What is the true age at which a person is considered an orphan in Islamic jurisprudence, and what is the upper limit for this age, bearing in mind that the United Nations defines it as 18 years, while Islamic organizations adopt the age of maturity, and some consider it to be when one becomes fully self-reliant?

Orphanhood ends with puberty. When a boy reaches puberty, his orphanhood ceases, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is no orphanhood after puberty."

The signs of puberty are: - Emission of semen while awake or asleep for both males and females. - Menstruation and pregnancy for females. - Appearance of pubic hair.

If these signs do not appear, puberty is determined by age, and jurists differed in defining it: - Shafi'is, Hanbalis, and Abu Yusuf and Muhammad from the Hanafis: Fifteen lunar years for both males and females. - Malikis: Eighteen years. - Abu Hanifa: Eighteen years for a boy, and seventeen years for a girl.

The issue of the cessation of orphanhood differs from the issue of handing over money to an orphan. Orphanhood ends with puberty, but handing over money only occurs upon the ascertainment of maturity (rushd) after puberty, as Allah Almighty says: "And test orphans until they reach the age of marriage. Then if you perceive in them sound judgment, release to them their property."