Is it ruled that a male has reached puberty upon his comprehension of the nature of things and the distinction between polytheism and faith, based on what Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar deduced from the Messenger’s statement regarding the Jewish boy’s incident, "Praise be to Allah who saved him from the Fire through me," and what is the extent of the validity of this deduction, and are the signs of puberty limited to the three known signs for males?
The signs of puberty for a male are: wet dreams, or the growth of pubic hair, or reaching fifteen lunar years of age. What Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar mentioned regarding a boy reaching puberty when he comprehends the nature of things, he did not mean that he reached the age of adulthood, but rather he meant that when a boy comprehends disbelief, Islam should be presented to him, and if he comprehends disbelief and dies upon it, he will be tormented.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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