Thanks for the post brother! As always i have appreciated your work on Quran's interpretation. JazakAllah.
But related to above post, one thing that i get confused in is that as Quran's Allah's word then this ayah must be talking about something precise as Lord could never talk on the basis of estimations and all, He encompasses each and everything. And if its an estimate how could one differentiate between estimates and the precise words on Allah in Quran. And Also my thoughts on this ayah are that Allah Almighty is talking about precise 6 months gestation period and that is based from the time of conception and not from the time of last menstruation cycle of women as is usually is the case because humans cannot exactly estimate the exact day of conception. So based on that it amounts to around 25 and just over half weeks . Based on that it could be deduced that 25 and just over half week is the time period by which a child born is viable and he/she doesnt need any equipement to survive. Usually its after 24 weeks of gestation length that a baby can survive so adding for one or two weeks to convert this since conception, it goes the same length.
Pardon me for any error in the above as these are just thoughts on this.
As'salamu Alaikum brother Hilariousastal,
The following Noble Verse that is mentioned in the article answers your questions:
[002:233] The mothers shall give suck to their offspring for two whole years (حولين كاملين), if the father desires to complete the term. But he shall bear the cost of their food and clothing on equitable terms. No soul shall have a burden laid on it greater than it can bear. No mother shall be Treated unfairly on account of her child. Nor father on account of his child, an heir shall be chargeable in the same way. If they both decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no blame on them. If ye decide on a foster-mother for your offspring, there is no blame on you, provided ye pay (the mother) what ye offered, on equitable terms. But fear God and know that God sees well what ye do.2:233 والوالدات يرضعن اولادهن
حولين كاملين لمن اراد ان يتم الرضاعة وعلى المولود له رزقهن وكسوتهن بالمعروف لاتكلف نفس الا وسعها لاتضار والدة بولدها ولامولود له بولده وعلى الوارث مثل ذلك فان ارادا فصالا عن تراض منهما وتشاور فلا جناح عليهما وان اردتم ان تسترضعوا اولادكم فلا جناح علكيم اذا سلمتم مااتيتم بالمعروف واتقوا الله واعلموا ان الله بما تعملون بصير
Here are a few points that answer your concerns, which I've already mentioned in the Article:
1- The two full years may or may not be completed.
2- Mothers do vary in terms of being wet. Some mothers go dry much earlier than others. They all vary, and this had always been a known fact. This is even mentioned in
Noble Verse 2:233 that I just quoted. Read the part about
hiring a foster mother, if needed for those fathers who want to complete the full two years.
3- Allah Almighty didn't give an estimate number out of confusion. No. Instead, Allah Almighty gave us, the children of our parents, a number that is close enough to give the picture of the type of hardship that our parents had to endure when we were babies. Babies don't just eat any food, nor are they like ordinary children.
4- It is crystal clear from the Holy Quran that the total number of months for the pregnancy, gestation, nursing and weaning periods varies,
and isn't a fixed number.
5- Now, your thoughts are very interesting, akhi (brother). But I personally still think that the number is just a picture. But your point
on the 6 months gestation period is also very interesting. Jazaka Allah Khayr (may Allah Almighty bless you). Ameen.
I hope this helps, Insha'Allah.
Take care,
Osama Abdallah
