Is the child obligated, upon reaching puberty, to pay off a debt incurred from purchasing a toy on credit, or is that merely recommended?

If a person gives his money to a child through a sale or a loan, and the child destroys it, then the owner has wasted his money. It was said that the child does not guarantee this money, or he does guarantee it. However, if the sold item remains, the seller can reclaim it.

It is stated in Al-Insaf: "Whoever gives his money to them—meaning the child, the insane, and the prodigal—through a sale or a loan, can reclaim whatever remains. If it is destroyed, it is at the owner's guarantee."

Therefore, the child is obliged to guarantee. In another opinion, he does not guarantee, neither immediately nor after reaching puberty.

It is stated in Majma' al-Damanat: "If the buyer is a minor under guardianship, he does not guarantee at all, neither immediately nor after reaching puberty."

And it is stated in Al-Majmoo': "If a child buys something and it is delivered to him, and it is destroyed in his hand or he destroys it, he bears no guarantee for it, neither immediately nor after reaching puberty. The same applies if he borrows money."

It was also said: he does not guarantee outwardly, but he is liable inwardly after reaching puberty.

If the child is discerning and acts with the permission of his guardian, his buying and selling are valid according to one narration from Ahmad, which is also the opinion of Abu Hanifa. The second opinion is that it is not valid until he reaches puberty, which is the opinion of Al-Shafi'i. As for the non-discerning child, his actions are not valid even if the guardian permits them, except for minor matters.