First-of-its-kind Islamic fatwa issued encouraging the use of pasteurized donor breast milk for Muslim babies in the hospital
On Nov. 16, the Minnesota Islamic Council issued a fatwa, or a religious clarification, encouraging the use of pasteurized donor human milk for babies, particularly preterm, low birth and ill babies, when a mother’s milk is not available. The ruling comes after extensive discussions between Islamic scholars, Muslim leaders in the Twin Cities and experts from Children’s Minnesota, M Health Fairview, the Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies and the Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition.