Najda b. 'Amir al-Haruri wrote to Ibn Abbas asking him about the slave and the woman as to whether they would get a share from the booty (it they participated in Jihad) ; about the killing of (enemy) children (in war) ; about the orphan as to when his orphanhood comes to an end; about kinsmen (of the Holy Prophet) as to who they are. He said to Yazid: Write to him. (If he were not likely to fall into folly, I would not have written to him.) Write: You have written asking about the woman and the slave whether they would get a share of the booty if they participated in Jihad. (You should know that) there is nothing of the sort for them except that they will be given a prize. And you have written asking me about the killing of the enemy children in war. (You should understand that) the Messenger of Allah (may peare be upon him) did not kill them. and thou shouldst not kill them unless thou knew what the companion of Moses (i. e. Khadir) knew about the boy he had killed. And you have written asking me about the orphan as to when the period of his orphanhood comes to an end, so that the sobriquet of" orphan" is dropped from him. (In this regard, you should know that) the sobriquet" orphan" will not be dropped from him until he attains maturity of body and mind. And you have written asking me about the close relatives (of the Holy Prophet) as to who they are. We think that it is we, but our people have denied us this (position and its concomitant privileges).  

عَنِ الْعَبْدِ وَالْمَرْأَةِ يَحْضُرَانِ الْمَغْنَمَ هَلْ يُقْسَمُ لَهُمَا وَعَنْ قَتْلِ الْوِلْدَانِ وَعَنِ الْيَتِيمِ مَتَى يَنْقَطِعُ عَنْهُ الْيُتْمُ وَعَنْ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى مَنْ هُمْ فَقَالَ لِيَزِيدَ اكْتُبْ إِلَيْهِ فَلَوْلاَ أَنْ يَقَعَ فِي أُحْمُوقَةٍ مَا كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ اكْتُبْ إِنَّكَ كَتَبْتَ تَسْأَلُنِي عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ وَالْعَبْدِ يَحْضُرَانِ الْمَغْنَمَ هَلْ يُقْسَمُ لَهُمَا شَىْءٌ وَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُمَا شَىْءٌ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُحْذَيَا وَكَتَبْتَ تَسْأَلُنِي عَنْ قَتْلِ الْوِلْدَانِ وَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَمْ يَقْتُلْهُمْ وَأَنْتَ فَلاَ تَقْتُلْهُمْ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَعْلَمَ مِنْهُمْ مَا عَلِمَ صَاحِبُ مُوسَى مِنَ الْغُلاَمِ الَّذِي قَتَلَهُ وَكَتَبْتَ تَسْأَلُنِي عَنِ الْيَتِيمِ مَتَى يَنْقَطِعُ عَنْهُ اسْمُ الْيُتْمِ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَنْقَطِعُ عَنْهُ اسْمُ الْيُتْمِ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ وَيُؤْنَسَ مِنْهُ رُشْدٌ وَكَتَبْتَ تَسْأَلُنِي عَنْ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى مَنْ هُمْ وَإِنَّا زَعَمْنَا أَنَّا هُمْ فَأَبَى ذَلِكَ عَلَيْنَا قَوْمُنَا  

Najda wrote to Ibn Abbas. I was sitting in the company of Ibn 'Abbas when he read his letter and wrote its reply. Ibn Abbas said: Were it not for preventing him from falling into wickedness. I would not have replied to his letter, may he never be joyful. He wrote in reply to him referring to the share of the close relatives (of the Holy Prophet) (from the booty) whom God has mentioned. (I have to tell you that) we thought we were the close relatives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, but our people have refused to recognise us as such. You have asked about the orphan as to when his orphanhood comes to an end. (I have to say that) when he reaches the age of marriage, attains maturity of mind, and his property is returned to him, then he is no longer an orphan. You have inquired whether the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upo him) used to kill anyone from the children of the polytheists in the war. (You should know that) the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used not to kill any one of their children, and you (too) should not kill any one of them, except when you knew about them what Khadir had known about the boy whom he killed. And you have inquired whether there is a fixed share of the booty for women and slaves when they participate in a battle. (I have to tell you that) there is no fixed share for them except that they will be given some reward from the spoils of war.  

عَنْ نَتْنٍ يَقَعُ فِيهِ مَا كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَلاَ نُعْمَةَ عَيْنٍ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّكَ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ سَهْمِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى الَّذِي ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ مَنْ هُمْ وَإِنَّا كُنَّا نَرَى أَنَّ قَرَابَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ هُمْ نَحْنُ فَأَبَى ذَلِكَ عَلَيْنَا قَوْمُنَا وَسَأَلْتَ عَنِ الْيَتِيمِ مَتَى يَنْقَضِي يُتْمُهُ وَإِنَّهُ إِذَا بَلَغَ النِّكَاحَ وَأُونِسَ مِنْهُ رُشْدٌ وَدُفِعَ إِلَيْهِ مَالُهُ فَقَدِ انْقَضَى يُتْمُهُ وَسَأَلْتَ هَلْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْتُلُ مِنْ صِبْيَانِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ أَحَدًا فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَقْتُلُ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا وَأَنْتَ فَلاَ تَقْتُلْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا إِلاَّ أَنْ تَكُونَ تَعْلَمُ مِنْهُمْ مَا عَلِمَ الْخَضِرُ مِنَ الْغُلاَمِ حِينَ قَتَلَهُ وَسَأَلْتَ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ وَالْعَبْدِ هَلْ كَانَ لَهُمَا سَهْمٌ مَعْلُومٌ إِذَا حَضَرُوا الْبَأْسَ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ سَهْمٌ مَعْلُومٌ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُحْذَيَا مِنْ غَنَائِمِ الْقَوْمِ  

