Those who held that it is determined by the characteristic said: the term “discerning” is an active participle derived from discernment; therefore, whenever this quality is found in a child, the designation applies to him. A discerning child is one who understands what is said to him and can give an answer. However, seven years is generally the usual threshold. What is meant is one who understands what is intended: if you ask him for something—such as water—he goes and brings it to you. Something concerning this has already preceded at the beginning of the Book of Prayer. (1)

Is the adhan of a discerning child valid or not? The author said that it is valid. Thus, if there is no one in a town except this discerning boy and he gives the adhan, it is sufficient.

The reason it suffices is that this is remembrance of Allah, and puberty is not a condition for remembrance. A child has rewards recorded for him, but no sins recorded against him. Thus, if he remembers Allah, Allah records the reward for him, and his remembrance is valid. Therefore, if a discerning child gives the adhan, his adhan is sufficient.

Some scholars said that the adhan of a discerning child is not sufficient (2), because his report cannot be trusted or relied upon. He may not know when the sun has passed its zenith, when the shadow of each object equals its length, and so forth.

Some scholars differentiated, saying: if someone else gives the adhan along with him, there is no problem; but if no one else is with him, he cannot be relied upon—unless there is with him a sane adult who knows the prayer times and prompts him concerning them (126). This is the correct view.

A Lengthy Interruption Invalidates Them Both, …

His statement, “A lengthy interruption invalidates them both”: the pronoun refers to