Adab and Guidelines of Breastfeeding Based on Kitab Adab Perempuan

Abstract

Breastfeeding has frequently been discussed from both Islamic and health science perspectives. Breast milk has been proven to be the best nourishment for infants, a divine gift from Allah s.w.t. to mothers. Within Malay society, breastfeeding has long been a cultural practice among women, who not only observe it themselves but also encourage their daughters to continue the same tradition. Advice and guidance are typically transmitted orally from mothers to daughters.
This article aims to examine the breastfeeding guidelines and related fiqh rulings as presented by the author of Kitab Adab Perempuan. Data were collected using document analysis based on the text of Kitab Adab Perempuan and subsequently analysed through content analysis. The findings reveal that breastfeeding guidelines have been systematically documented over time to help women refer to and comprehend essential aspects of breastfeeding.
The Kitab Adab Perempuan, authored by Imam Ahmad b. Ya’qub al-Johori, was once used as a syllabus for female students at Malay Religious Schools in Johor and several other states. However, scholarly research and academic discussions on this work remain scarce, signifying the need for more comprehensive studies.