Is an adolescent of discerning age, not yet an adult, held accountable for actions such as murder or theft, and are legal penalties (hudud) imposed upon him?

The immature child (Sabi ghayr al-baligh) is not subject to hudud punishments or qisas, by consensus of the jurists. However, the discerning child (Sabi mumayyiz) is subject to ta'zir (disciplinary punishment) and admonition if he commits an act that would necessitate hudud or qisas. As for financial liability, legal capacity (taklif) is not a prerequisite for it; thus, a child is absolutely liable for what he damages, whether discerning or not. Criminal responsibility in Islamic law is based on comprehension (idrak) and free will (ikhtiyar). The stages of a child's criminal responsibility are divided into three phases:

1. Phase of Lack of Comprehension: This begins with the child's birth and ends when he reaches the age of seven. He is not punished criminally or disciplinarily, but he is civilly liable for any damage he causes. 2. Phase of Weak Comprehension: This begins when the child reaches the age of seven and ends at puberty (15 years according to most jurists, or 18 years according to Abu Hanifa and Malik). During this phase, the child is held disciplinarily, not criminally, responsible. He is disciplined for the crimes he commits and is civilly liable for his actions. 3. Phase of Full Comprehension: This begins when the child reaches the age of majority. In this phase, he is criminally responsible for his crimes and is subject to hudud punishments, qisas, or ta'zir.

As for the punishment of the undiscerned child (Sabi ghayr al-mumayyiz), it is purely disciplinary, its type not specified in Islamic law. It is left to the guardian (wali al-amr) to determine what he deems appropriate, such as reprimand, corporal punishment, handing over to his guardian, placement in a reformatory or school, or placing him under special supervision. A child is not considered a recidivist for what he was punished for before reaching puberty.