Was it mentioned in the Holy Quran or the Sunnah that the killing of women, children, and animals was legislated in previous nations, or is this from the distortions of rabbis and monks? And if that is true, what is the wisdom behind the destruction of women and offspring?

"It is mentioned in the books of the People of the Book that jihad during the time of the Prophets of Israel sometimes involved ordering the killing of every living soul. Our religion neither confirms nor denies these accounts; therefore, a Muslim should neither believe nor disbelieve them, and should say: 'We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us.'

What is narrated about the Children of Israel falls into three categories: 1. It must be believed if the Qur'an or authentic Sunnah indicate its truth. 2. It must be disbelieved if the Qur'an or Sunnah indicate its falsehood. 3. Neither disbelief nor belief is permissible if neither the Qur'an nor Sunnah confirm or deny its truth.

Mentioning these texts is not prohibited when debating the People of the Book who believe in them, in order to bind them by what they hold true.

It must be believed that Allah commands nothing but justice and righteousness, and that jihad among the Children of Israel was in accordance with balance and justice, to achieve mutual deterrence and prevent corruption.

﴿And if Allah had not repelled [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted.﴾ (Al-Baqarah/251).

If these events did occur, they happened for a specific reason, without injustice or aggression. And perhaps Allah's permission to kill women and children was for a wisdom known to Him, and that had they remained, they would have caused harm and evil.

Some details of these accounts may be fabricated, such as the ownership of spoils, for it is established that spoils were not permissible for anyone before the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who said: "Spoils of war were made lawful for me, and they were not made lawful for anyone before me."

It is not possible to ascertain the full truth of these accounts, so we entrust their knowledge to Allah the Almighty, and we believe that if they are true, then Allah commanded in them the most just ruling appropriate for their situation."