When will I be held accountable for my deeds?

Once a person reaches puberty, they become accountable for their actions, based on the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "The pen is lifted from three: from the child until he reaches puberty, from the sleeper until he awakens, and from the insane until he recovers."

Puberty is attained by one of three signs common to both men and women: emission of semen, growth of coarse hair around the private parts, and reaching the age of fifteen years. Women have two additional signs: menstruation and pregnancy. If a person reaches puberty by one of these signs, they become accountable and responsible for their deeds.