Ruling 2505. The initial right to breastfeed a child belongs to the child’s mother. The father does not have the right to give the child to another woman [to breastfeed him] unless the mother wants a wage for breastfeeding the child and the father finds a wet nurse who does it free of charge or for a lower wage. In this case, the father can entrust the child to the wet nurse [to breastfeed him]. Afterwards, if the mother does not accept this and wishes to breastfeed the child herself, she cannot claim a wage from him.

Ruling 2506. It is recommended (mustaḥabb) that a wet nurse who is chosen to breastfeed a child be Muslim, sane (ʿāqilah), and possess admirable physical, mental, and moral qualities. It is not befitting to choose a wet nurse who is a disbeliever (kāfirah), feeble-minded, aged, or bad looking. And it is disapproved (makrūh) to choose a wet nurse of illegitimate birth or whose milk is the result of a child born from fornication.