For every Muslim parent, seeing their child grow up is a blessing. However, there is one critical phase that often causes confusion: the transition from childhood to adulthood (akil baligh). When exactly do religious obligations such as prayer and fasting fully apply to a child?
Many people think adulthood is simply about the age of 17. However, the signs of puberty according to Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) have their own unique and detailed parameters. Understanding this is crucial so that we do not delay in guiding children to fulfill their religious obligations.
In this article, we will thoroughly discuss the signs of puberty based on references from popular traditional Islamic texts in Indonesia, namely Safinatun Naja and its explanation in the book Kashifatus Saja.
What is Puberty and Why is it Important?
Linguistically, baligh means “reached” or “attained.” In Islamic law (sharia), it is the point at which a child becomes accountable for religious duties (taklif). Before reaching baligh, the recording of sins and rewards is not yet fully in effect. However, once the signs appear, their legal and moral status changes before Allah.
Therefore, let us look directly at the original source. Here is the wording from the book Kashifatus Saja by Sheikh Nawawi Al-Bantani (pages 40-41) which explains this chapter:
فصل: في بيان بلوغ المراهق والمعصر (علامات البلوغ ثلاث) في حق الأنثى واثنان في حق الذكر أحدها (تمام خمس عشرة سنة) قمرية تحديدية باتفاق (في الذكر والأنثى) وابتداؤها من انفصال جميع البدن. (و) ثانيها (الاحتلام) أي الإمناء وإن لم يخرج المني من الذكر كأن أحسب بخروجه فأمسكه وسواء خرج من طريقه المعتاد أو غيره مع الانسداد الأصلي وسواء كان في نوم أو يقظة بجماع أو غيره. (في الذكر والأنثى لتسع سنين) قمرية تحديدية عند البيجوري والشربيني.
والذي اعتمده ابن حجر وشيخ الإسلام أنها تقريبية, ونقل عبدالكريم عن الرملي أنها تقريبية في الأنثى وتحديدية في الذكر. (و) ثالثها (الحيض في الأنثى لتسع سنين) تقريبية بأن كان نقصها أقل من ستة عشر يوماً ولو بلحظة1…
If you ask, mention the signs of puberty as stated in the text, the answer is three. One sign is specific to females, and the other two apply generally. Let’s discuss them one by one in easily digestible language.
Signs of Puberty for Males and Females
The scholars divide these signs of maturity into three main categories. Here are the details:
1. Reaching 15 Years of Age (Maximum Limit)
This is a sign that is often forgotten. Many parents only wait for a wet dream or menstruation. In fact, the sign of puberty for a girl who has not yet experienced menstruation is when she reaches the age of 15. The same applies to boys who do not experience a wet dream.
The book mentions: “Reaching the age of fifteen lunar years specifically.”
There are two important points here:
- Hijri Calendar: Age calculation in Islam uses the lunar calendar (Qamariyah), not the Gregorian calendar. Remember, 15 Hijri years are approximately 5–6 months shorter than 15 Gregorian years.
- Definite Obligation (Tahdidiyah): The calculation must be precise. The age of 15 years is calculated from the moment of birth (the complete separation of the body from the womb). If even one day is lacking, it is not considered puberty through this age path.
Therefore, the signs of puberty according to Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) do not necessarily have to wait for physical changes. If the age reaches the limit, the child automatically becomes mukallaf (obligated to perform Islamic law).
2. Ihtilam (Nocturnal Emission)
This second sign is more biological in nature. The signs of puberty for a male are the emission of semen, or what is commonly known as a wet dream.
The classical term for a wet dream as a sign of puberty is iḥtilām. Sheikh Nawawi explained ihtilam in depth. The definition of ihtilam is not limited to dreams during sleep. The emission of semen while awake, whether due to sexual arousal or other causes, also falls into this category.
It should be noted that ihtilam (nocturnal emission) is a sign of puberty for both boys and girls who have reached a minimum age of 9 Hijri years.
If this occurs in a child as young as seven, it is considered a pathological condition or abnormal condition, not a sign of puberty. Scholars have slight differences of opinion regarding the accuracy of this age of 9 years:
- Imam al-Bājūrī holds that the minimum age is definitively nine lunar years.
