Prophet Muhammad never sought to attack civilians during battles. He showed great care that their lives and property were protected. During battles he prohibited his soldiers from killing members of certain groups, which will be discussed in detail below. Women and Children Prophet Muhammad prohibited the killing of women and children during battles. As reported by Abdullah ibn Umar: “In one of Prophet Muhammad’s battles, a woman was found dead. Upon this, the Prophet prohibited killing women and children in battles.” (Buharî, Jihad 146; Muslim, Jihad 24-25). The Mentally Ill People who are mentally ill or senile are not held to be responsible during war, and therefore they are not to be killed. Reported from Ali: The Holy Prophet commanded: “Three kinds of people are not responsible for what they do: A sleeping person until he wakes; a senile or insane person until they regain their mental health; and children until they grow up.” Elderly People It is forbidden to kill very elderly people; they are regarded to be like children. Reported by Anas ibn Malik Prophet Muhammad would say the following words whenever he sent off a military unit or an army: “Set out in the name of Allah. Fight for the religion of Allah and in the name of Allah. Do not kill the elderly.” The reason why Prophet Muhammad forbade killing elderly idolaters was that they were of no harm to the Muslims and they were of no help to the idolaters. Elderly people who are actively opposed to the Muslims were killed; this is the reason why the old man Durayd ibn Simma was killed in the Battle of Hunayn. Clergymen Reported by Abdullah ibn Abbas: Prophet Muhammad would give the following command when he sent off his army: “…do not kill the children or the members of the monasteries” (Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, I/300). The phrase ‘members of the monastery’ means those people residing in religious places; these people are not to be killed as long as they are practicing their religion and not fighting against the Muslims. Workers and Servants These two groups are people who usually do not go to war. The fact that they live among the enemy does not require that their lives be taken. Prophet Muhammad commanded his troops as follows when he sent them off: “Do not kill the workers or the servants.” The lives of the people mentioned above are protected in Islam as long as they do not participate in a war. However, if they fight against the Islamic army and join a battle, they can be killed.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 03:11:31 +0000