Abu Dawud

Yazid bin Hurmaz narrates: Najdah wrote a letter to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and asked him about the issue of a woman and a slave who participate in a conquest—do they receive a share? And he inquired about killing children during war, and about the orphan: when does the title of orphan end for him? And he asked about the “Dhu al-Qurba”: who are meant by this term? So Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: O Yazid, you write. If I did not fear that he would fall into further foolishness, I would have written to him myself. You write this: You have written to me and asked: who are meant by “Dhu al-Qurba”? We believe that it refers to us, but our people do not accept this from us. You have asked me about such a woman and a slave who participate in a conquest—will they receive anything? They will not receive any share, but something may be given to them as a gift. You have asked me about the orphan: when does the title of orphan end for him? The title of orphan does not end for him until he reaches puberty and signs of understanding appear in him. You have asked me about killing children during war: the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not kill those children, and you also cannot kill them, except in the case where you have the same knowledge about those children as Sayyiduna Khidr (peace be upon him), the companion of Sayyiduna Musa (peace be upon him), had about the boy whom he killed.