- Ibn Hajar opined that this age is an estimation (taqribiyah). This means that if someone experiences nocturnal emission before the age of 9, they are still considered to have reached puberty.
If asked to mention the signs of puberty for males, then wet dreams (ihtilam) and the age of 15 are the two main answers.
3. Haid or Menstruation
This third sign is the main differentiator between men and women. The most common and easily recognizable sign of a woman reaching puberty is the onset of menstruation.
The sign of puberty in a girl is the exit of menstrual blood from the vagina when she is in a healthy condition, not due to illness or childbirth. Similar to ihtilam, the minimum age limit for menstruation is 9 Hijri years.
However, there is leniency in its calculation. The sign of puberty for women according to Islamic jurisprudence is menstruation at the age of 9 years, approximately (estimated). This means that if a girl experiences menstrual blood even though her age is slightly less than 9 years, she is still considered to have reached puberty.
What is the tolerance for its deficiency? The book Kashifatus Saja mentions that the tolerance should not exceed 16 days. This is based on the maximum amount of menstrual blood in one month.
- If her age is 9 years minus 14 days and then she experiences menstruation: Valid Puberty.
- If she was 9 years old minus 20 days ago and then menstruated: That blood is considered blood of illness, and she is Not Pubescent.
So, when asked to mention the signs of puberty for women, the answer is: reaching 15 years of age, ihtilam (wet dreams), and menstruation.
Summary Table of the Signs of Puberty
To make it easier to understand, here’s a summary of the signs of puberty in women and their comparison with men:
| Signs of Puberty | Male | Female | Minimum Age Limit |
| Age 15 Years | Yes | Yes | 15 Years (Hijriah) |
| Wet dream (Ihtilam) | Yes | Yes | 9 Years (Hijriah) |
| Menstruation | No | Yes | 9 Years (Hijriah) |
Special Cases: What If Pregnant?
You might be wondering, what about pregnancy? Is that included as a sign of puberty?
In fact, pregnancy is not a primary sign, but rather secondary evidence. A woman cannot become pregnant if her egg cell has not matured (ovulation). Ovulation in women can be equated to the emission of semen.
Therefore, if a girl becomes pregnant, it serves as evidence that she had actually reached puberty previously through the process of the emission of sperm/egg cells, even if she may not have been aware of it.
FAQ: Questions About the Signs of Puberty
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding this topic:
Are wet dreams the only sign of puberty for males?
No. If you are asked to mention the signs of puberty for males, besides wet dreams, there is the sign of 15 Hijri years of age. So if a boy never experiences wet dreams until the age of 15, he automatically reaches puberty on his 15th (Hijri) birthday.
What is the meaning of the term Ihtilam?
Nocturnal emission is a sign of puberty for men and women, characterized by the release of seminal fluid, whether during sleep or wakefulness. This ihtilam is another term for a wet dream as a sign of puberty.
Is all blood that comes out of a young girl menstruation?
Not always. The sign of puberty in girls is menstruation that occurs after the age of 9 (or slightly less within a tolerance limit). If it occurs at the age of 7 or 8, it is called dam al-fasād (irregular or pathological bleeding).
What are the signs of reaching puberty for a girl who has not yet experienced menstruation?
The signs of reaching puberty for a female who has not yet experienced menstruation are when she experiences ihtilam (wet dream) or when she reaches 15 years of age according to the Hijri calendar.
Conclusion
Understanding the signs of puberty is not just about memorizing theory. This is our provision as parents to prepare our children to enter the gateway of responsibility. Let’s not have our children become obligated to pray but abandon it due to our ignorance about the signs of puberty according to fiqh.
May this explanation from the book Kashifatus Saja be beneficial for your family. Pay attention to the growth and development of your children, and guide them when the signs of maturity begin to appear.
Footnote
- Muhammad bin Umar Nawawi al-Jawi, Kāsyifat al-Sajā fī Syarḥ Safīnat al-Najā (maktabah al-Syāmilah al-Dzahabiyyah), hlm. 19–21. ↩︎
