Signs of Puberty in Boys and Obligation of Fasting
Question:
What is the age at which a boy reaches puberty, and when does fasting become obligatory upon him?
The following are the signs of puberty (bulugh) in boys:
➊ Growth of coarse hair in the pubic region (below the navel).
➋ Nocturnal emission (i.e., discharge of semen during sleep).
➌ Completion of fifteen lunar years (if the above signs do not appear earlier).
Once a boy manifests any one of these signs, he is considered legally and religiously mature (baligh) in Shari‘ah.
At that point, Salah (prayer), Sawm (fasting), and all other Islamic obligations become compulsory upon him.
A boy becomes religiously accountable (Mukallaf) when he reaches puberty through one of the above signs.
From that time onward, fasting in Ramadan becomes obligatory, along with other duties like Salah, Zakah (if applicable), and avoiding major sins.
Question:
What is the age at which a boy reaches puberty, and when does fasting become obligatory upon him?
❖ Answer by: Fadheelat al-Bahith Hafiz Muhammad Tahir حفظه الله
The following are the signs of puberty (bulugh) in boys:
➊ Growth of coarse hair in the pubic region (below the navel).
➋ Nocturnal emission (i.e., discharge of semen during sleep).
➌ Completion of fifteen lunar years (if the above signs do not appear earlier).
Once a boy manifests any one of these signs, he is considered legally and religiously mature (baligh) in Shari‘ah.
At that point, Salah (prayer), Sawm (fasting), and all other Islamic obligations become compulsory upon him.
Conclusion:
A boy becomes religiously accountable (Mukallaf) when he reaches puberty through one of the above signs.
From that time onward, fasting in Ramadan becomes obligatory, along with other duties like Salah, Zakah (if applicable), and avoiding major sins.
