32/48. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1812e — Children, Orphans, and Booty
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 Children in War and Orphanhood: Clear Answers
Sahih Muslim : 1812e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1812e
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ جَرِيرِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، سَمِعْتُ قَيْسًا، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ هُرْمُزَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَهْزٌ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ، حَدَّثَنِي قَيْسُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ هُرْمُزَ، قَالَ كَتَبَ نَجْدَةُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ فَشَهِدْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ حِينَ قَرَأَ كِتَابَهُ وَحِينَ كَتَبَ جَوَابَهُ وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَاللَّهِ لَوْلاَ أَنْ أَرُدَّهُ عَنْ نَتْنٍ يَقَعُ فِيهِ مَا كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَلاَ نُعْمَةَ عَيْنٍ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّكَ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ سَهْمِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى الَّذِي ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ مَنْ هُمْ وَإِنَّا كُنَّا نَرَى أَنَّ قَرَابَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هُمْ نَحْنُ فَأَبَى ذَلِكَ عَلَيْنَا قَوْمُنَا وَسَأَلْتَ عَنِ الْيَتِيمِ مَتَى يَنْقَضِي يُتْمُهُ وَإِنَّهُ إِذَا بَلَغَ النِّكَاحَ وَأُونِسَ مِنْهُ رُشْدٌ وَدُفِعَ إِلَيْهِ مَالُهُ فَقَدِ انْقَضَى يُتْمُهُ وَسَأَلْتَ هَلْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْتُلُ مِنْ صِبْيَانِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ أَحَدًا فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمْ يَكُنْ يَقْتُلُ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا وَأَنْتَ فَلاَ تَقْتُلْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا إِلاَّ أَنْ تَكُونَ تَعْلَمُ مِنْهُمْ مَا عَلِمَ الْخَضِرُ مِنَ الْغُلاَمِ حِينَ قَتَلَهُ وَسَأَلْتَ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ وَالْعَبْدِ هَلْ كَانَ لَهُمَا سَهْمٌ مَعْلُومٌ إِذَا حَضَرُوا الْبَأْسَ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ سَهْمٌ مَعْلُومٌ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُحْذَيَا مِنْ غَنَائِمِ الْقَوْمِ.
Yazid b. Hurmuz Narrated from:
Najda wrote to Ibn Abbas. I was sitting in the company of Ibn 'Abbas when he read his letter and wrote its reply. Ibn Abbas said: Were it not for preventing him from falling into wickedness. I would not have replied to his letter, may he never be joyful. He wrote in reply to him referring to the share of the close relatives (of the Holy Prophet) (from the booty) whom God has mentioned. (I have to tell you that) we thought we were the close relatives of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), but our people have refused to recognise us as such.You have asked about the orphan as to when his orphanhood comes to an end. (I have to say that) when he reaches the age of marriage, attains maturity of mind, and his property is returned to him, then he is no longer an orphan.You have inquired whether the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upo him) used to kill anyone from the children of the polytheists in the war. (You should know that) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used not to kill any one of their children, and you (too) should not kill any one of them, except when you knew about them what Khadir had known about the boy whom he killed.And you have inquired whether there is a fixed share of the booty for women and slaves when they participate in a battle. (I have to tell you that) there is no fixed share for them except that they will be given some reward from the spoils of war.
[1] See: Al-Kahf 18:71.Reference : Sahih Muslim 1812eIn-book reference : Book 32, Hadith 170USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 19, Hadith 4460
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1812e
This hadith about children in war and orphanhood presents Ibn Abbas writing a careful answer to Najda. He says the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not kill any of the children of the polytheists, and he tells Najda not to kill any of them. He also says the orphan’s status ends when he reaches the age of marriage, sound judgment is seen from him, and his property is returned to him. About women and slaves in battle, Ibn Abbas says they did not have a fixed known share, but they could be given something from the spoils. The report also mentions the share of the Prophet’s close relatives, where Ibn Abbas says they thought it referred to them.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not kill children of the polytheists in war.
- Orphanhood ends with maturity, sound judgment, and return of property.
- Women and slaves may receive a reward, but no fixed share is mentioned here.
- Ibn Abbas answered to prevent the questioner from falling into wrong action.
