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Prophet Muhammad(PBUH)instructed his Companions not to kill the elderly unless they assisted in the fight against Muslims
Anas narrated
that whenever the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, dispatched troops on a battle, he would say: “Don’t kill old people.”1
At-Tahaawi (a scholar) said: “It is a confirmed fact that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbade killing old people (during battles) who do not assist the fighters in the battle in any way, whether physical fighting or even giving an opinion to those fighting the Muslims. This is because one may assist in his opinion and be more fatal than those who are actually fighting.
The evidence for this is the narration of Rabaah (the brother of Hanthalah; a Compan- ion) which stated that a woman was killed and upon seeing her, the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “This woman was not fighting”2
meaning, she was not supposed to be killed because she was not fighting.”3
المراجع
- Reported by At-Tahaawi in his book Sharh Ma’aani Al-Aathaar (5184).
- Reported by Abu Daawood (2669)and Ibn Maajah (2842).
- Sharh Ma’aani Al-Aathaar (224/3).
