Adulthood

[Dr. Shabbir]

who is an adult?

Ask this question to a Mufti, Mullah or Faqeeh and his answer will be, FOR CHANGE, straight-forward but, AS USUAL, direly wrong! He would utter:

- "If a boy has had nocturnal emissions, he must be considered an adult, and therefore subject to the HUDOOD laws.

- If a girl has had her first periods, she is an adult and therefore subject to the HUDOOD laws."

Unfortunately, our clergy are disabled from thinking beyond things carnal/physical.

The derivatives of the term BALOOGH are used in the Qur'an for adulthood. - (For example, 4:6, 6:153, 17:34)

In the USA and in many other countries the age of adulthood is considered to be 18 years.

Some countries stipulate the age as 18 for the males and 16 for the females.

The Qur'an does not specify the Age of Majority (Adulthood). However, it does lay down much more sensible principles to define adulthood.

- Physical maturity 4:6, 4:21, 12:22, 28:14

- Mental ability to grant consent in financial, social and marital affairs 4:3, 4:19, 4:21, 6:153

- Ability to enter into a solemn, legal contract 4:21

- Ability to manage one's own finances 4:6, 4:21, 17:34

- Ability to understand just vs unjust behavior 4:3, 6:153

A life-long student,

Shabbir