32/48. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1812c — Booty, Orphans, and Mercy
Women who take part in military expeditions are to be given a reward but not a regular share; And the prohibition of killing children of the enemy
Hadith About Women, Slaves, Orphans, and War Ethics
Sahih Muslim : 1812c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1812c
وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ هُرْمُزَ، قَالَ كَتَبَ نَجْدَةُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ الْحَرُورِيُّ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ يَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْعَبْدِ، وَالْمَرْأَةِ يَحْضُرَانِ الْمَغْنَمَ هَلْ يُقْسَمُ لَهُمَا وَعَنْ قَتْلِ الْوِلْدَانِ وَعَنِ الْيَتِيمِ مَتَى يَنْقَطِعُ عَنْهُ الْيُتْمُ وَعَنْ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى مَنْ هُمْ فَقَالَ لِيَزِيدَ اكْتُبْ إِلَيْهِ فَلَوْلاَ أَنْ يَقَعَ فِي أُحْمُوقَةٍ مَا كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ اكْتُبْ إِنَّكَ كَتَبْتَ تَسْأَلُنِي عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ وَالْعَبْدِ يَحْضُرَانِ الْمَغْنَمَ هَلْ يُقْسَمُ لَهُمَا شَىْءٌ وَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُمَا شَىْءٌ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُحْذَيَا وَكَتَبْتَ تَسْأَلُنِي عَنْ قَتْلِ الْوِلْدَانِ وَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمْ يَقْتُلْهُمْ وَأَنْتَ فَلاَ تَقْتُلْهُمْ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَعْلَمَ مِنْهُمْ مَا عَلِمَ صَاحِبُ مُوسَى مِنَ الْغُلاَمِ الَّذِي قَتَلَهُ وَكَتَبْتَ تَسْأَلُنِي عَنِ الْيَتِيمِ مَتَى يَنْقَطِعُ عَنْهُ اسْمُ الْيُتْمِ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَنْقَطِعُ عَنْهُ اسْمُ الْيُتْمِ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ وَيُؤْنَسَ مِنْهُ رُشْدٌ وَكَتَبْتَ تَسْأَلُنِي عَنْ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى مَنْ هُمْ وَإِنَّا زَعَمْنَا أَنَّا هُمْ فَأَبَى ذَلِكَ عَلَيْنَا قَوْمُنَا .
Yazid b. Hurmuz Narrated from:
Najda b. 'Amir al-Haruri wrote to Ibn Abbas asking him about the slave and the woman as to whether they would get a share from the booty (it they participated in Jihad); about the killing of (enemy) children (in war); about the orphan as to when his orphanhood comes to an end; about kinsmen (of the Holy Prophet) as to who they are.He said to Yazid: Write to him. (If he were not likely to fall into folly, I would not have written to him.) Write: You have written asking about the woman and the slave whether they would get a share of the booty if they participated in Jihad. (You should know that) there is nothing of the sort for them except that they will be given a prize.And you have written asking me about the killing of the enemy children in war. (You should understand that) the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) did not kill them. and thou shouldst not kill them unless thou knew what the companion of Moses (i. e. Khadir) knew about the boy he had killed.And you have written asking me about the orphan as to when the period of his orphanhood comes to an end, so that the sobriquet of" orphan" is dropped from him. (In this regard, you should know that) the sobriquet" orphan" will not be dropped from him until he attains maturity of body and mind. And you have written asking me about the close relatives (of the Holy Prophet) as to who they are. We think that it is we, but our people have denied us this (position and its concomitant privileges).
[1] See: Sûrat Al-Kahf 18:71.Reference : Sahih Muslim 1812cIn-book reference : Book 32, Hadith 168USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 19, Hadith 4458
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1812c
This hadith about women and slaves in battle records Ibn Abbas answering several questions from Najda. He says women and slaves who were present at the booty did not receive a fixed share, though they could be given a prize. He also says the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم did not kill enemy children, so Najda should not kill them. About orphans, the hadith gives a careful measure: the name “orphan” does not drop until the person reaches bodily maturity and sound judgment is seen from him. The report also mentions the close relatives of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, with Ibn Abbas saying they believed it referred to them, though their people refused that claim.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report separates a fixed share from a gift or prize from the booty.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not kill enemy children, and Ibn Abbas repeats that limit.
- Orphanhood ends with maturity and sound judgment, not age alone.
- Questions about public matters should be answered carefully.
