Short answer
No. Using a nursery, childminder or relative to care for a child for part of the day is permissible. Children have a right to safe, loving care and good upbringing, and parents remain responsible for it. Choose a safe place, check food and values, and keep enough time with your child that you, not the nursery, raise them.
Hiring someone to look after a child is a permissible contract. The father must provide for the child's needs, and the mother has the first right to care for a young child; she may delegate part of it. What is required is that the child is not neglected or exposed to harm.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Quran allows parents to have their babies nursed by someone else, for payment, and wet nurses were common in Makkah: the Prophet ﷺ himself was raised for a time by Halimah. Delegating some care is not new. What Islam asks is that the child is well looked after and that parents carry out their role: the hadith says the woman is a shepherd over her husband's house and children, and responsible for them.
Things to check:
- Safety and care: trained staff, good ratios, warm carers.
- Food: halal meals, or send your own.
- Values: how they handle festivals, songs and stories. Many nurseries will adapt for Muslim families if you ask.
- Hours: a child who spends every waking hour away from parents misses something no carer can give. Keep evenings, weekends and bedtimes for real family time.
Mothers working: a woman may work when her duties at home are not neglected and the work is halal and dignified. The father must provide for the family, so a mother's earnings are her own and her work is a choice, not a duty. Decide together as a couple, with the child's needs first. See who raises the child.
Better options where possible: grandparents or trusted relatives, or a Muslim childminder, can give the child the language and habits of faith from early on. Whatever the arrangement, teach the child at home: duas, short surahs and the love of Allah. See rights of children.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:233
۞ وَٱلْوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَٰدَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ ۖ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْمَوْلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَا تُضَآرَّ وَٰلِدَةٌۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوْلُودٌۭ لَّهُۥ بِوَلَدِهِۦ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْوَارِثِ مِثْلُ ذَٰلِكَ ۗ فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضٍۢ مِّنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍۢ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا ۗ وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن تَسْتَرْضِعُوٓا۟ أَوْلَٰدَكُمْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا سَلَّمْتُم مَّآ ءَاتَيْتُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ ﴿٢٣٣﴾
Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]. Upon the father is the mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity. No mother should be harmed through her child, and no father through his child. And upon the [father's] heir is [a duty] like that [of the father]. And if they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them. And if you wish to have your children nursed by a substitute, there is no blame upon you as long as you give payment according to what is acceptable. And fear Allah and know that Allah is Seeing of what you do.
Delegating care of a child for payment is allowed.
Sahih al-Bukhari 7138
Sahih... والمرأة راعية على أهل بيت زوجها وولده ...
"The woman is a shepherd over her husband's household and his children."
Parents remain responsible for their children's care.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, chapter on custody (hadanah). The mother's first right to care for a young child.
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Ijarat. Hiring a nurse or carer for a child is a valid contract.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.