Are there controls in Islamic law for retaliatory aggression, and is it permissible in all cases, such as killing the women and children of polytheists if they kill our women and children, or responding to them with sodomy if they do that to our people, or killing their infants and torturing their children if they do that to our Muslims?

Aggression and retaliation in kind, as stated in the Almighty's words: "So whoever commits aggression against you, aggress against him in like measure as he aggressed against you," and His words: "And if you punish, then punish with the like of that with which you were punished," are subject to a restraint. This restraint dictates that what is forbidden, such as adultery, sodomy, and alcohol, cannot be retaliated against in kind. Therefore, it is not permissible for someone who has been subjected to adultery or sodomy to commit adultery or sodomy against the aggressor, nor to make him drink alcohol. This also includes the prohibition of killing or torturing the women and children of disbelievers who have killed Muslim women and children, because Islamic law has forbidden that. In Sahih Muslim, it is narrated on the authority of Buraydah that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "And do not kill a child." And in the Two Sahihs, it is narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar that a woman was found killed in one of the military campaigns of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, condemned the killing of women and children.