ نَحْوَ الْأَرْضِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ مُحَمَّدٌ مُحَمَّدٌ مُحَمَّدٌ حَتَّى كَادَ يَلْصَقُ خَدُّهُ بِالْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ قَالَ بِنَ

“I would often sit with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in al-Madinah and he (the Imam) found me absent for a few days. When I went to visit him (the Imam) he (the Imam) asked, ‘I have not seen you for many days, O abu Harun.’ I said that a boy is born to me. He (the Imam) said, ‘May Allah make him a blessing for you! What have

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ لَمْ يَعُقَّ عَنْ وَلَدِهِ‌[3] حَتَّى كَبِرَ وَ كَانَ غُلَاماً شَابّاً أَوْ رَجُلًا قَدْ بَلَغَ قَالَ إِذَا ضُحِّيَ عَنْهُ أَوْ ضَحَّى الْوَلَدُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ فَقَدْ أَجْزَأَتْ عَنْهُ عَقِيقَتُهُ وَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْمَوْلُودُ مُرْتَهَنٌ بِعَقِيقَتِهِ فَكَّهُ أَبَوَاهُ أَوْ تَرَكَاهُ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man who had not offered ‘Aqiqah for any of his children until they all grew up as young boys or grown up men. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he offers sacrifice for them or they themselves offer sacrifice it then is sufficient for ‘Aqiqah. He (the Imam) said that the Me

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا تَحْلِقُوا الصِّبْيَانَ الْقَزَعَ وَ الْقَزَعُ أَنْ يَحْلِقَ مَوْضِعاً وَ يَدَعَ مَوْضِعاً.

’Do not shave the heads of children in al-Qaza‘ and al-Qaza‘ meaning to shave certain parts and leave other parts.’”

أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَكْرَهُ الْقَزَعَ فِي رُءُوسِ الصِّبْيَانِ وَ ذَكَرَ أَنَّ الْقَزَعَ أَنْ يُحْلَقَ الرَّأْسُ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا وَ يُتْرَكَ وَسَطُ الرَّأْسِ يُسَمَّى الْقَزَعَةَ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), disliked shaving the head of a child a little and leaving the top middle of the head unshaved, which is called a/-Qaza’.’”

أُتِيَ النَّبِيُّ ص بِصَبِيٍّ يَدْعُو لَهُ وَ لَهُ قَنَازِعُ فَأَبَى أَنْ يَدْعُوَ لَهُ وَ أَمَرَ بِحَلْقِ رَأْسِهِ وَ أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِحَلْقِ شَعْرِ الْبَطْنِ.

’Once a child was brought to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, so that he (the Messenger of Allah) might pray for him but the child had Qanazi ‘ and he (the Messenger of Allah) refused to pray for him. He (the Messenger of Allah) instr

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَا مِنْ لَبَنٍ يُرْضَعُ بِهِ الصَّبِيُّ أَعْظَمَ بَرَكَةً عَلَيْهِ مِنْ لَبَنِ أُمِّهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘No other milk has a greater blessing for the child as the milk of his mother does.”’

يَا أُمَّ إِسْحَاقَ لَا تُرْضِعِيهِ مِنْ ثَدْيٍ وَاحِدٍ وَ أَرْضِعِيهِ مِنْ كِلَيْهِمَا يَكُونُ أَحَدُهُمَا طَعَاماً وَ الْآخَرُ شَرَاباً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once looked to me when I was breastfeeding one of my sons, Muhammad or Ishaq and he (the Imam) said, ‘O ‘Umm Ishaq, do not breastfeed him from one breast only. Breastfeed him from both breasts; one is food and the other is the drink for him.’”

الرَّضَاعُ وَاحِدٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ شَهْراً فَمَا نَقَصَ فَهُوَ جَوْرٌ عَلَى الصَّبِيِّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Breastfeeding is for twenty-one months. Breastfeeding for less than this is injustice to the child.’”

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّضَاعِ فَقَالَ لَا تُجْبَرُ الْحُرَّةُ عَلَى رَضَاعِ الْوَلَدِ وَ تُجْبَرُ أُمُّ الْوَلَدِ.

