Note / Clarification: The word "min" has dropped out of manuscripts (M) and (S), and we have entered it according to manuscript (B).

Grading: Its chain is sahih.

Reference / Source: Imam al-Nasa'i narrated it (8569) from Yusuf bin Sa'id and Ibrahim bin al-Hasan, from Hajjaj, with this same chain.

Reference / Source: Imam Ahmad (26/ 16424) and Imam Muslim (1745) (28) narrated it via 'Abd al-Razzaq, from Ibn Jurayj.

Reference / Source: 'Abd Allah bin Ahmad narrated it in his additions to the "Musnad" (27/ 16657, 16664 and 16685) through various routes from 'Amr bin Dinar.

Reference / Source: This hadith was narrated through many routes from Imam al-Zuhri by Imam Ahmad (26/ 16422, 16424 and 16426), his son 'Abd Allah (27/ 16668, 16669, 16670, 16677, 16681 and 16682), al-Bukhari (3012 and 3013), Muslim (1745) (26) and (27), Abu Dawud (2672), Ibn Majah (2839), al-Tirmidhi (1570), al-Nasa'i (8568 and 8570) and Ibn Hibban (136, 137, 4786 and 4787).

Technical note / Defect ('illah): In the narration of Muhammad bin 'Amr from al-Zuhri, in 'Abd Allah bin Ahmad (16681) and Ibn Hibban (137) and (4787), it says: "Then he forbade them on the day of Hunayn", whereas the manuscript of the "Musnad" has "Khaybar", which is an old scribal error.

Technical note / Defect ('illah): al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar says in "Fath al-Bari" (9/ 270) that this addition about the prohibition is "mudraj" (interpolated wording) in the hadith of al-Sa'b bin Jaththamah, and this is made clear in "Sunan Abi Dawud" (2672), where at its end he says: Sufyan said: al-Zuhri said: "Then after that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the killing of women and children."
Important point: That the prohibition was on the day of Hunayn is also supported by the hadith of Rabah bin al-Rabi' (which has passed in al-Hakim at number 2597), in which he (peace and blessings be upon him) sent word to Khalid bin al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him): "Do not kill children or hired labourers"; and Khalid's (may Allah be pleased with him) first battle with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the Conquest (of Makkah), and Hunayn took place in that same year.

Grading: Its chain is weak.
Technical note / Defect ('illah): 'Abd Allah bin Ahmad narrated it in the additions to the "Musnad" (27/ 16686) via 'Abd al-Rahman bin Abi al-Zinad, from 'Abd al-Rahman bin al-Harith, from 'Ubayd Allah bin 'Abd Allah bin 'Utbah, from Ibn 'Abbas, making it a hadith of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), whereas it is actually the narration of al-Sa'b bin Jaththamah.
Details of the narration: al-Sa'b bin Jaththamah asked: "O Messenger of Allah, we raid one of the dwellings of the polytheists at dawn, and without realising it we strike children who are under the bellies of the horses?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "They are of them (the polytheists)."

Note / Clarification: There is a difference over the vocalisation of the narrator's name "Qabath". Ibn Makula in "al-Ikmal" (7/ 93) recorded it with a damma (Qubath), and the authors of the books on "al-Mushtabih" followed him; whereas Ibn 'Asakir in "Tarikh Dimashq" (19/ 228) and Ibn Nasir al-Din al-Dimashqi in "Tawdih al-Mushtabih" (7/ 162 - 163) say that Abu 'Abd Allah al-Suri, in his own handwriting, and others recorded it with a fatha (Qabath). al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar says in his entry in "al-Isabah" that the fatha is the well-known reading, while the damma has also been said; and "al-Qamus" records it with a fatha, on the pattern of "sahab", as does al-Saghani.