Are the circulating narrations about the killing of Abu 'Afak, Umm Qirfah, and her daughter Umm Zumal by the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, authentic, and what is the stance of the Hadith scholars and biographers regarding them?

First: The report of Umm Qirfah's killing has an unsound chain of transmission. All its chains are broken and inconsistent, and its narrations contradict each other regarding the identity of the slain, the time of the killing, and the killer. This indicates their weakness. Furthermore, these reports contradict the principles of Islamic Sharia regarding humane killing and the prohibition of mutilation.

Second: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, fought his staunchest enemies and did not treat them with the kind of treatment attributed to Umm Qirfah. This confirms that the reports speaking of his torturing Muslims are incorrect.

Third: The killing of Abu Afak is mentioned by biographers. Although it does not have a firmly established chain of transmission, there is nothing in it that can be criticized. He was killed because he was inciting animosity against the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and breaking covenants. He was not killed through torture or mutilation.