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about breastfeeding. He (the Imam) said, ‘A free woman cannot be forced to breastfeed; but the mother (who is a slave-girl) of child can be made to breastfeed.’”

قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي رَجُلٍ تُوُفِّيَ وَ تَرَكَ صَبِيّاً فَاسْتُرْضِعَ لَهُ فَقَالَ أَجْرُ رَضَاعِ الصَّبِيِّ مِمَّا يَرِثُ مِنْ أَبِيهِ وَ أُمِّهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin issued a judgment about the case of a man who had died, had left behind a child and they had found someone to breastfeed him. He (the Imam) said that the wages for breastfeeding must be paid from what the child has inherited from his father and mother.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- لا تُضَارَّ والِدَةٌ بِوَلَدِها وَ لا مَوْلُودٌ لَهُ بِوَلَدِهِ‌[1] فَقَالَ كَانَتِ الْمَرَاضِعُ مِمَّا يَدْفَعُ إِحْدَاهُنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا أَرَادَ الْجِمَاعَ تَقُولُ لَا أَدَعُكَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ أَحْبَلَ فَأَقْتُلَ وَلَدِي هَذَا الَّذِي أُرْضِعُهُ وَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ تَدْعُوهُ الْمَرْأَةُ فَيَقُولُ أَخَافُ أَنْ أُجَامِعَكِ فَأَقْتُلَ وَلَدِي فَيَدَعُهَا وَ لَا يُجَ

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . a mother must not be harmed because of her child nor must a father be harmed because of his child.’ (2:232) He (the Imam) said, ‘This is a reference to the case of breastfeeding woman when man persued her for going to be

لَهَا أَجْرُ مِثْلِهَا وَ لَيْسَ لِلْوَصِيِّ أَنْ يُخْرِجَهُ مِنْ حَجْرِهَا حَتَّى يُدْرِكَ وَ يَدْفَعَ إِلَيْهِ مَالَهُ.

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who dies and leaves behind a woman with a child from the deceased and she gives the child to her servant for breastfeeding. She then asks the executor of the will to pay for the breastfeeding wages. He (the Imam) said, ‘She deserves an equivalent wages and t

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الصَّبِيِّ هَلْ يُرْضَعُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ سَنَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ عَامَيْنِ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ زَادَ عَلَى سَنَتَيْنِ هَلْ عَلَى أَبَوَيْهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ قَالَ لَا.

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a child; if he can be breastfed for more than two years. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is two years.’ I then asked, ‘If the child is breastfed for more than two years do parents owe anything?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, they do not owe anything.

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ ظِئْراً فَدَفَعَ إِلَيْهَا وَلَدَهُ فَانْطَلَقَتِ الظِّئْرُ[2] فَدَفَعَتْ وَلَدَهُ إِلَى ظِئْرٍ أُخْرَى فَغَابَتْ بِهِ حِيناً ثُمَّ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ طَلَبَ وَلَدَهُ مِنَ الظِّئْرِ الَّتِي كَانَ أَعْطَاهَا إِيَّاهُ فَأَقَرَّتْ أَنَّهَا اسْتَأْجَرَتْهُ وَ أَقَرَّتْ بِقَبْضِهَا وَلَدَهُ وَ أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ دَفَعَتْهُ إِلَى ظِئْرٍ أُخْرَى فَقَالَ عَلَيْهَا الدِّيَةُ

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who hires a breastfeeding woman for his child and gives the child to her. The breastfeeding woman takes the child and gives him to another breastfeeding woman who remains away for a while. The man then asks for his child, the first breastfeeding woman confes

لَيْسَ عَلَيْهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ الظِّئْرُ مَأْمُونَةٌ.

“About the case of a man who hires a breastfeeding woman, who disappears with the child for many years, but then she brings the child to his family but the mother refuses to accept the child. The family thinks that they do not know him. He (the Imam) said, ‘She is not responsible for anything; the breastfeeding woman i

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع امْرَأَةٌ وَلَدَتْ مِنَ الزِّنَا أَتَّخِذُهَا ظِئْراً قَالَ لَا تَسْتَرْضِعْهَا وَ لَا ابْنَتَهَا.

