[Q 228] What is the age of puberty for boys and girls?

Question

What is the age of puberty for boys and girls?

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

When a boy completes 12 years of age and a girl completes 9 years of age according to Hijri Calendar (Lunar Calendar), and one of the signs of puberty becomes apparent or they themselves claim that they have reached puberty, and their outward state does not contradict this claim, then both will be considered Baligh according to Shariah.

And if no sign is apparent, and they do not claim themselves, then boys and girls will both be considered Baligh when they reach the age of 15 according to Hijri Calendar.

In summary, boys cannot reach puberty before 12 years of age and girls cannot reach puberty before 9 years of age. And upon completing 15 years of age according to Hijri calendar, both will be considered Baligh even if no signs of puberty have appeared. And if between the ages of 12 and 15 for boys, and between 9 and 15 for girls, any signs of puberty appears or they make a claim of having reached puberty that is not contradicted by their outward state, they will be considered Baligh.

For boys, signs of puberty include ejaculation/release of semen due to list, wet dreams, or impregnating a woman through intercourse.

For girls, signs of puberty include becoming pregnant, ejaculation/release of fluid, or menstruation.

It is stated in Fatawa Alamgiri and Durr Mukhtar:

بلوغ الغلام بالاحتلام أو الإحبال أو الإنزال، والجارية بالاحتلام أو الحيض أو الحبل، كذا في المختار. والسن الذي يحكم ببلوغ الغلام والجارية إذا انتهيا إليه خمس عشرة سنة عند أبي يوسف ومحمد رحمهما الله تعالى وهو رواية عن أبي حنيفة رحمه الله تعالى وعليه الفتوى

(Fatawa Alamgiri, Vol. 5, P. 61, published by Dar al-Fikr, Beirut)

It is stated in Kanz al-Daqa’iq:

ويفتى بالبلوغ فيهما بخمس عشرة سنة وأدنى المدة في حقه اثنتا عشرة سنةوفي حقها تسع سنين

(Kanz al-Daqa’iq, P. 373, published by Dar al-Siraj)

It is stated in Alamgiri:

ولایحکم بالبلوغ ان ادعی وھو مادون اثنتا عشرۃ سنۃ فی الغلام وتسع سنین فی الجاریۃ کذا فی المعدن

(Fatawa Alamgiri, Vol. 5, P. 61, published by Dar al-Fikr, Beirut)

It is stated in Fatawa Razawiyyah:

“Neither a boy below 12 years nor a girl below 9 years will ever be considered Baligh. And upon completing 15 full years of age, both boys and girls are definitely Baligh according to Shariah even if no signs of puberty appear. And if signs are found within those ages, i.e. either a boy or girl (has) ejaculation while asleep or awake, or a girl has her menses, or through intercourse a boy impregnates or a girl becomes pregnant, then they are definitely Baligh. And even if there are no signs, but they themselves claim “We have reached puberty” and their external state does not contradict their claim, then they will also be considered Baligh and all rulings pertaining to puberty will be applied.”

(Fatawa Razawiyyah, Vol. 19, P. 630, published by Raza Foundation)

Answered by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated by: Shaheer Attari

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