Max Shimba Ministries: The Case of Prophet Muhammad and the Importance of Maternal Breast Milk

Monday, July 14, 2025

The Case of Prophet Muhammad and the Importance of Maternal Breast Milk

An Inquiry into Early Lactation Accounts in Islamic Tradition: The Case of Prophet Muhammad and the Importance of Maternal Breast Milk

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba

Max Shimba Ministries Org
Published: May 20, 2018

Abstract

This paper examines an intriguing claim from early Islamic hadith literature that narrates the Prophet Muhammad being breastfed by a male relative, Abu Talib, following his birth due to the absence of his mother’s milk. The discussion seeks to place this narrative within a critical textual, historical, and biological framework while highlighting the scientific importance of maternal breast milk in infant health and development. Utilizing modern medical research alongside primary Islamic texts, the paper evaluates both theological narratives and empirical health science perspectives to understand potential implications.

Introduction

Islamic historical tradition, primarily documented in hadith literature, records various episodes from the early life of the Prophet Muhammad. One notable yet rarely discussed narration suggests that Muhammad was breastfed by his uncle, Abu Talib, through a miraculous provision of milk, reportedly sent by Allah, before being entrusted to a wet nurse named Halima al-Sa’diya.

This account, while unusual by contemporary biological standards, raises both theological and scientific questions, especially when considering the established importance of maternal breast milk in early childhood development. This paper translates and academically analyzes the narration, explores its possible theological interpretations, and contrasts it with medical research on breastfeeding’s role in child growth and immunity.

Primary Textual Source

The primary reference comes from an Islamic hadith collection cited as:

Sahih Hadith Al-Kaft Al-Kukaynir, Volume 1, Page 284, Hadith No. 27, which records:

“When the Prophet Muhammad was born, he spent a long time without his mother’s milk. However, Abu Talib was blessed by Allah to produce milk through his breasts, which he fed to Muhammad for several days, until Halima al-Sa’diya was found and entrusted with the infant.”

Though this hadith is not among the widely authenticated sahih collections (such as Sahih al-Bukhari or Sahih Muslim), it reflects certain narratives preserved in regional or less-canonized Islamic texts.

The Role of Breast Milk in Early Child Development: A Biomedical Perspective

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for infants for the first six months of life. Maternal breast milk is universally recognized as the optimal source of nutrition for newborns, providing a unique balance of nutrients, immune factors, and bioactive compounds essential for the development and protection of infants (World Health Organization, 2024).

Key Nutritional Components of Human Breast Milk:

Proteins: 0.8%–0.9%, primarily casein, alpha-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, secretory IgA, lysozyme, and serum albumin.
Fats: Approximately 4.5%, rich in triglycerides (notably palmitic acid, oleic acid), essential fatty acids like linoleic acid, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which have anti-inflammatory and potential anticancer properties.
Carbohydrates: Around 7.1%, predominantly lactose, alongside several human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) that protect against intestinal pathogens.
Minerals: 0.2%, including calcium, magnesium, and trace elements vital for growth.

Significantly, secretory Immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels remain elevated in human milk from birth up to several months postpartum, providing mucosal immunity against pathogens.

Moreover, breast milk contains alpha-lactalbumin, which in acidic stomach environments binds with oleic acid to form HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made Lethal to Tumor cells) — a complex shown to induce apoptosis in tumor cells, contributing to reduced cancer susceptibility in breastfed infants (Svensson et al., 2000).

Religious and Theological Implications

The narration of Prophet Muhammad’s wet nursing by Abu Talib introduces a significant theological and anthropological curiosity. Islam strictly prescribes milk kinship (rida’a), where children breastfed by the same woman become milk-siblings, affecting permissible marital relations. The report of a man lactating, even through divine provision, would be extraordinary in both pre-Islamic and Islamic Arabia, where male lactation is neither culturally normative nor biologically typical.

Theologically, this narrative may have aimed to illustrate Allah’s miraculous provision for His Prophet. However, from a medical perspective, male galactorrhea — the spontaneous production of milk in males — is a documented but pathological condition associated with hormonal imbalances (e.g., elevated prolactin levels due to pituitary disorders).

Scientific Infeasibility of Male Breastfeeding

While rare, male lactation has been reported in medical literature, typically in pathological or extreme hormonal circumstances (Jensen, 1992). The biological mechanism involves prolactin, a hormone primarily responsible for milk production in mammals. In normal male physiology, prolactin levels are insufficient for lactation.

Cases of male lactation are medically classified and treated as endocrine disorders, not normative biological functions. Thus, the hadith’s claim, if taken literally, contradicts established biological science and would necessitate a supernatural intervention as posited by the narrative.

Conclusion

The narration of the Prophet Muhammad being breastfed by Abu Talib is a remarkable theological tradition but scientifically implausible by modern endocrinology and pediatrics. The incident, if interpreted allegorically, underscores the protective providence of Allah over His Prophet. From a medical standpoint, the importance of maternal breast milk for optimal infant development is irreplaceable and universally affirmed by contemporary health authorities.

While ancient narratives occasionally reflect cultural beliefs about miracles and divine provision, they must be critically assessed against established biomedical knowledge. The well-documented nutritional, immunological, and developmental benefits of maternal breastfeeding remain uncontested and continue to be a cornerstone of public health policy globally.

References

Svensson, M., et al. (2000). HAMLET, a new apoptosis-inducing complex formed by α-lactalbumin and oleic acid. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 97(8), 4221–4226.
World Health Organization. (2024). Exclusive breastfeeding for optimal growth, development, and health of infants. WHO.
Jensen, M. D. (1992). Male galactorrhea: a case review and endocrine evaluation. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 74(2), 289–293.
Lawrence, R. A., & Lawrence, R. M. (2021). Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession (9th ed.). Elsevier.
Riordan, J., & Wambach, K. (2019). Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.