What is the age of children about whom a woman must observe hijab?
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Question:
The questioner from Jeddah, who used the code (Sh) for her name, says: O Shaykh! My husband has a nephew, the son of his sister, who is about thirteen years old. I do not observe hijab in his presence, and I feel distressed about this because I fear that I may have committed a sin. She says: I ask you, may Allah reward you, to inform us of the age at which a woman must observe hijab in the presence of children?
Answer:
Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says in His great Book, in Surat al-Nur: [al-Nur:59]. When a boy reaches the age of fifteen, or ejaculates semen due to desire, or grows hair, it becomes obligatory to observe hijab in his presence, and it becomes obligatory for him to seek permission to enter so that they may observe hijab.
As long as he has not reached fifteen years of age, has not grown hair, and has not reached puberty—meaning, has not ejaculated semen—he is a child about whom one does not observe hijab. If he has reached thirteen years of age and you do not know his condition, observing hijab is the safer course; because he may have grown hair, or he may have reached puberty. A thirteen-year-old boy, or even a twelve-year-old, is likely to reach puberty. From the age of ten and above, a boy is likely to reach puberty. If he reaches ten years of age or older, he is likely to reach puberty. Therefore, observing hijab in the presence of a boy aged ten or older is good as a precaution. Otherwise, it is not obligatory except in the case of a boy aged fifteen or older; because he is the one about whom it is certain that he has reached puberty, or a person who admits and confesses that he has reached puberty, ejaculated semen, or admits that he has grown hair. In such a case, he has reached puberty, and one must observe hijab in his presence.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
The questioner from Jeddah, who used the code (Sh) for her name, says: O Shaykh! My husband has a nephew, the son of his sister, who is about thirteen years old. I do not observe hijab in his presence, and I feel distressed about this because I fear that I may have committed a sin. She says: I ask you, may Allah reward you, to inform us of the age at which a woman must observe hijab in the presence of children?
Answer:
Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says in His great Book, in Surat al-Nur:
And when the children among you reach puberty, let them ask permission [at all times] as those before them have done
وَإِذَا بَلَغَ الأَطْفَالُ مِنْكُمُ الْحُلُمَ فَلْيَسْتَأْذِنُوا كَمَا اسْتَأْذَنَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْAs long as he has not reached fifteen years of age, has not grown hair, and has not reached puberty—meaning, has not ejaculated semen—he is a child about whom one does not observe hijab. If he has reached thirteen years of age and you do not know his condition, observing hijab is the safer course; because he may have grown hair, or he may have reached puberty. A thirteen-year-old boy, or even a twelve-year-old, is likely to reach puberty. From the age of ten and above, a boy is likely to reach puberty. If he reaches ten years of age or older, he is likely to reach puberty. Therefore, observing hijab in the presence of a boy aged ten or older is good as a precaution. Otherwise, it is not obligatory except in the case of a boy aged fifteen or older; because he is the one about whom it is certain that he has reached puberty, or a person who admits and confesses that he has reached puberty, ejaculated semen, or admits that he has grown hair. In such a case, he has reached puberty, and one must observe hijab in his presence.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.