Taberî states that the verse's ruling of 'mothers shall breastfeed their children for two complete years' is not a general obligation (fard) for women who give birth, but rather a measure that determines the maximum limit of breastfeeding duration in case of dispute. He explains that the expression 'kamilayn' (two complete years) was added to prevent the statement from being misunderstood as 'one year and somewhat more'. He also notes that the expression 'when you hand over to them in a customary manner' means paying the nurse's fee according to custom for her breastfeeding the child, and he states that this is the most correct view.

وأولى الأقوال بالصواب في تأويل ذلك قول من قال تأويله: وإن أردتم أن تسترضعوا أولادكم إلى تمام رضاعهن، ولم تتفقوا أنتم ووالدتهم على فصالهم، ولم تروا ذلك من صلاحهم، فلا جناح عليكم أن تسترضعوهم ظؤورة إن امتنعت أمهاتهم من رضاعهم لعلة بهن أو لغير علة إذا سلمتم إلى أمهاتهم وإلى المسترضعة الآخرة حقوقهن التي آتيتموهن بالمعروف

Zemahşerî indicates that the breastfeeding period mentioned in the verse is two years, which is the view and evidence of al-Shâfi'î, and that Abû Yûsuf and Muhammad also hold this view. According to Abû Hanîfa, however, this period is thirty months. He also conveys that if a child is weaned before two years and becomes accustomed to food, breastfeeding it again would not be considered part of the nursing contract, and if it has not yet become fully accustomed to food, breastfeeding would create a prohibition.

وبه استشهد الشافعي رضي الله عنه على أن مدة الرضاع سنتان ، لا تثبت حرمة الرضاع بعد انقضائهما ، وهو مذهب أبي يوسف ومحمد . وأما عند أبي حنيفة رضي الله عنه . فمدة الرضاع ثلاثون شهرا .

In this text, al-Râzî focuses on the scope of the expression 'al-wâlidât' (mothers): according to one view, the wording is general and includes all mothers whether married or divorced; according to the second view, it specifically refers to divorced mothers because the verse comes immediately after verses about divorce. He also discusses the question of the elision of the lâm particle in the takdir of 'li-awlâdikum' in the context of hadâna/isterdjâ', and deliberates on the wisdom of determining pregnancy to be at least six months and breastfeeding to be at most two years (with the aim of protecting the woman from accusations of fornication and suspicion of debauchery).

والقول الثاني : المراد منه : الوالدات المطلقات ، قالوا : والذي يدل على أن المراد ذلك وجهان أحدها : أن الله تعالى ذكر هذه الآية عقيب آية الطلاق ، فكانت هذه الآية تتمة تلك الآيات ظاهرا

According to Kurtubî, the verse concerns women who are separated from their husbands and have children; mothers are more entitled to breastfeed their children than foreign women because their compassion and mercy are greater. Separating a child from his mother while young harms both the child and the mother; this situation shows that the mother is more deserving of guardianship (hazâna) even if the child has been weaned, but this right falls if the mother remarries. It is also noted that the father is placed under the obligation of providing maintenance due to the child's incapacity, and because nutrition reaches the child through the mother via breastfeeding, this maintenance is allocated to the mother.

أي هن أحق برضاع أولادهن من الاجنبيات لأنهن أحنى وأرق وانتزاع الولد الصغير إضرار به وبها وهذا يدل على أن الولد وإن فطم فالأم أحق بحضانته لفضل حنوها وشفقتها

According to this exegete, it is stated from the verse that Ibn Abbas and other imams derived that the minimum period of pregnancy is six months; this view is also supported by Osman and some of the companions. Furthermore, proceeding from the continuation of the verse, it is stated that breastfeeding only creates a prohibition (mahramiyyat) before two years of age, and breastfeeding after two years does not produce this ruling. The text also conveys that it is not permissible for the child to be taken and given away with the aim of harming one of the parents, and that the obligation of maintenance and clothing belongs to the father according to custom.

ومن ههنا استنبط ابن عباس وغيره من الأئمة أن أقل مدة الحمل ستة أشهر لأنه قال في الآية الأخرى على أن أقل مدة الحمل ستة أشهر وهو استنباط قوي صحيح ووافقه عليه عثمان وجماعة من الصحابة رضي الله عنه

According to Beydâwî, this verse contains rulings on breastfeeding, maintenance, disputes over milk, and the nurse's fee. The maximum period of breastfeeding is two complete years, after which no consideration is given to it, and breastfeeding for less than two years is also permissible. The fee and expenses of breastfeeding belong to the father; the mother and father cannot harm each other because of the child, and the parties can agree by mutual consent on weaning or hiring a wet nurse.

وهو دليل على أن أقصى مدة الإرضاع حولان ولا عبرة به بعدهما وأنه يجوز أن ينقص عنه.