A Research Study on the Concept of Human MilkBanks and Their Implications from thePerspctive of Islamic Law (Shariah)

Abstract

This research explores the contemporary concept, historical evolution, and operational
framework of Human Milk Banks (HMB). The study provides a comprehensive
linguistic and terminological analysis of "Human Milk" and "Banking" within both
classical Arabic lexicons and modern academic contexts. By tracing the historical
transition from traditional wet-nursing to organized institutional milk banking, the
research highlights the critical medical necessity of human milk for the survival of preterm and vulnerable infants, particularly in preventing life-threatening conditions like
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). Furthermore, it delineates the rigorous technical
protocols involved in the functioning of these banks, including donor screening,
pasteurization, and the maintenance of sophisticated databases. The chapter
establishes a foundational understanding of the administrative and clinical reality of
milk banks, serving as a prerequisite for the subsequent legal and Sharia-based analysis
of the subject within Islamic jurisprudence.