Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Yazid bin Hurmaz that Najdah bin Amir Haruri wrote a letter to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked him about some issues. When Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) read his letter and dictated the answers to his questions, I was also present there. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If I did not wish to save him from the evil and tribulation in which he is falling, I would not have answered his letter nor pleased him in this way. Accordingly, he wrote to him: You have asked me about the shares of those relatives of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) whom Allah Almighty has mentioned in the Qur'an, as to who are meant by this. We have always understood that by these relatives, we, that is, Banu Hashim and Banu Muttalib, are meant. But now our people do not accept this in this matter. Najdah asked Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): When does the term "orphan" cease to apply to an orphan? He wrote: When the child reaches the age of marriage and becomes sensible, then his wealth should be handed over to him, and the term "orphan" no longer applies to him. Najdah asked Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): Is it permissible to kill any of the children of the polytheists? He replied in writing: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not kill any child of the polytheists, so you should not kill any of them either, unless you have knowledge like Khidr (that a certain child will definitely be a disbeliever, then you may kill him). Similarly, Najdah asked Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): Is there a fixed share for women and slaves in the spoils of war if they are present on the battlefield? He wrote: There is no fixed share for women and slaves in the spoils of war, but they may be given something from the Muslims’ spoils of war as a gift (by way of encouragement).