Council of Islamic Ideology to seek religious and medical input on suspended human milk bank
M. Waqar Bhatti:
Islamabad: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Monday decided to convene a conference involving health experts, religious scholars, and other stakeholders to gather input regarding Pakistan’s first human milk bank, a sensitive issue that has sparked considerable debate within the country.
The CII’s decision comes after intense criticism from religious circles, leading to the suspension of the milk bank, which had been launched in collaboration with UNICEF at the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) in Karachi in March this year.Healthy Competition and Market Repair Key to Industry Growth.Aamir Ibrahim
The 239th meeting of the CII, chaired by Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi, deliberated on the issue, which had been referred to the council by the Sindh government after Ulema (Islamic scholars) raised concerns. These concerns center on the Islamic concept of “milk kinship,” which stipulates that a parental bond is formed when a woman provides breast milk to a child who is not her biological offspring.
Islamic teachings suggest that this bond could create future complications, particularly regarding incestuous marriages between so-called “milk siblings,” if not properly documented.
The Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA) welcomed the CII’s decision to consult all stakeholders and urged the council to expedite the planned conference, emphasizing that timely action is crucial for saving neonatal lives.
The milk bank at SICHN, considered a “significant milestone in maternal health,” was suspended after Darul Uloom Karachi issued a revised fatwa in June 2024. The updated fatwa cited religious concerns and instructed the immediate discontinuation of the bank’s operations.
In response, SICHN issued a statement affirming their compliance with the latest religious guidance, while expressing their intent to seek further clarity from both Darul Uloom and the CII.
Though the planned CII conference is seen as a potential way forward, no set timeline has been provided. The council members, including notable Islamic scholars such as Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Rashid and Mufti Muhammad Zubair, stressed the importance of consulting a wide range of stakeholders.
They aim to gather insights from health experts on the benefits of milk banks for infants, particularly for mothers unable to breastfeed, while ensuring adherence to Islamic principles.
Human milk banks, or lactariums, collect, screen, and dispense donated human milk, primarily for infants whose mothers cannot produce sufficient milk. Globally, such banks have been essential in reducing infant mortality and ensuring proper nutrition for vulnerable infants, especially in neonatal intensive care units.
However, in Muslim-majority countries, the practice has faced religious scrutiny due to milk kinship concerns. In Iran, where a functioning network of milk banks exists, strict rules ensure that milk donations are documented to avoid familial complications.
In Pakistan, the milk bank was initially endorsed by a fatwa from Darul Uloom Karachi, allowing the project to proceed with specific preconditions, such as ensuring that Muslim infants would only receive milk from Muslim donors.
However, the fatwa’s reversal in June led to the suspension of operations, with the Sindh government seeking guidance from the CII on how to proceed while respecting Islamic principles.
While human milk banks are lauded by medical experts for their role in infant care, religious concerns have slowed their implementation in Muslim-majority countries. The upcoming CII conference will provide a platform for reconciling these viewpoints and determining how to move forward in Pakistan.
The suspension of the country’s first human milk bank has generated significant public interest, with many calling for a careful balance between medical necessity and religious compliance. Experts argue that breast milk is crucial for infant development and immune support, especially for premature or medically fragile babies, while Ulema stress the need for adherence to Islamic principles.
