Prohibition of killing women, children and non-combatant labourers in war

A foundational legislative and ethical rule in Islam's laws of war forbidding the targeting of women, children and non-combatant workers; the Prophet confirmed it at the Hunayn expedition when he saw a slain woman and denounced it severely ¹.

Ibn Ishaq related that the Prophet passed, during Hunayn, by a slain woman around whom people had gathered and said: "This one was not going to fight!" Then he turned to one of his companions and said: "Catch up with Khalid ibn al-Walid and tell him: the Messenger of God forbids you to kill a child, a woman, or a hired servant" ¹. The 'asif is the hireling and servant who bears no arms.

This directive became a cornerstone of Islamic military jurisprudence: the strict distinction between the fighter on the field and unarmed civilians — women, children and non-combatant hirelings ².