Sahih Muslim 1812 a

Najda b. 'Amir al-Haruri wrote to Ibn Abbas asking him about the slave and the woman as to whether they would get a share from the booty (it they participated in Jihad) ; about the killing of (enemy) children (in war) ; about the orphan as to when his orphanhood comes to an end; about kinsmen (of the Prophet) as to who they are. He said to Yazid: Write to him. (If he were not likely to fall into folly, I would not have written to him.) Write: You have written asking about the woman and the slave whether they would get a share of the booty if they participated in Jihad. (You should know that) there is nothing of the sort for them except that they will be given a prize. And you have written asking me about the killing of the enemy children in war. (You should understand that) the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) did not kill them. and you shouldst not kill them unless you knew what the companion of Moses (i. e. Khadir) knew about the boy he had killed. And you have written asking me about the orphan as to when the period of his orphanhood comes to an end, so that the sobriquet of" orphan" is dropped from him. (In this regard, you should know that) the sobriquet" orphan" will not be dropped from him until he attains maturity of body and mind. And you have written asking me about the close relatives (of the Prophet) as to who they are. We think that it is we, but our people have denied us this (position and its concomitant privileges).

Najda wrote to Ibn Abbas. I was sitting in the company of Ibn 'Abbas when he read his letter and wrote its reply. Ibn Abbas said: Were it not for preventing him from falling into wickedness. I would not have replied to his letter, may he never be joyful. He wrote in reply to him referring to the share of the close relatives (of the Prophet) (from the booty) whom God has mentioned. (I have to tell you that) we thought we were the close relatives of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), but our people have refused to recognise us as such. You have asked about the orphan as to when his orphanhood comes to an end. (I have to say that) when he reaches the age of marriage, attains maturity of mind, and his property is returned to him, then he is no longer an orphan. You have inquired whether the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to kill anyone from the children of the polytheists in the war. (You should know that) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used not to kill any one of their children, and you (too) should not kill any one of them, except when you knew about them what Khadir had known about the boy whom he killed. And you have inquired whether there is a fixed share of the booty for women and slaves when they participate in a battle. (I have to tell you that) there is no fixed share for them except that they will be given some reward from the spoils of war.

Najdah wrote to Ibn 'Abbas asking him about the share of the kinsmen of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and who it is for; when the orphan is no longer regarded as such; what happens if women or slaves are present when the booty is shared out; and about killing the children of the mushrikeen. Ibn 'Abbas (رضي الله عنه) said: Were it not that I want to stop him doing what he may fall into, I would not have answered him. And he wrote to him (saying): You wrote to me asking about the share of the kinsmen of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and who it is for. We used to think that it was for the relatives of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), but our people denied that to us. With regard to the orphan and when he is no longer regarded as such, he said: It is when he reaches the age of puberty or attains maturity of mind. With regard to women and slaves, and whether they had any share of the booty if they were present in battle, they have no known share, but they are to be given something from the booty. With regard to killing the children of the mushrikeen, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not kill any of them, so you should not kill any of them, unless you know about them what al-Khadir knew about the boy whom he killed.

Najdah wrote to Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه), asking him about five things. Ibn 'Abbas said: People are saying that Ibn 'Abbas is corresponding with the Harooriyyah (i.e. the Khawarij). Were it not for (fear of) concealing knowledge, I would not have written to him. Najdah wrote to him (saying): Tell me, did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) take women on campaigns with him? Did he give them a share (of the booty)? Did he kill children? At what point is an orphan no longer considered to be such? And about the khumus - who is it for? Ibn 'Abbas wrote to him saying. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did take women on campaigns with him so that they might treat the wounded, and they were not given any share, but they were given something from the booty. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not kill children, so do not kill children, unless you have knowledge such as al-Khadir had about the boy whom he killed, so you kill the kafir and leave the believer. And you wrote and asked me when the orphan is no longer considered to be such. Indeed, a man's beard may grow but he may still be incapable of getting his due from others, but when he can look after his affairs like other people, then he is no longer regarded as an orphan. And with regard to the khumus and who it is for, we used to think that it was for us, but our people have denied it to us.