Does Islam contradict breastfeeding?
Posted
September 13, 2006 at
4:27 am by
Jessica
According to new research, Islam just might contradict breastfeeding and knowing how repressive it is to women, it shouldn’t come as any shock. In many, if not most, Islamic nations, women have to be covered from head to toe — forget about even showing a toe — you’d get your ear cut off! Do you really think the sensitive, oh-so-in-touch-with-their-feminine-side-brotherhood would be down with chicks doing that in public?? When are people ever gonna learn?? The Islamic society represses and suppresses women. Women are as good as dirt in much of the middle east (and Islamic nations). This is one of the reasons I find it so deplorable that anybody would try to find reason within their totalitarian regimes and/or try to justify their motives.
I do find it super-duper ironic however, that the breastfeeding advocates who sponsored this study, are trying to use religion to influence women’s feeding choice. From the article, “Ulfat Shaikh, MD, MPH, and Omar Ahmed, MD, from the University of California Davis School of Medicine explain that the Islamic holy book, the Qur’an, recommends that mothers breastfeed their children for two years if possible and, in fact, states that every infant has the right to be breastfed. If a mother is unable to breastfeed, she and the father can decide together to have a wet nurse feed the child.”
Of course, the influence and propaganda of the non-secular, breastfeeding advocates in North America use the exact same religous diatribe dribble to convince and influence women to breastfeed? Do you not find that ironic?
I’m not saying that more Muslim women shouldn’t be breastfeeding or that they shouldn’t get the support they need, but given that the Qur’an states that every infant has the right to be breastfed and that’s what non-secular advocates try to push down our throats everyday, and both spawn their share of fanatism (not all, but a lot). I’m not Muslim and in my view, I think every infant has the right to be fed a nutritionally sound, safe, healthy and appropriate food, but that’s a very non-partisan point of view so it often gets poo-pooed or ignored.
The real problem here is not whether or not Islamic women breastfeed, it’s about the non-existant rights of the women of Islam. It’s a cultural barrier for women that they are generally believed to be inferior to men. Breastfeeding will come when women aren’t shot for flashing a leg or an arm. For me, it once again confirms that many breastfeeding advocates care more about forcing women to breastfeed than giving women basic, humanitarian support and equal right advocacy. Let’s start with trying to garner support for women to be able to show more than an eyeball and afforded the right to vote, work and speak out, instead of being forced to shame themselves in full-coverage and be without certain basic rights like saying, “No.” As controversial as it may be to actually say it, I believe breastfeeding is really the least of a woman’s problem’s in the middle east. It would be lovely if more women breastfed the world over, but would be even more lovely, is the ability for a woman to do so simply because she want to, and because she can.
From http://home.businesswire.com:
Islam and Breastfeeding: Religious and Cultural Traditions
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sept. 8, 2006–Islamic religious beliefs and cultural practices in Muslim communities guide women’s breastfeeding decisions and are important factors in early infant care and feeding, according to a paper in the recent issue (Volume 1, Number 3) of Breastfeeding Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (www.liebertpub.com) and the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. The paper is available free online at www.liebertpub.com/bfm.
Helping Muslim women adopt good infant feeding practices requires an understanding of the differences between the religious basis of breastfeeding and the cultural practices followed by some Muslims. Clinicians can help differentiate between religious beliefs and cultural norms to promote breastfeeding in Muslim communities. Read the rest…
Tags: breastfeeding, female-Muslims, formula-feeding, Islam, middle-east, Religion |
18 Responses to “Does Islam contradict breastfeeding?”
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1. CrankMama said:
September 13, 2006 @ 6:28 pm
I agree. Everyone is so fixated on breastfeeding, they ignore the lower wages, religious persecution, and death by domestic violence that should be the issues of real concern here. Screw breastfeeding! Let’s try basic human rights.
2. Jessica Carlson said:
September 13, 2006 @ 6:59 pm
Crank, you are a brave and wise woman. A brave and wise woman who will probably enjoy (with me) some hate mail.
3. Olivia said:
January 31, 2007 @ 10:52 pm
You are obviously very ignorant about Islam and breastfeeding with regards to Islam for that matter. Speaking as a conservative Muslim woman who breastfed her child for two years who converted to Islam (and no i didnt convert because i married a Muslim), i can definitely say that you are very ill-educated about Islam and the status and rights of women in Islam, particularly mothers.
The day that I want to flash my boobs or booty in front of a male stranger is the day I hope somebody does shoot me, not because its a crime that deserves shooting but simply to be put out of my twisted feminist misery.
