What does islam say about milk?
How milk develops in living organisms is expressed in the Qur’an with a marvelous clarity:
“And, behold, in the cattle [too] there is indeed a lesson for you: We give you to drink of that [fluid] which is [secreted from] within their bellies between that which is to be eliminated [from the animal’s body] and [its] life-blood: milk pure and pleasant to those who drink it.” (al-Nahl, 16: 66)
The nature of the phrases “which is to be eliminated [from the animal’s body]” and “[its] life-blood” mentioned in the verse could be recently understood in this century after the developments in the science of chemistry and digestive physiology. The facts that the blood carries the nutrition filtered from the digested food to the milk secreting gland and that these glands produce milk by processing the nutrition were not known at the time of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Because it is obvious that such information which requires specialty could not be known at the time.
When the incidents happened before Mary gave birth to the Prophet Isa (pbuh) were narrated in the Qur’an, some very important medical and biological mysteries were mentioned. It is stated in the verses of the Qur’an,
“And the pains of childbirth drove her (Mary) to the trunk of a palm-tree.
She cried (in her anguish): “Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!” But (a voice) (Isa or an angel) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree):
“Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; “And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.
“So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye.
And if thou dost see any man, say,
‘I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into not talk with any human being.’” (Maryam, 19: 23-26)
In these verses, Allah Almighty directs Meryem to a rivulet and commands her to eat from the palm tree. In the December 1983 issue of The Lancet Magazine, Michel Odent writes that water reduces stress and excitement of the mother during delivery and is effective in direct tension of the muscles. He advices the rivulets to be built near to the delivery rooms.
The date fruit is the store of sugar, many kinds of vitamins, and minerals required for the process of birth. However, there is another mystery in the date fruit:
In the 1900s, a hormone was discovered that initiates and accelerates the delivery: Oxytocin. This hormone plays a role in the contraction of the myometrium, repair of the damaged veins, secretion of milk and consolidation of motherhood feelings like loyalty and reliance. Considering these properties, this hormone was even given a name meaning “the easy birth.” In the 20th verse of Chapter al-Abasa, Allah Almighty states that the birth is facilitated by divine help. The palm fruit which Mary was ordered to eat affects the nerve endings that provide oxytocin and facilitates the delivery.
Source: The Universe, The Qur’an And The Human, Osman Nuri Topbaş, Erkam Publications