[Machine] Regarding something that happened in it that I have responded to, and he wrote to him, "Indeed, you have written to me asking about the share of the near relative, for whom is it?" And indeed, we used to consider it for the proximity of the Messenger of Allahﷺ but our people refused that on us. And about the orphan, when will his inheritance be fulfilled? He said, "When he reaches puberty and starts having nocturnal emissions, and he becomes aware of it." And about the woman and the slave witnessing the spoils of war, they have no share, but they are rewarded and honored. And about killing the children of the polytheists, indeed, the Messenger of Allahﷺ did not kill them, and you also should not kill them unless you know from them what Al-Khidr knew from the boy when he killed him.  

عَنْ شَيْءٍ يَقَعُ فِيهِ مَا أَجَبْتُهُ وَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّكَ كَتَبْتَ إِلَيَّ تَسْأَلُ عَنْ سَهْمِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى لِمَنْ هُوَ؟ وَإِنَّا كُنَّا نَرَاهَا لِقَرَابَةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَأَبَى ذَلِكَ عَلَيْنَا قَوْمُنَا وَعَنِ الْيَتِيمِ مَتَى يَنْقَضِي يُتْمُهُ؟ قَالَ إِذَا احْتَلَمَ وَأُونِسَ مِنْهُ خَيْرٌ وَعَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ وَالْعَبْدِ يَشْهَدَانِ الْغَنِيمَةَ؟ فَلا شَيْءَ لَهُمَا وَلَكِنَّهُمَا يُحْذَيَانِ وَيُعْطَيَانِ وَعَنْ قَتْلِ أَطْفَالِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ؟ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ لَمْ يَقْتُلْهُمْ وَأَنْتَ فَلا تَقْتُلْهُمْ إِلا أَنْ تَعْلَمَ مِنْهُمْ مَا عَلِمَ الْخَضِرُ مِنَ الغُلامِ حِينَ قَتَلَهُ  

[Machine] About the close relatives who are mentioned in the Qur'an, and about the killing of the children of the polytheists, was the Prophet ﷺ killing them? And about the completion of the orphan's term of guardianship, and about the witness of the servant and the woman in a case of harm, he said: "If it were not for me diverting them from evil, I fear that they might fall into it which I have written to him." So he wrote about the close relatives: "We used to consider the relatives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as being our relatives, but our people refuse to acknowledge it." As for the orphan, when he reaches the age of marriage and gains some understanding, his wealth is given to him, so his term of guardianship is complete. As for the boys, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not kill the children of the polytheists, and you should not kill them unless you know the same as Al-Khidr knew from the boy when he killed him. And regarding the servant and the woman, do they have a share when they witness harm? So he wrote to him that they do not have a known share unless they participate from the spoils of war.  

عَنْ ذِي الْقُرْبَى الَّذِينَ ذَكَرَ اللهُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ وَعَنْ قَتْلِ أَوْلَادِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَهَلْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقْتُلُهُمْ؟ وَعَنِ انْقِضَاءِ يُتْمِ الْيَتِيمِ وَعَنِ الْعَبْدِ وَالْمَرْأَةِ يَشْهَدَانِ الْبَأْسَ فَقَالَ لَوْلَا أَنْ أَرُدَّهُ عَنْ شَرٍّ أَخَافُ أَنْ يَقَعَ فِيهِ مَا كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَكَتَبَ فِي ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى إِنَّا كُنَّا نَرَى قَرَابَةَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ هُمْ فَأَبَى عَلَيْنَا قَوْمُنَا ذَلِكَ وَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمُ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ النِّكَاحَ وَأُونِسَ مِنْهُمْ رَشَدٌ دُفِعَ إِلَيْهِ مَالُهُ فَقَدِ انْقَضَى يُتْمُهُ وَأَمَّا الصِّبْيَانُ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَقْتُلُ أَوْلَادَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَأَنْتَ فَلَا تَقْتُلْهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ تَعْلَمُ مِثْلَ مَا عَلِمَ الْخَضِرُ مِنِ الْغُلَامِ حِينَ قَتَلَهُ وَفِي الْعَبْدِ وَالْمَرْأَةِ هَلْ لَهُمَا سَهْمٌ إِذَا شَهِدَا الْبَأْسَ؟ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُمَا سَهْمٌ مَعْلُومٌ إِلَّا أَنْ يُحْذَيَا مِنْ غَنَائِمِ الْقَوْمِ  