4. Cris said:
September 21, 2007 @ 9:35 am
It is much more “normal” in muslim countries to breastfeed in public than it is here in the US.
5. Jessica said:
September 21, 2007 @ 10:24 am
[quote comment="110210"]It is much more “normal” in muslim countries to breastfeed in public than it is here in the US.[/quote]
I find it extremely hard to believe that Muslim women is Islamic countries are breastfeeding in public unless they are doing it underneath their burkas or twenty blankets. I mean, hair on top of ones hair is offensive, legs are offensive, but breasts aren’t? I don’t believe it.
6. Kristy said:
September 21, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
Most Muslim women do breastfeed because they are directed to do so by their holy book. I thought everyone knew that.
7. Jessica said:
September 21, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
[quote comment="110253"]Most Muslim women do breastfeed because they are directed to do so by their holy book. I thought everyone knew that.[/quote]
Right and that’s not the point. The paper (above which is no longer an active link) says that the CULTURAL ISLAM has put women in fear of BFIP and the rates of formula feeding has soared because of the CULTURAL lack of respect and suppression of women’s bodies.
The whole paper was about educating women that it is scriptural and how they shouldn’t allow men to deny them BFIP. Most of them allow it at home, but women find it hard to do it and still run errands and wind up giving up. (That’s what the paper was about and it was actually studied by a Muslim.)
So, it’s not about who is smarter or more enlightened about the Muslim religion.
I would love to see a picture of women nursing their babies in Iran and Afganistan (and the like) IN PUBLIC though, but I won’t hold my breath.
8. Suze said:
November 13, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
It’s amazing to see how truly ignorant we are! Before we criticize other peoples’ cultures and beliefs (not because they dont deserve criticism but because our cultures/beliefs are far from perfect), let’s look at our American culture. It is the 21st centure, and we still haven’t elected a female president because of how sexist we are; our law (I’m a law student and studying the history of our American law regarding women is not very fun, i’ll tell you that much!) didn’t allow women to vote until AFTER 1900 and didn’t allow women to contract with their husbands until even after that because they were considered part of their husbands after they get married (hence, the husband cant contract w/ himself); how women were considered property and the effects of the women’s property after marriage is even more depressing. I could go on and on about the late development of our American law and the realities of the glass-ceilings for the women in this AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC society, but I’ll spare us the facts we all already know.
A Muslim women has had the “exclusive” right to own her property and control it as she pleases, and this right was granted to her over 1400 years ago (not less than 100 as in our case). I could also go on about a Muslim women’s rights in Islam, but from my experience, I have learned that most comments like the ones I have just read are made out of ignorance and not out of a good faith effort to educate ourselves.
9. Jessica said:
November 13, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
What’s odd — you would think angry feminists would rally around the rights of Muslim women instead of ignorning the fact that in many Islamic cultures even the “American” rights of women is in far superior in their rights, in contrast (ie; at least we don’t have to walk a few steps behind men and won’t be beat for showing a square inch of leg or an opinion.)
10. Asma said:
November 14, 2007 @ 4:28 am
whoa…. honestly, I’ve read a lot of muslim bashing before, but this is just so incredibly incorrect. first - If you haven’t actually been to a muslim country (which is quite obvious), you should hop on a plane to visit one before even attempting to describe what life is like for muslim women in muslim countries. Breastfeeding is definitely more accepted in every possible venue in most of the muslim world.
second- the muslim world is extremely variegated and some cultures within it have major misunderstandings and misapplications of islam, based on lack of religious education (rather than _because of_ religious education) - the culture operates based on tribalism, superstitions, oppression, etc. Those are the ones that get the majority of media attention. Afghanistan is not the archetypical muslim country, it’s very much an exception.
third about formula feeding - for some reason, the link didn’t work for me, so I couldn’t read the full article. But it’s becoming a trend in some arab countries (I can’t speak for the non-arab ones) to see formula feeding as the “western” and “modern” and “chic” thing to do. That’s the only reason I’ve ever seen for muslim women formula feeding - NEVER “fear of punishment” or anything like that.
fourth, I cover my hair and body, and the headscarf is the perfect nursing concealer. If you ever see a muslim woman holding a young baby and can lower your nose long enough to look at her as a fellow human, you’ll probably notice that our clothes allow for easy and discreet access for nursing.
11. Kristina said:
November 19, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
I can not believe the ignorance that is being displayed here as wisdom and bravery!
