– “Anbata” (had sprouted): i.e., the appearance of coarse hair around one’s private part, the pubic region. Anyone in this state was put to death, for he had reached puberty and was therefore legally accountable; whoever had not yet grown this hair was considered pre-pubescent, so he was released and let go.

What may be drawn from the two ḥadiths
1 – These two reports were transmitted in order to clarify the rulings that apply to a person placed under interdiction (ḥajr) for his own protection—namely the minor, the prodigal, and the insane.

2 – A minor who is under interdiction is not given his property, nor may he dispose of it, until he attains both puberty and sound judgment. Allah the Exalted says: “Put the orphans to the test until they reach marriageable age, and if you perceive in them sound judgment, then hand over to them their property” (Quran 4:6).

3 – Puberty is established by one of several signs, among them:
• Reaching the full age of fifteen lunar years—male or female. This is the meaning of the statement, “I was presented to him on the Day of the Trench when I was fifteen years old, and he allowed me to fight,” meaning that the Prophet ﷺ judged him to have reached adulthood at that age.
• The growth of coarse hair around the private part, the pubic region. This is indicated by ḥadith 744, in which the Prophet ﷺ ordered that the adult males of Banū Qurayẓah be executed while sparing those who were pre-pubescent. If their puberty was in doubt they would uncover the waist-wrap: whoever had sprouted the hair was deemed mature and was killed; whoever had not was considered immature, released, and not killed.

4 – Another sign of puberty is the emission of semen by either male or female; once ejaculation occurs, the individual is deemed to have reached puberty even if he or she has not yet completed fifteen years or grown pubic hair.

5 – A girl has an additional, fourth sign: menstruation. Whenever her menses begin she is considered an adult, in light of the ḥadith, “Allah does not accept the prayer of a menstruating woman unless she wears a khimār,” narrated by the Five. Menstruation signals readiness for pregnancy, and pregnancy only follows puberty.

6 – Alongside all these signs, sound judgment (rushd) remains a condition for handing over one’s wealth. If someone reaches puberty while still a spendthrift and lacking discernment, the interdiction is not lifted and his transactions remain invalid, for Allah the Exalted says: