What is the criterion for a woman’s hijab from children?

Question:
The questioner asks: Is it obligatory for a woman to observe hijab from a boy who has reached the age of eleven or twelve, or is it not obligatory? And what is the criterion for a woman’s hijab from a boy?

Answer:
The criterion is that she observes hijab from one who has reached puberty, and from one who is an adolescent; because he may have reached puberty and she does not know about it. If he is an adolescent, she observes hijab from him, or if she knows that he has reached fifteen years of age, or that he has had a wet dream, or that he has grown hair, she observes hijab from him. This is based on the saying of Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He): [Surat al-Nur: 59], which indicates that before puberty, there is no covering required of them, and seeking permission is not obligatory for them. But when they reach puberty, they seek permission. The adolescent has reached the time when seeking permission is appropriate. So if he seeks permission so as not to intrude upon them, there is no harm.
The point is: it is obligatory for him when he reaches puberty, it is obligatory. And if he is an adolescent and seeks permission for the sake of caution and protecting himself from what may harm him, this is good.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So, eleven or twelve years old, Shaykh, is there no issue?

The Shaykh: It is not apparent. These have not approached [puberty], they have not approached, yes.

The presenter: May Allah bless you, O Your Eminence, the Shaykh.