Breastfeeding is very common in countries with a predominately muslim population. Mostly in the undereducated, poorer classes. Most of the middle class, and “educated”, “liberal, modern” people don’t. You should do some research on this subject before you let your personal prejudices cloud your thinking.
People I have met in Pakistan and in Saudi Arabia seem to think if you are progressive and modern, you feed your child formula. they believe the commercials on tv that tell them that formula has all the vitamins and minerals necessary for babies, and that breastmilk could be lacking .
I lived in Pakistan for three years and this was the big problem, trying to get past the idea of what was “modern and good” and get women who were “too progressive” to follow the Islamic laws of covvering, by the way, to breastfeed.
As a matter of interest, let me say that in Mecca, the holiest of Muslim cities, in front of the kaba, the holiest of places in the Muslim world, I witnessed a woman covered from head to foot including gloves and a face veil…. pull up her scarf, and expose her breast to nurse her baby. Another woman scooted a little in front of her and the woman discreetly fed her child. men walked by, and must have known what she was doing, but didn’t give her a second look. Breastfeeding is encouraged in Islamic teachings and many women DO breastfeed. Now to get MORE to breastfeed, we have to deprogram their “western” thinking of what is right, modern and convenient.
When you have done some real research into the subject, lived there, or interviewed Muslim women, THEN you will be qualified to analyze the situation.
You know what they say about ASSuming.
12. Suze said:
November 19, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
I’m glad to see that we still have intelligent American women out there. Kudos to Asma and Kristina!!! But really, Jessica, you don’t need to hop over to a Muslim country to correct your misperception of Muslim women. You obviously have access to the internet, I’m sure you will find an abundance of information about Muslim women and their rights online. But here’s a piece of advice — if you really want to learn about the true Muslim women’s rights, it’s good to start w/ a credible source rather than a Muslim-bashing one. And to reiterate Asma’s point, nobody is perfect. I’m sure many atrocities and inhumane things occur in Muslim countries, but I sure hope people dont look at the crime level in America and blame Christianity (or any other religion) for those misdeeds.
13. marika said:
January 30, 2008 @ 12:10 am
you need to get your facts straight about islam. women in saudi arabia and many arab nations enjoy their lifes and dont find islam as a burden they love who they are because islam gives a lot of respect to women. most of these women live in better conditions than the women here in america. These women are respected because in the Quran allah tells all men to respect their wifes, mothers, and sisters. + the Quran also recommends women to breast feed their children until the age of two. Women cover themselves because muslim women are described as diamonds and if diamonds arnt hidden they would be stolen so most muslim women cover themselves because they have respect for themselves and dont want to go around exposing their body to everyone .
14. Sayed Hussein said:
February 6, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
This is easy if us wanna no about this go on you tube type in sayed ammar & look for this Sayed Ammar Nakshawani - Spiritual and Physical Nourishment. Listen to this n maybe you will learn something.
15. Kaniz said:
July 15, 2008 @ 5:55 am
I am a TV presenter and today i am going to do a tv proram (in Bangladesh,a muslim country) on importace OF BREASTFEEDING from ISLAMIC point of view. while searching information on website on this issue,this article came to my notice and I got surprised to read sister Jessica’s article. Sister, we muslim sisters are also fighting for out rights . we found all our rights are well defined in our Quran ans Sunnah. Only problem is the practice of our males who either do not follow Islam or misinterpret them. nowadays there are lots of books, articles are available to know Islam properly. If you ctiticise it without knowing it properly and completely it only shows your ignorance. i am really surprised to see a writer writing on an issue without knowing it at all.hope you will be careful for the next time. best wishes.
16. Fatima said:
July 15, 2008 @ 6:14 am
Here are some infomation on status of women in other civilizations for Jessica
Describing the status of the Indian woman, Encyclopedia Britannica states:
In India, subjection was a cardinal principle. Day and night must women be held by their protectors in a state of dependence says Manu. The rule of inheritance was agnatic, that is descent traced through males to the exclusion of females.
In Hindu scriptures, the description of a good wife is as follows: “a woman whose mind, speech and body are kept in subjection, acquires high renown in this world, and, in the next, the same abode with her husband.”
In Athens, women were not better off than either the Indian or the Roman women.
“Athenian women were always minors, subject to some male - to their father, to their brother, or to some of their male kin.
Her consent in marriage was not generally thought to be necessary and “she was obliged to submit to the wishes of her parents, and receive from them her husband and her lord, even though he were stranger to her.”