[Machine] Write to those who are near, whom Allah has mentioned and who have received from what Allah has given to His Messenger. When the orphan reaches maturity, what should be done? Should the boys of the polytheists be killed? Should women and slaves be killed when they are present in a known battle? Ibn Abbas said, "If it were not for my fear of any harm that may befall upon him, I would have written to him." Then he wrote to him, and I was a witness. As for those who are near, we used to see them as the relatives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ . Our people refused that. As for the boys of the polytheists, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not kill any of them, so do not kill them unless you know what Al-Khidr knew about the boy he killed. As for your question about the maturity of the orphan, once he reaches puberty and shows signs of intelligence, his maturity is completed. Then give him his wealth. As for women and slaves, they do not have a specific arrow when they are present in battle, but they are entitled to a share of the spoils of war.  

اكْتُبْ إِلِيَّ مَنْ ذَوُو الْقُرْبَى الَّذِينَ ذَكَرَهُمُ اللهُ ﷻ وَفَرَضَ لَهُمْ مِمَّا أَفَاءَ اللهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَمَتَى يَنْقَضِي يُتْمُ الْيَتِيمِ وَهَلْ يُقْتَلُ صِبْيَانُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَهَلْ لِلنِّسَاءِ وَالْعَبِيدِ إِذَا حَضَرُوا الْبَأْسَ مِنْ سَهْمٍ مَعْلُومٍ؟ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ لَوْلَا أَنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ يَقَعَ فِي شَيْءٍ مَا كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ وَأَنَا شَاهِدٌ أَمَّا ذَوُو الْقُرْبَى فَإِنَّا كُنَّا نَرَى أَنَّهُمْ قَرَابَةُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَأَبَى ذَلِكَ عَلَيْنَا قَوْمُنَا وَأَمَّا صِبْيَانُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ لَمْ يَقْتُلْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا فَلَا تَقْتُلْ إِلَّا أَنْ تَعْلَمَ مَا عَلِمَ الْخَضِرُ مِنَ الْغُلَامِ الَّذِي قَتَلَهُ وَأَمَّا مَا سَأَلْتَ عَنِ انْقِضَاءِ يُتْمِ الْيَتِيمِ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْحُلُمَ وَأُونِسَ مِنْهُ رُشْدُهُ فَقَدِ انْقَضَى يُتْمُهُ فَادْفَعْ إِلَيْهِ مَالَهُ وَأَمَّا النِّسَاءُ وَالْعَبِيدُ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ سَهْمٌ مَعْلُومٌ إِذَا حَضَرُوا الْبَأْسَ وَلَكِنْ يُحْذَوْنَ مِنْ غَنَائِمِ الْقَوْمِ  

[Machine] About the slave and the woman who are present at the spoils, do they have any share of the spoils? He wrote asking him about the killing of children, so he said: "Write, O Yazid, if it were not for the ignorance that I do not want to act. I asked him about the relatives, who are they? So we claimed that we were them, but our people refused that upon us. And you wrote asking about the slave and the woman who are present at the spoils, they have nothing except that they should be given provisions. And you wrote asking about the children, indeed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not kill them, and you should not kill them unless you know from them what the companion of Musa knew about the boy. And you asked about the orphan when is his maturity fulfilled? His maturity is fulfilled when he reaches the age of discernment."  

عَنِ الْعَبْدِ وَالْمَرْأَةِ يَحْضُرَانِ الْمَغْنَمَ هَلْ لَهُمَا مِنَ الْمَغْنَمِ شَيْءٌ؟ وَكَتَبَ يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ قَتْلِ الْوِلْدَانِ فَقَالَ اكْتُبْ يَا يَزِيدُ لَوْلَا أَنْ يَقَعَ فِي أُحْمُوقَةٍ مَا كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ ذِي الْقُرْبَى مَنْ هُمْ؟ فَزَعَمْنَا أَنَّا نَحْنُ هُمْ فَأَبَى ذَلِكَ عَلَيْنَا قَوْمُنَا وَكَتَبْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنِ الْعَبْدِ وَالْمَرْأَةِ يَحْضُرَانِ الْمَغْنَمَ لَيْسَ لَهُمَا شَيْءٌ إِلَّا أَنْ يُحْذَيَا وَكَتَبْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنِ الْوِلْدَانِ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ لَمْ يَقْتُلْهُمْ وَأَنْتَ لَا تَقْتُلْهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ تَعْلَمَ مِنْهُمْ مَا عَلِمَ صَاحِبُ مُوسَى مِنَ الْغُلَامِ وَسَأَلْتَ عَنِ الْيَتِيمِ مَتَى يَنْقَضِي يُتْمُهُ وَيَنْقَضِي يُتْمُهُ إِذَا أُونِسَ مِنْهُ الرُّشْدُ