JIHAD SECTION · 121 – It is forbidden to kill women in war.
According to the narration of Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
During one of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)’s campaigns, a woman was found killed. Consequently, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the killing of women and children.
Rabah ibn Rabi’ reported:
We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on a campaign.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw people gathered around something. He sent a man to them and said, “What are they gathered about? Go and see.”
The man went and came back saying that they had gathered around a dead woman.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Was this woman fighting against you?"
The narrator continues: The vanguard was led by Khalid ibn al-Walid, and someone was sent to him, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Tell Khalid not to kill any women or unarmed servants.”
COMMENTARY:
It has been prohibited to kill a woman who is not fighting. There is indication that one may kill a woman attacking with a sword. Today, a quarter of Israeli soldiers are women. They have gone out to fight. It is naturally permissible to kill them in war.
Asif: Means a servant or someone without weapons.
Rabah ibn Rabi’ al-Tamimi (may Allah be pleased with him) is among the companions. He reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. His grandsons, Murarra bin Safi and Kays bin Zubayr, narrated from him. (Tahdhib at-Tahdhib, vol. 3, p. 233).
Semure ibn Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Kill the old men of the polytheists, and leave the children who are not capable of wielding weapons.” [462]
GLOSSARY:
Shaykh: An elderly person.
Sharh: A young boy who has not reached the age to wield a sword.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) related:
No woman was killed except for one woman from the Banu Qurayza Jews. She was speaking to me, laughing behind and in front [of me]. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) was killing their men with swords. Suddenly, someone unseen called out, "Where is so-and-so?" and mentioned her name. The woman said, “I am here.”
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the woman, "What is your situation?"
The woman replied, "I did something for which I am being sought." Immediately she was taken away and her neck was struck. I have not yet forgotten my astonishment at that woman, because while knowing she would be killed, she was laughing with her back and abdomen [turning] from side to side.
COMMENTARY:
The reason for the killing of this Jewish woman was due to a sin she committed. That sin was cursing the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him). This honorable hadith is evidence that those who curse the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) are to be killed. Of course, these punishments are not applied by individuals but by the state.
Sa'b bin Jisam reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked about a raid carried out at night upon some polytheists, and it was said that their women and children were killed.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “They are part of them.”
Amr (bin Dinaar) would say: "They are from their fathers."
Zuhri said: After this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade the killing of women and children.