G
Gabe
Guest
Another member of this board has pointed out that Islamic terror attacks which result in the death of innocent children seem to go against what is taught in the Quran. He is correct, this is how at first it would seem. It is only when you take into consideration the ahadith and other writings (which all Muslims consider to be almost as authorative as the Quran itself and without which, they would only be left with half a religion) do you realise that these evil terrorist's are indeed following true accepted teachings of Islam and are following a presidence set by Mohammad himself; someone who is ultimately viewed by Muslims as the perfect role-model, much like us Christians with our views of Christ.
Muhammad Never Killed Children?
It is probably fair to say that Muhammad did not approve of the intentional killing of children. A verse from the Qur’an laments the pre-Islamic Arab practice of infanticide against baby girls. 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.
Children were often given a specific reprieve from the mandate 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 992)
But Muhammad’s definition of a child was not the same as our modern 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 they could chop the head off of anyone with pubic hair:
Narrated Atiyyah al-Qurazi: I was among the captives of Banu Qurayzah. They (the Companions) examined us, and those who had begun to grow hair (pubes) were killed, and those who had not were not killed. I was among those who had not grown hair.(Sahih Muslim 4390).
Keep in mind that many Muslims often insist that Aisha reached puberty at age nine, since that is the age that Muhammad began having sex with her. If so, then the age for “manhood†among boys might have been considered around twelve.
Muhammad also played a bit loose with the lives of women and children during wartime. As recorded in both Bukhari (52:256):
Narrated As-Sab bin Jaththama: The Prophet passed by me at a place called Al-Abwa or Waddan, and was asked whether it was permissible to attack the pagan warriors at night with the probability of exposing their women and children to danger. The Prophet replied, "They (i.e. women and children) are from them (i.e. pagans)." I also heard the Prophet saying, "The institution of Hima is invalid except for Allah and His Apostle."
and Sahih Muslim(4322):
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.â€Â
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. It is doubtful that Muhammad would ever shrug of the killing of young Muslims as he did the killing of non-Muslim children.
Muhammad did, in fact, draw a distinction between Muslim and non-Muslim children and said 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 819)
A link to the original article:
Muhammad Never Killed Children?
It is probably fair to say that Muhammad did not approve of the intentional killing of children. A verse from the Qur’an laments the pre-Islamic Arab practice of infanticide against baby girls. 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.
Children were often given a specific reprieve from the mandate 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 992)
But Muhammad’s definition of a child was not the same as our modern 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 they could chop the head off of anyone with pubic hair:
Narrated Atiyyah al-Qurazi: I was among the captives of Banu Qurayzah. They (the Companions) examined us, and those who had begun to grow hair (pubes) were killed, and those who had not were not killed. I was among those who had not grown hair.(Sahih Muslim 4390).
Keep in mind that many Muslims often insist that Aisha reached puberty at age nine, since that is the age that Muhammad began having sex with her. If so, then the age for “manhood†among boys might have been considered around twelve.
Muhammad also played a bit loose with the lives of women and children during wartime. As recorded in both Bukhari (52:256):
Narrated As-Sab bin Jaththama: The Prophet passed by me at a place called Al-Abwa or Waddan, and was asked whether it was permissible to attack the pagan warriors at night with the probability of exposing their women and children to danger. The Prophet replied, "They (i.e. women and children) are from them (i.e. pagans)." I also heard the Prophet saying, "The institution of Hima is invalid except for Allah and His Apostle."
and Sahih Muslim(4322):
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.â€Â
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. It is doubtful that Muhammad would ever shrug of the killing of young Muslims as he did the killing of non-Muslim children.
Muhammad did, in fact, draw a distinction between Muslim and non-Muslim children and said 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 819)
A link to the original article: