Yazid bin Hurmaz says: Once Najdah bin Amir wrote a letter to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and asked five questions. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: People think that Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) corresponds with the Khawarij. By Allah, if I did not fear concealing knowledge, I would never have replied to him. Najdah had written in his letter: Tell me, did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) take women with him to jihad? Did he allocate a share for them? Did he kill children? When does orphanhood end? And whose right is the khums? Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) wrote in reply: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to take women with him to jihad and they would treat the sick. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not allocate a share for them, but he would give them something from the spoils of war. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not kill any child, and you should not kill anyone either. However, if you come to know about a child in the same way as Khidr (peace be upon him) came to know about the child whom he killed, then that is a different matter (and this is not possible for you). You asked about the orphan, when should the term 'orphan' be removed from him? Remember! When he reaches the age of marriage and his understanding becomes apparent, then his wealth should be given to him, for now his orphanhood has ended. Our opinion was that only the close relatives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) are entitled to it, but our people refused to accept this.