[Machine] We were on an expedition, and we were victorious and killed among the polytheists until they were completely defeated. The news of the killing reached the Prophet ﷺ and he said, "What is happening to these people that the killing has reached even their offspring? Shouldn't their offspring be spared?" It was asked, "O Messenger of Allah, aren't they the children of the polytheists?" He said, "Aren't your best ones the children of the polytheists?"  

كُنَّا فِي غَزَاةٍ لَنَا فَأَصَبْنَا ظَفَرًا وَقَتَّلْنَا فِي الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ بِهِمُ الْقَتْلُ إِلَى أَنْ قَتَلُوا الذُّرِّيَّةَ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ «مَا بَالُ أَقْوَامٍ بَلَغَ بِهِمُ الْقَتْلُ إِلَى أَنْ قَتَلُوا الذُّرِّيَّةَ؟ أَلَا لَا تُقْتَلَنَّ ذُرِّيَّةٌ أَلَا لَا تُقْتَلَنَّ ذُرِّيَّةٌ» قِيلَ لِمَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَلَيْسَ هُمْ أَوْلَادُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ؟ قَالَ «أَوَلَيْسَ خِيَارُكُمْ أَوْلَادَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ؟»