Mothers Shall Nurse Their Children Two Complete Years
fiqh
Level: intermediate
family
fqh-054
وَٱلۡوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرۡضِعۡنَ أَوۡلَٰدَهُنَّ حَوۡلَيۡنِ كَامِلَيۡنِ
— البقرة 233
Verse: "Mothers shall nurse their children for two complete years — for those who wish to complete the nursing." (2:233) — Nursing is the child's established right. The nursing mother's expenses are on the father even after divorce. "The child shall not be used as a weapon in divorce." Wisdom of two years: research confirms this period is optimal for the child's immunity.
Source: Al-Qurtubi (3/165); Ibn Qudama (8/163)
Question: Who bears the nursing mother's expenses after divorce?
Answer: The father — "upon the father is their provision and clothing in a reasonable manner." Divorce doesn't remove the nursing mother's expenses as long as the child is nursing.