It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that Sayyiduna Sa'b bin Jathamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Messenger of Allah! (Suppose) there is a settlement of polytheists and we launch a sudden attack on it in the morning, and their children are killed under the horses, while we do not realize (who is being killed), then (what will be the ruling regarding the killing of those children)? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, their children are also from among them.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Salamah bin Akwa’ (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: We attacked Hawazin at night under the leadership of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him); the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had appointed him as our commander.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that Sayyiduna Sa'b bin Jathamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports: Someone asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): If a Muslim army attacks at night and among them the children of the polytheists are also killed, then what? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Those children are from among their parents.

Al-Muhallab bin Abu Sufrah narrates from a companion of the Messenger (Sayyiduna Bara’ bin Azib) (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I think that those people (i.e., Abu Sufyan and his people) will attack you at night; if that happens, your slogan will be: {حم لَا یُنْصَرُوْنَ}.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Sa'b bin Jathamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the houses of the polytheists upon which attacks are made at night, and thus their women and children are also killed. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "They are from among them." Imam Zuhri says: But after that, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the killing of women and children.