At what age does a female child assume the legal status of a woman regarding burial shrouding?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Funerals

Book 7 · Issue 2 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

There is a report from Ahmad, followed by the majority of his companions, that a female child who reaches the age of nine is treated as a woman regarding her burial shroud. The evidence cited is the hadith of Aisha that the Prophet (peace be upon him) entered upon her when she was nine years old. Aisha herself is reported to have stated that when a girl reaches nine, she is considered a woman.

Supporting text

Another narration from Ahmad indicates that the ruling changes upon her reaching puberty, which seems to be his explicit view according to Al-Marwadhi's account, supported by the reasoning regarding the requirement of a head covering during prayer.