The Miracle of Breastfeeding in the Story of Musa

Update: I have written a new, expanded reflection on this beautiful story: Breastfeeding in the Story of Musa: A Quranic Miracle for Nursing Mothers.

The story of Musa’s mother is one of most moving stories in the Quran.  It shows how special the bond is between a nursing mother and her child.  At the time Musa was born, Pharaoh decreed that every newborn son of Bani Israel be killed.  To save Musa (as), Allah commanded Musa’s mother to put him in the river. But first, He tells the nervous mother to breastfeed her infant.  Subhan’Allah, one of the benefits of breastfeeding is that it produces a hormone called oxytocin which has calming effect on the mother.  Allah (swt) showed his mercy by allowing her to bond with her baby one last time before he left her, also giving her the promise that he would be returned and made a messenger.  Eventually, Pharaoh’s family found him and desired to keep him.  However, they could not find a wet-nurse to feed him, because Allah (swt) had commanded baby Musa to only accept the milk of his mother.  By the grace of Allah (swt), Musa’s sister led them to her mother who was able to enjoy her blessed child once again.  Since they had finally found someone who could feed him, he was put in her care for that period.

The translation of Surah Al-Qasas verses 7-13 states:

And We inspired to the mother of Moses, “Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers.”

And the family of Pharaoh picked him up [out of the river] so that he would become to them an enemy and a [cause of] grief. Indeed, Pharaoh and Haman and their soldiers were deliberate sinners.

And the wife of Pharaoh said, “[He will be] a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.” And they perceived not.

And the heart of Moses’ mother became empty [of all else]. She was about to disclose [the matter concerning] him had We not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers.

And she said to his sister, “Follow him”; so she watched him from a distance while they perceived not.

And We had prevented from him [all] wet nurses before, so she said, “Shall I direct you to a household that will be responsible for him for you while they are to him [for his upbringing] sincere?”

So We restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of the people do not know.