The Truth:
It is probably fair to say that Muhammad did not
approve of killing children intentionally. A verse from the Quran laments
the pre-Islamic Arab practice of infanticide against baby girls, for example. Other evidence
from the Hadith suggests that he instructed his men not to kill children in
battle if it could be avoided, but to capture them for slavery.
He also gave children a reprieve, when telling his people to "kill those who disbelieve in Allah":
[Muhammad said] “Fight everyone in the way of Allah and kill those who
disbelieve in Allah. Do not be deceitful with the spoils; do not be treacherous,
nor mutilate nor kill children.” (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 992)
But Muhammad’s definition of a child was not the same as contemporary understanding. Following the surrender of the
Qurayza stronghold, he ordered the
execution of every male child who had reached puberty. His men had the boys drop
their pants so that that anyone with pubic hair could be beheaded (Abu
Dawud
4390).
Keep in mind that many Muslims also insist that Aisha reached puberty at age
nine, since that is the age that Muhammad
began
having sex with her. If so, then
he might have considered the age for “manhood” among boys to be around twelve.
Muhammad also played a bit loose with the lives of women and children during
wartime. As recorded in both Bukhari and Sahih Muslim:
It is reported on the authority of Sa'b b. Jaththama that the Prophet of Allah
(may peace be upon him), when asked about the women and children of the
polytheists being killed during the night raid, said: “They are from them.” (Sahih
Muslim
4322,
see also Bukhari 52:256)
This does not justify the targeted killing of women and children per
se, but it does prove that collateral damage is entirely acceptable if it
accomplishes the military goal of spreading Islamic rule.
The Quran, in verse 9:36,
states that unbelievers should be fought "altogether" or "collectively."
Muhammad used a catapult against the city of Taif - a catapult kills
indiscriminately. The only crime those citizens were guilty of was rejecting his claims of being a prophet
and evicting him. This episode from Muhammad's life has been cited by al-Qaeda to justify terrorism.
Muhammad drew a distinction between Muslim and non-Muslim children
and implied that it would be permissible to kill a child who has no prospect of accepting
Islam:
The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used not to kill the children, so
thou shouldst not kill them unless you could know what Khadir had known about
the child he killed, or you could distinguish between a child who would grow up
to he a believer (and a child who would grow up to be a non-believer), so that
you killed the (prospective) non-believer and left the (prospective) believer
aside. (Sahih Muslim
4457)
After capturing Mecca, the prophet of Islam also ordered the execution of two
“singing girls” who had mocked him in verse:
“…two singing-girls Fartana and her friend who used to sing satirical songs
about the apostle, so he ordered that they should be killed…” (Ibn
Ishaq/Hisham
819, Ibn Kathir v.3 p.403)
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