What establishes puberty (bulugh) for males and females?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Legal Interdiction
Primary text
Puberty is established in both males and females by three common signs: the emission of semen (al-mani), the growth of coarse pubic hair (al-inbat), and reaching the age of fifteen years. The emission of semen, described as the copious fluid from which offspring are created, establishes puberty regardless of whether it occurs during wakefulness or sleep, or through intercourse or nocturnal emission. This is affirmed without known dispute, based on the Quranic verses regarding children seeking permission upon reaching puberty (Quran 21:59, 21:58) and the Hadith stating that the pen is lifted from three, including the boy until he has a wet dream (ihtilam). Furthermore, the existence of coarse pubic hair around the male organ or the female private parts, hair that warrants removal by a razor, establishes puberty. This position is held by Malik and one opinion of Al-Shafi'i. Evidence for this includes the judgment of the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding Banu Qurayza, where those who had grown pubic hair were deemed combatants, while those without were joined with the captive offspring. The age of fifteen years establishes puberty for both males and females, supported by the actions of Ibn 'Umar who was accepted for fighting at fifteen after being rejected at fourteen, which led 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz to instruct his governors to only require Zakat from those who have reached fifteen. This is further supported by the narration from Anas that once a person completes fifteen years, what is incumbent upon him and against him is recorded, and limits are applied.
Supporting text
Abu Hanifa does not consider the growth of coarse hair as a marker for puberty because it is merely vegetation, similar to other body hair. Regarding age, Abu Hanifa holds two narrations for males: seventeen or eighteen years, and eighteen years for females, asserting that legal age limits require explicit textual basis or agreement, which is lacking below these years. Dawud holds that age has no limit for puberty, citing the Hadith that the pen is lifted until the boy has a wet dream, suggesting that establishing puberty by other means besides seminal emission contradicts the text. Regarding age, Al-Awza'i, Al-Shafi'i, Abu Yusuf, and Muhammad hold the age to be fifteen years. Malik's companions hold the age to be seventeen or eighteen years.