The Criterion in the Issue of Children Entering the Presence of Women
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I have often seen disagreement among people regarding the issue of children entering the presence of women. As for those who are not students of knowledge, I have seen negligence; some allow a boy who is twelve or fourteen years old to enter the presence of women, and perhaps some are even older, yet they see no harm in this.
I have also seen, on the other hand, among some of the brothers who are committed to the religion of Allah the Exalted, strictness in this matter. They prevent even a boy who is five years old, and perhaps four, claiming that this child has intelligence and that he observes or distinguishes between the good and the bad among women. So what is the criterion for this, along with the evidence?
The criterion for this is mentioned by Allah the Exalted in the Qur'an,Allah the Exalted said: [Surat al-Nur: 31] This is the criterion.
If it is observed that the child looks at a woman, or touches her, or does something similar, or is drawn to the beautiful one over the other, it is known that he is aware of the private parts of women. This does not occur except from the age of ten and above, unless the child lives in an environment where people constantly talk about women and desire, in which case he may become aware of the private parts of women before reaching the age of ten. This is with regard to a woman showing her face to him.
As for being alone with a woman, one must be very cautious about this; because even if the child does not have what would lead to veiling from him, if he is alone with a woman, the woman herself may have some corruption in her and try to arouse his desire, and perhaps she may gain access to herself, or do something similar.
Being alone is one thing, and a woman showing her face to a child is another thing.Meaning: Being alone requires great caution so that the woman does not mess with the child. If we know that some women let a monkey enter their presence to enjoy it, what then of a boy of seven or eight years old?
I have also seen, on the other hand, among some of the brothers who are committed to the religion of Allah the Exalted, strictness in this matter. They prevent even a boy who is five years old, and perhaps four, claiming that this child has intelligence and that he observes or distinguishes between the good and the bad among women. So what is the criterion for this, along with the evidence?
The criterion for this is mentioned by Allah the Exalted in the Qur'an,Allah the Exalted said:
except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women
وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الْأِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِIf it is observed that the child looks at a woman, or touches her, or does something similar, or is drawn to the beautiful one over the other, it is known that he is aware of the private parts of women. This does not occur except from the age of ten and above, unless the child lives in an environment where people constantly talk about women and desire, in which case he may become aware of the private parts of women before reaching the age of ten. This is with regard to a woman showing her face to him.
As for being alone with a woman, one must be very cautious about this; because even if the child does not have what would lead to veiling from him, if he is alone with a woman, the woman herself may have some corruption in her and try to arouse his desire, and perhaps she may gain access to herself, or do something similar.
Being alone is one thing, and a woman showing her face to a child is another thing.Meaning: Being alone requires great caution so that the woman does not mess with the child. If we know that some women let a monkey enter their presence to enjoy it, what then of a boy of seven or eight years old?