—because the victim neither compelled them nor authorized their act, and the juristic maxim states: liability for destruction applies equally to the competent and the incompetent.

Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 751 AH) said: “A child, an insane person, and someone who is asleep are all liable for whatever property they destroy. This ruling is among the universally applicable precepts on which the welfare of the community depends; if those who caused damage through error or without intent were exempt from liability, people would freely ruin one another’s property.”

The interdiction imposed on a minor is lifted by two considerations.

The first is that he reaches the age of legal majority, which is established by three signs:

1. The emission of semen, whether while awake or during a dream. Allah, Exalted is He, says: “When your children reach puberty, let them ask permission [before entering]” (Q 24:59). Puberty (hulm) refers to a boy’s experiencing a dream that leads to the discharge of seminal fluid.
2. The appearance of coarse pubic hair around the private parts.
3. Completing fifteen lunar years. ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUmar related: “I presented myself to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the day of Uhud when I was fourteen and he did not permit me; I approached him on the day of the Trench when I was fifteen and he permitted me.” Agreed upon. “He permitted me” means he authorized me to join the fighting, which shows that reaching fifteen lunar years of age constitutes puberty. In another narration, explaining his earlier refusal on