Breastfeeding a Muslim child with a non-Muslim woman's milk
Breastfeeding a Muslim child with a non-Muslim woman's milk
Question: A Muslim's wife passed away, leaving behind a two-month-old daughter. The man handed over the girl to a Christian woman for upbringing. If the girl grows up and corrupts her beliefs and actions, will the father not be responsible for her sin?
Answer: It is not proper to hand over a suckling child to a non-Muslim woman for upbringing and breastfeeding without necessity, although it is permissible. However, it is necessary to separate the child from the non-Muslim woman when the child begins to understand religion. Moreover, if there is a fear that living with the non-Muslim woman will instill love for infidelity in the child's nature, then it is necessary to separate the child from her. As mentioned in Al-Durr al-Mukhtar (الدر المختار) and other books, when the child begins to understand religion, they should be separated from the non-Muslim wet nurse. However, if there is a fear that the child will develop love for infidelity, they should be separated earlier, even if they do not yet understand religion. Whoever acts against this will be sinful, but will still remain a Muslim.
(Jami'-ul-Fatawa, Volume: 10, Page: 126).