The Council of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation‭, ‬holding its twenty-sixth session in Doha‭, ‬State of Qatar‭, ‬on 6-10‭ ‬Dhūl-Qi’dah 1446H‭ (‬4–8‭ ‬May 2025‭), ‬

HAVING EXAMINED the research papers submitted to the Academy concerning The Feeding premature infants with breast’s milk from known and unknown women‭,‬

HAVING REVIEWD the recommendations of the scientific symposium organized by the Academy in Jeddah‭, ‬Kingdom of Saudi Arabia‭, ‬on 9‭ ‬Dhūl-Qi’dah 1444H‭ (‬29‭ ‬May 2023‭), ‬

HAVING LISTENED to the in-depth discussions on the subject‭,‬

RESOLVES

First‭:‬‭ ‬Confirmation of the Academy resolution no‭. ‬6‭ (‬6/2‭) ‬on Human Milk Banks‭.‬

Second‭:‬‭ ‬Breastfeeding is defined as the delivery of a woman’s milk into the stomach of a child aged two years or younger‭, ‬whether through suckling at the breast‭, ‬oral feeding‭ (‬wajūr‭), ‬or nasal feeding‭ (‬sa‘ūt‭). ‬Wajūr is pouring milk into the mouth‭, ‬and sa‘ūt is pouring it through the nose‭.‬

Third‭:‬‭ ‬A premature infant is any child born before completing thirty-seven‭ (‬37‭) ‬weeks of gestation‭.‬

Fourth‭:‬‭ ‬Breastfeeding a child is a duty upon their guardians‭, ‬whether the child is premature or not‭. ‬This duty is particularly emphasized for premature infants due to their critical need for nourishment‭, ‬thereby making the use of lawful means for their breastfeeding a matter of concern and care‭.‬

Fifth‭:‬‭ ‬Donors of milk for premature infants have the right to stipulate non-disclosure of their identities‭. ‬Guardians and relevant authorities must honor this condition‭.‬

Sixth‭:‬‭ ‬The concerned authorities must develop legislation and regulatory frameworks for the donation of mothers’‭ ‬milk to protect this age group in accordance with the overarching maqāṣid‭ (‬objectives‭) ‬of Islamic law concerning the preservation of life‭, ‬lineage‭, ‬and the establishment of milk kinship‭ (‬maḥramiyyah‭).‬

Seventh‭:‬‭ ‬Companies that wish to manufacture medications derived from donated milk for premature infants must enable the families and close relatives of the infants to know the identities of the milk donors to uphold the principle of establishing milk kinship‭ (‬maḥramiyyah‭).‬

RECOMMANDATIONS

Urging Ministries of health and relevant health authorities‭, ‬in cooperation with the World Health Organization‭ (‬WHO‭), ‬the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences in Kuwait‭, ‬and health institutions in OIC member states‭, ‬to provide increased care and support‭, ‬and to promote breastfeeding initiatives for this vulnerable group of children‭.‬

Indeed‭, ‬Allah is All-Knowing‭.‬