Is it true that the Prophet had Asma bint Marwan killed when she had five children, one or more of whom were still being breastfed?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Historians like Ibn Hisham and Ibn Kathir narrated this incident in their books. (see Ibn Hisham, Sirah, 2/636-37; Ibn Kathir, as-Siratun-Nabawiyyah, 4/438) They wrote she had five boys, but did not mention that they were being “breastfed”.

According to the information that is given, the cause and result of the incident are as follows:

A woman named Asma bint Marwan used to condemn Islam and Muslims with her poems, and did not hesitate to agitate people against the Prophet (pbuh). She even encouraged people to kill the Prophet (pbuh), hurt and upset him.

As a matter of fact, in one of her poems, she revealed her inner thoughts and intentions as follows:

“O Sons of Malik, Nabit and Awf! March on the enemy as if you were in a race with one another!
O Sons of Khazraj! March on the enemy as if you were in a race with one another!
You have obeyed and bowed down to a person who is not from you and who has come to you; he is neither from Mudar nor from Mazhij!
After cutting off the heads, you still hope for him as you hope for cooked soup! Whoever hopes for anything from him will be deceived and will give up hope.”

With that poem and similar ones, Asma not only insulted Islam, the Prophet (pbuh) and Muslims but she also encouraged the tribes in and around Madinah to kill the Prophet (pbuh).

When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) heard her insults, he said, “Is there no one who can overcome this woman?” Hearing this, Umayr b. Adi al-Hatmi, who belonged to the same tribe as the woman, immediately took action and somehow killed her. When he returned and reported it to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), he said, “O Umayr! You have helped Allah and His Messenger.” When Umayr asked, “Is there any responsibility on me for what I have done?” (there is no mention of her breastfed children here), the Prophet (pbuh) said, “No two goats will butt together about her.”

It is understood that Umayr did not feel any moral responsibility for killing her; he mentioned the responsibility “for causing a fight between the tribes because of that woman”. The Prophet (pbuh) comforted Umayr with the words, “No two goats will butt together about her”, stating that no one would fight because of that woman.

As a matter of fact, after receiving this message, Umayr returned to his people/tribe and told them without hesitation that he had killed the woman and challenged them, saying, “All of you! Stand back to back and do whatever you can.” For the first time, the tribe of Sons of Hatma saw the glory of Islam and many people who saw it converted to Islam. (see ibid)

So, the killing of that woman caused many people to become Muslims sincerely. On that day, Islam became clear and widespread in the land of the Sons of Hatma because there were some who were Muslims but hid it because of fearing their tribes and clans. On that day, they were also able to come out and declare that they were Muslims.

“Let us see what Lord will do. Whatever He does He does well.”

Note: Such a practice can be done with the permission and order of the head of state. A person cannot take such a decision on his own and kill whomever he wants because he harms Islam. If it is done without the permission of the head of state, it will be regarded as a murder.

Questions on Islam