The Shari'ah Perspective on Orphan Age and Signs of Puberty

Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman Azmi (رحمہ اللہ)

Shari'ah Definition of an Orphan​

A child will be considered an orphan until they reach the age of puberty.

Signs of Puberty in Islam​

Puberty is recognized by the appearance of specific signs, which include:

① The discharge of semen (in either sleep or wakefulness) with sexual desire.
② The growth of coarse hair under the navel (pubic hair) in both boys and girls.
③ For girls: Along with the above signs, the onset of menstruation is also an indicator of puberty.

What If No Physical Signs of Puberty Appear?​

• If none of the above-mentioned signs are present, according to the most authentic opinion among scholars, puberty will be established when the child reaches 15 years of age.
• This is based on the authentic narration of Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه). He was presented before the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) on the day of the Battle of Uhud at the age of 14, but permission to participate in battle was not granted.
• However, when he was presented again at the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq) at the age of 15, he was granted permission.

This indicates that 15 years is the recognized age for determining puberty in cases where physical signs are absent.

Reference: [Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatwa: 4992]