‘Do not hire her for breastfeeding as well as her daughter.”’

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ مُظَائَرَةِ الْمَجُوسِيِّ فَقَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if a Zoroastrian woman can be hired for breastfeeding a child. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, however, she can be of the people of the book.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا أَرْضَعْنَ‌ لَكُمْ فَامْنَعُوهُنَّ مِنْ شُرْبِ الْخَمْرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When they breastfeed for you do not allow them to drink wine.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هَلْ يَصْلُحُ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ تُرْضِعَ لَهُ- الْيَهُودِيَّةُ وَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةُ وَ الْمُشْرِكَةُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ وَ قَالَ امْنَعُوهُنَّ مِنْ شُرْبِ الْخَمْرِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if it is proper to hire a Jewish or a Christian or a pagan woman for breastfeeding. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful but do not allow them to drink wine.’”

لَبَنُ الْيَهُودِيَّةِ وَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ وَ الْمَجُوسِيَّةِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ لَبَنِ وَلَدِ الزِّنَا وَ كَانَ لَا يَرَى بَأْساً بِلَبَنِ وَلَدِ الزِّنَا إِذَا جَعَلَ مَوْلَى الْجَارِيَةِ الَّذِي فَجَرَ بِالْجَارِيَةِ فِي حِلٍ‌[1].

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنْ غُلَامٍ لِي وَثَبَ عَلَى جَارِيَةٍ لِي فَأَحْبَلَهَا فَوَلَدَتْ وَ احْتَجْنَا إِلَى لَبَنِهَا فَإِنْ أَحْلَلْتُ لَهُمَا مَا صَنَعَا أَ يَطِيبُ لَبَنُهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ.

A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthaman from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a boy who impregnated my slave-girl who then gave birth and we needed her milk. If I g

مُرْهَا فَلْتُحَلِّلْهَا يَطِيبُ اللَّبَنُ‌[2].

‘Instruct her to give permission, the milk will be fine.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا تَسْتَرْضِعُوا الْحَمْقَاءَ فَإِنَّ اللَّبَنَ يُعْدِي وَ إِنَّ الْغُلَامَ يَنْزِعُ إِلَى اللَّبَنِ يَعْنِي إِلَى الظِّئْرِ فِي الرُّعُونَةِ وَ الْحُمْقِ.

“This is a narration of abu Ja‘far (a.s.), from the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. He (the Messenger of Allah) has said, ‘You must not hire a dimwitted woman for breastfeeding; the milk spreads and the boy is drawn to the milk, that is,

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص يَقُولُ‌ لَا تَسْتَرْضِعُوا الْحَمْقَاءَ فَإِنَّ اللَّبَنَ يَغْلِبُ الطِّبَاعَ وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَا تَسْتَرْضِعُوا الْحَمْقَاءَ فَإِنَّ الْوَلَدَ يَشِبُّ عَلَيْهِ‌[4].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin would say, ‘Do not hire a dimwitted woman for breastfeeding: milk overpowers natural manners. The Messenger of Allah has said, “Do not hire a dimwitted woman for breastfeeding; with such milk the child grows up.’””

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ انْظُرُوا مَنْ تُرْضِعُ أَوْلَادَكُمْ فَإِنَّ الْوَلَدَ يَشِبُّ عَلَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Pay proper attention to who breastfeeds your children: a child grows up with such milk.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ وَلَدَتْ مِنْ زِنًى هَلْ يَصْلُحُ أَنْ يُسْتَرْضَعَ بِلَبَنِهَا قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ وَ لَا لَبَنِ ابْنَتِهَا الَّتِي وُلِدَتْ مِنَ الزِّنَى.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a woman who has given birth because of fornication; if it is proper to hire her for breastfeeding. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper as well as the milk of her daughter who is born out of wedlock.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ اسْتَرْضِعْ لِوَلَدِكَ بِلَبَنِ الْحِسَانِ وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ الْقِبَاحَ فَإِنَّ اللَّبَنَ قَدْ يُعْدِي.

'Seek a wet nurse for your child from among the beautiful women, and avoid the ugly ones, for the milk can have an influence.'