A Roman wife was described by an historian as: “a babe, a minor, a ward, a person incapable of doing or acting anything according to her own individual taste, a person continually under the tutelage and guardianship of her husband.”
In the Encyclopedia Britannica, we find a summary of the legal status of women in the Roman civilization:
In Roman Law a woman was even in historic times completely dependent. If married she and her property passed into the power of her husband . . . the wife was the purchased property of her husband, and like a slave acquired only for his benefit. A woman could not exercise any civil or public office . could not be a witness, surety, tutor, or curator; she could not adopt or be adopted, or make will or contract. Among the Scandinavian races women were:
under perpetual tutelage, whether married or unmarried. As late as the Code of Christian V, at the end of the 17th Century, it was enacted that if a woman married without the consent of her tutor he might have, if he wished, administration and usufruct of her goods during her life.
According to the English Common Law:
…all real property which a wife held at the time of a marriage became a possession of her husband. He was entitled to the rent from the land and to any profit which might be made from operating the estate during the joint life of the spouses. As time passed, the English courts devised means to forbid a husband’s transferring real property without the consent of his wife, but he still retained the right to manage it and to receive the money which it produced. As to a wife’s personal property, the husband’s power was complete. He had the right to spend it as he saw fit.
Only by the late nineteenth Century did the situation start to improve. “By a series of acts starting with the Married women’s Property Act in 1870, amended in 1882 and 1887, married women achieved the right to own property and to enter contracts on a par with spinsters, widows, and divorcees.” As late as the Nineteenth Century an authority in ancient law, Sir Henry Maine, wrote: “No society which preserves any tincture of Christian institutions is likely to restore to married women the personal liberty conferred on them by the Middle Roman Law.”
In his essay The Subjection of Women, John Stuart Mill wrote:
We are continually told that civilization and Christianity have restored to the woman her just rights. Meanwhile the wife is the actual bondservant of her husband; no less so, as far as the legal obligation goes, than slaves commonly so called.
Before moving on to the Quranic decrees concerning the status of woman, a few Biblical decrees may shed more light on the subject, thus providing a better basis for an impartial evaluation. In the Mosaic Law, the wife was betrothed. Explaining this concept, the Encyclopedia Biblica states: “To betroth a wife to oneself meant simply to acquire possession of her by payment of the purchase money; the betrothed is a girl for whom the purchase money has been paid.” From the legal point of view, the consent of the girl was not necessary for the validation of her marriage. “The girl’s consent is unnecessary and the need for it is nowhere suggested in the Law.”
As to the right of divorce, we read in the Encyclopedia Biblica: “The woman being man’s property, his right to divorce her follows as a matter of course.” The right to divorce was held only by man. “In the Mosaic Law divorce was a privilege of the husband only …. ”
The position of the Christian Church until recent centuries seems to have been influenced by both the Mosaic Law and by the streams of thought that were dominant in its contemporary cultures. In their book, Marriage East and West, David and Vera Mace wrote:
Let no one suppose, either, that our Christian heritage is free of such slighting judgments. It would be hard to find anywhere a collection of more degrading references to the female sex than the early Church Fathers provide. Lecky, the famous historian, speaks of (these fierce incentives which form so conspicuous and so grotesque a portion of the writing of the Fathers . . . woman was represented as the door of hell, as the mother of all human ills. She should be ashamed at the very thought that she is a woman. She should live in continual penance on account of the curses she has brought upon the world. She should be ashamed of her dress, for it is the memorial of her fall. She should be especially ashamed of her beauty, for it is the most potent instrument of the devil). One of the most scathing of these attacks on woman is that of Tertullian: Do you know that you are each an Eve? The sentence of God on this sex of yours lives in this age: the guilt must of necessity live too. You are the devil’s gateway: you are the unsealer of that forbidden tree; you are the first deserters of the divine law; you are she who persuades him whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack. You destroyed so easily God’s image, man. On account of your desert - that is death - even the Sop of God had to die). Not only did the church affirm the inferior status of woman, it deprived her of legal rights she had previously enjoyed.
17. Suze said:
July 15, 2008 @ 10:02 am
Thank you so much Fatima for providing us with this valuable knowledge!
18. Jessica said:
July 15, 2008 @ 10:50 am
Hey, don’t shoot the messenger.
My point wasn’t a historical analysis of religions, but rather, cultural and religious affects on a woman’s ability to breastfeed. If one feels that public breast exposure could lead to beatings or death, one will probably resort to formula feeding or resort to be holed up through infancy.