What is the specific age of a child for which a woman must cover herself?
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The questioner : What is the specific age of a child for which a woman must cover herself, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Allah did not specify a particular age for this; rather, He mentioned in the group of people before whom adornment must be hidden:[An-Nur 24:31] The criterion for the child before whom one does not need to cover herself is that he has no knowledge of matters concerning women and no interest in them. This varies according to the instincts and development of children. A child may reach the age of nine and develop in him what develops in adult men regarding women, or he may reach the age of eleven without being interested in these matters, without looking at them, and without them coming to his mind. Furthermore, the environment has an effect. If a child is among people who talk a lot about women and what is there, this instinct grows in him quickly and takes precedence. If he is among people who do not talk about such matters but discuss other things, this instinct weakens in him and he does not pay attention to it.
So, the conclusion is that we look at the child: if he looks at a beautiful woman with a gaze different from his gaze at a woman of lesser beauty, or if we know that he is feeling or touching things that indicate he has desire, then it is obligatory to cover oneself from him. If he is unaware of these matters, then it is not obligatory, but there is no doubt that when he reaches the age of ten, the general rule is that this instinct grows in him. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. She has a final question. This listener says, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Allah did not specify a particular age for this; rather, He mentioned in the group of people before whom adornment must be hidden:
or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women
أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِSo, the conclusion is that we look at the child: if he looks at a beautiful woman with a gaze different from his gaze at a woman of lesser beauty, or if we know that he is feeling or touching things that indicate he has desire, then it is obligatory to cover oneself from him. If he is unaware of these matters, then it is not obligatory, but there is no doubt that when he reaches the age of ten, the general rule is that this instinct grows in him. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. She has a final question. This listener says, O honorable Shaykh.