The woman's breast and its related rulings (breastfeeding of newborns, a means of adornment for women, and vulnerability to diseases)

Abstract

Among the subtle manifestations of God's creation is what He has honored women with—her breasts, which He, in His wisdom, placed upon her chest. Out of His divine wisdom, He made them prominent so that the infant may easily latch onto them during breastfeeding. They are also a source of adornment, beauty, and elegance for the woman, and a particular source of pleasure for the husband. Books of Islamic jurisprudence have referenced several rulings related to them, including rulings on bodily harm inflicted upon them. Moreover, they are susceptible to various diseases, including tumors that have recently seen a notable increase in prevalence. This necessitates taking preventive measures to maintain their health, safeguard the woman’s overall well-being, and ensure that the infant is not deprived of her highly nutritious milk, which plays a significant role in brain development.

The research aimed to achieve several objectives, the most important of which are:

1. Providing Islamic legal answers to the questions posed by husbands and wives regarding issues related to the breasts.
2. Compiling a range of scattered rulings and regulations related to this topic into a single comprehensive study.
3. Demonstrating the capacity of Islamic law to offer appropriate solutions to the evolving needs of people in their daily lives.

This study concluded with a number of findings and recommendations, which are presented at the end of the paper.