Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulām Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
Can a girl be considered bālighah (pubescent) at the age of nine?
Yes, a girl can reach puberty at the age of nine.
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
"إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَزَوَّجَهَا وَهِيَ بِنْتُ سِتِّ سِنِينَ، وَأُدْخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَهِيَ بِنْتُ تِسْعٍ، وَمَكَثَتْ عِنْدَهُ تِسْعًا"
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5133
Translation:
The Prophet ﷺ married me when I was six years old, and consummated the marriage when I was nine years old. I stayed with him for nine years.
This narration serves as proof that a girl can reach puberty at the age of nine.
➤ Nine years of age is not always considered childhood.
➤ In some societies, it is also considered an age of puberty.
➤ Puberty is influenced by:
➤ Modern scientific research, observations, and empirical studies have confirmed that nine years is a naturally possible age for puberty.
➤ Warmer climates and nutrient-rich diets can lead to earlier puberty.
In the Arabian Peninsula, especially during the Prophetic era, marriages at the ages of nine or ten were common and culturally accepted, indicating that puberty at this age was both possible and prevalent.
Hence, there was no objection raised in that society.
✔ A girl can be pubescent (bālighah) at age nine.
✔ The ḥadīth of Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها supports this.
✔ This is consistent with both Islamic tradition and modern science regarding early puberty in certain environments.
❖ Question:
Can a girl be considered bālighah (pubescent) at the age of nine?
✿ Answer:
Yes, a girl can reach puberty at the age of nine.
✦ Ḥadīth Evidence:
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
"إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَزَوَّجَهَا وَهِيَ بِنْتُ سِتِّ سِنِينَ، وَأُدْخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَهِيَ بِنْتُ تِسْعٍ، وَمَكَثَتْ عِنْدَهُ تِسْعًا"
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5133Translation:
The Prophet ﷺ married me when I was six years old, and consummated the marriage when I was nine years old. I stayed with him for nine years.
This narration serves as proof that a girl can reach puberty at the age of nine.
✦ Explanation:
➤ Nine years of age is not always considered childhood.
➤ In some societies, it is also considered an age of puberty.
➤ Puberty is influenced by:
- Climate
- Environment
- Diet
- Socio-cultural factors
➤ Modern scientific research, observations, and empirical studies have confirmed that nine years is a naturally possible age for puberty.
➤ Warmer climates and nutrient-rich diets can lead to earlier puberty.
✦ Historical Context:
In the Arabian Peninsula, especially during the Prophetic era, marriages at the ages of nine or ten were common and culturally accepted, indicating that puberty at this age was both possible and prevalent.
Hence, there was no objection raised in that society.
Summary:
✔ A girl can be pubescent (bālighah) at age nine.
✔ The ḥadīth of Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها supports this.
✔ This is consistent with both Islamic tradition and modern science regarding early puberty in certain environments.
