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ArticlesQuestion: Regarding Hajj: My son is 1 year and 4 month and is being breast fed. I will leave him with my relative but this will make him suffer because he will be without my milk for 4 days. Should I postpone my Hajj or stop my breast feeding (by the way he is eating now many kinds of food)? But I don't know if it is Haram to stop breast feeding him, or is it lawful to stop and perform Hajj? Please reply as soon as possible because according to your reply I shall act and the Hajj is very soon.
Fatwa: All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
is His slave and Messenger.If there is evidence that your going to perform Hajj and leaving your child will not affect him/ her, you should perform Hajj. The scholars also believe that the order to breast-feed the child for two years is a supererogatory order and not an obligatory one. Allah Says (what means): {The mothers shall give suck to their offspring for two whole years for him who desires to complete the term}. [Quran 2:233]. So, Allah Says (Interpretation of meaning): (Who desires to complete the term) means that the demand is not compulsory. From this, we conclude that the reward of Hajj is greater. So, it should be given priority over continuing to breast-feed, especially if one knows that discontinuing breast-feeding a child for a few days does not mean weaning him completely. If you have not performed Hajj before, you must perform it. You should perform it now unless you fear for your child and can not find anyone to look after him during your absence.
Allah Knows best.
