Islam Protects Children from Aggression in Conflict

An injured baby

To this very day, children continue to be major casualties of war.  Observers have noted the six most common child’s rights violations to be targeted killings, recruitment and use of children in war, attacks on schools and hospitals, denial of humanitarian access, sexual violence, and abduction.

On 19^th August 1982, at its emergency special session on the question of Palestine, the General Assembly, “appalled at the great number of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese children victims of Israel’s acts of aggression”, decided to commemorate 4th June of each year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.

Killing of Children in War

It is quite true that Muslims often violate these Islamic injunctions, population mention is the Saudi Arabia’s deliberate targeting of a school bus in Yemen on 9^th August 2018 which killed 43 children all below 15 and wounded 77 others. However, we must never confuse the words ‘Islam’ with ‘Muslims’. Note that Islam’s criminal code prescribes punishments for criminal Muslims and Allah promises Hellfire to sinful Muslims.

Islam insists on high moral standards even in war.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) gave clear instructions on the ethics of the Muslim army. Muhammad (SAW) would instruct: "Set out for Jihad in the name of Allah and for the sake of Allah. Do not lay hands on the old verging on death, on women, children and babes. Do not steal anything from the booty and collect together all that falls to your lot in the battlefield and do good, for Allah loves the virtuous and the pious."

Muslims in the time of Muhammad (SAW) understood perfectly what these words mean, they lived by it and even exhorted others to do the same.

Islam Protects the Rights of Orphans

It has been narrated on the authority of Yazid b. Hurmuz that Najda wrote to Ibn Abbas inquiring of him five things. Ibn Abbas said: If I had not the fear of committing (sin) for concealing the knowledge I would not have written to him. Najda wrote to him saying (after praising the Almighty and invoking blessings on the Prophet): Tell me whether the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) took women to participate with him in Jihad; (if he did), whether he allotted them a regular share from the booty; whether he killed the children of (the enemy in the war how long an orphan would be entitled to consideration as such and for whom the Khums (fifth part of the booty) was booty. Ibn Abbas wrote to him: You have written asking me whether the Messenger of Allah (SAW) took women with him to participate in Jihad. He did take them to the battle and sometimes he fought along with them. They would treat the wounded and were given a reward from the booty, but he did not assign any regular share for them. AND THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH (SAW) DID NOT KILL THE CHILDREN OF THE ENEMY, SO THOU SHOULDST NOT KILL THE CHILDREN. Also you have written to me asking me when the orphanhood of an orphan comes to an end. By my life, if a man has become bearded but is still incapable of getting his due from others as well u meeting his obligation towards them, (he is yet an orphan to be treated you such), but when he can look after his interests like grown-up people, he is no longer an orphan. And you have written to me inquiring about Khums as to whom it is meant for. (In this connection) we (the kinsmen of the Messenger of Allah) used to say: It is for us, but those people (i.e. Banu Umayya) have denied it to us. (Book 19, Number 4456)

Use of Child Soldiers

We thought the era of conscription of minors was an ancient practice, the 20^th century saw a sharp resurgence. Children were conscripted in the rebellions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, DR Congo, and in possibly in other countries and regions. Due to insipid experience and confidence, child soldiers die in large numbers.

Islam never condoned conscription of even adults into the army. Muslims were allowed to joined the army of free will and desire to please Allah.

The Prophet ordered some children to go back home on the day of the Battle of Uhud, among them were Usamah ibn Zayd and Abdullah ibn Umar, both only thirteen years old. However, Usamah and Abdullah were allowed to accompany the army to the Battle of Uhud but did not fight while the others were sent back to their families. Before Uhud, Abdullah ibn Umar was also turned away by the Prophet (SAW) from the Battle of Badr and it was not until the Battle of the Ditch that he and Usamah, both now fifteen years old and others of their age were allowed to join the ranks of the men fully.

The Islamic legislations on armed conflict ensure that the most vulnerable members of the enemy community are spared the slightest degree of aggression.