Islam prohibits the killing of women and children.
Narrated Ibn 'Umar: A woman was found killed in one of these battles, so
the Messenger of God forbade the killing of women and children. (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
Ibn `Abbas says: The Messenger of Allah, when dispatching his troops, would tell them, " ..Do not behave treacherously, nor misappropriate war-booty, nor mutilate [those whom you kill],
nor kill children, nor the people in cloisters." (Musnad Ahmad, Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
Another narration records that he said, "…
Do not kill a woman, nor a child, nor an old-aged man’ (Sharh as-Sunnah Al-Baghawî)
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet said: Go in Allah's name, trusting in Allah, and adhering to the religion of Allah's Apostle.
Do not kill a decrepit old man, a young infant, or a child, or a woman; do not be dishonest about booty, but collect your spoils, do right and act well, for Allah loves those who do well. (Sunan Abî Dawûd)
And again, "
Do not kill a child, nor a woman, nor an old man, nor obliterate a stream, nor cut a tree…" (Sunan Al-Bayhaqî)
The strict conditions that Islam has laid out in the event of warfare are referred to in the verse:
2:190 Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.
The companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) continued to abide by these conditions in all the military campaigns they undertook after his death. The first caliph, Abu Bakr, advised his military commander:
"I advise you ten things: Do not kill women or children or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place. Do not slaughter sheep or camels except for food. Do not burn bees and do not scatter them. Do not steal from the booty, and do not be cowardly."
(Muwatta Mâlik)
The Prophet Muhammad also forbade the killing of anyone with whom the Muslims have peace agreements:
"The one who kills a covenanter will never smell the scent of heaven and its scent is found at the distance of forty years." (Sahîh Bukhârî)
In short, Islam in no way permits the killing of noncombatants or indiscriminate violence against any population.
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