I Am a Female Teacher at an Elementary School and Teach Boys Aged 9–10; Is It Permissible for Me to Teach Them, or Do They Take the Ruling of Adults?

Question: Asalamualikum, I am a primary teacher in madinah in an international school, due to parents demand, the girls section also have boys till grade 3. The boys in grade 3 are usually the age of 9-10. Is is permissible to teach them? Or do we count them as adults even if they haven’t gone through puberty yet?

Summary:

If the boys in the third grade are around nine or ten years old and none of the signs of puberty have appeared on them, then they are not considered adults according to Shariah merely because they have reached this age. The basic ruling is that it is permissible for a female teacher to teach them if they are among those children who have not shown signs of desire or attachment to women, provided that the teacher observes hijab and the Islamic manners and there is no fear of fitnah. However, the ages of nine and ten are a stage at which greater caution should be exercised, as some boys may begin to become aware of matters relating to women and sexual desire even though they have not yet reached puberty according to Shariah. Therefore, the criterion is not merely the numerical age, but rather the condition of the boy, his level of discernment, and his awareness of women, while also taking the signs of puberty into consideration. Shaykh al-Albani رحمه الله mentioned this criterion when he was specifically asked about a woman teaching boys between the ages of six and ten. The criterion regarding a woman teaching boys: The consideration regarding a woman teaching boys is not a specific age such as ten. Rather, it is the condition of the boy, the extent of his awareness of women, and his awareness of sexual matters. If the boy has reached the point where he distinguishes women, is affected by them, and the causes of desire are stirred within him, then a woman should not teach him or appear before him in a manner that may result in fitnah, even if he has not yet reached puberty. However, if he is still young, unaware of these matters, and unaffected by them, then there is no harm. Therefore, the criterion is: discernment, awareness, and the presence of circumstances in which desire may arise, not merely reaching a particular age.

Answer:

First: When is a boy considered to have reached puberty according to Shariah?

Not everyone who reaches the age of nine or ten has reached puberty.

From the Qur'an:

[Surah an-Nur: 59]
“And when the children among you reach puberty, let them ask permission as those before them asked permission.”
Thus, Allah سبحانه distinguished between a child before reaching puberty and one who has reached puberty.

From the Scholars:

Shaykh Ibn Baz رحمه الله explained that a male reaches puberty through one of three signs:
In the fatwa: The signs by which puberty and legal responsibility are known Discharge of semen through a wet dream or otherwise. The growth of coarse hair around the private parts. Completing fifteen years of age. If any one of these occurs, the boy becomes an adult who is legally accountable, even if it occurs before the age of fifteen.
Accordingly, the fact that a student is nine or ten years old does not itself mean that he has reached puberty. However, he may reach puberty before the age of fifteen if one of the aforementioned signs appears. Shaykh Ibn Baz رحمه الله explicitly stated that puberty through the discharge of semen may occur before that age.

Second: The Sunnah indicates that a ten-year-old may not yet have reached puberty

From the Sunnah:

Narrated by Abu Dawud and Ahmad, and authenticated by Shaykh al-Albani رحمه الله.The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and discipline them for it when they are ten years old, and separate them in their beds.”
The hadith indicates that the age of ten is not itself the age at which puberty is reached. However, it is an age at which greater caution and attention to upbringing are required. For this reason, the Prophet ﷺ commanded that they be separated in their beds when they reach the age of ten. The hadith also indicates that this age may mark the beginning of a stage in which a child becomes aware of sexual desire and approaches puberty.

Third: The evidence for distinguishing between a child who is aware of matters relating to women and one who is not Allah تعالى says regarding those before whom a woman may display her adornment:

From the Qur'an:

[Surah an-Nur: 31]
“Or children who are unaware of women’s nakedness.”
This is an important condition. The Shariah did not make the ruling dependent upon puberty alone. Rather, it also took into consideration the child’s awareness of matters relating to women. A child who does not understand matters relating to women and whose desire is not stirred toward them is not like an adolescent boy who has begun looking at women, distinguishing their beauty, and becoming attracted to them, even if the rulings applicable to adults have not yet been established upon him.

Fourth: The words of Shaykh al-Albani رحمه الله regarding a woman teaching boys between the ages of six and ten

From the Scholars:

Shaykh Muhammad Nasir ad-Din al-Albani رحمه الله was asked a question very similar to the question of the female questioner:
Is it permissible for a woman to teach boys at the elementary level when the students are between six and ten years old? He رحمه الله explained that the matter is not determined solely by reaching the age of ten, because some children may develop awareness of sexual matters before that age. He connected the ruling to the statement of Allah تعالى concerning children who are unaware of women’s nakedness.
The summary of his criterion is: if what is generally the case regarding these children is that they are unaware of these matters, then it is permissible. However, if they have begun to become aware of them and are affected by women, then it is not permissible for a woman to enter upon them in this manner. This statement is important in the case of the questioner because the students mentioned are nine and ten years old, which is an age at which the circumstances of children can differ noticeably.

Fifth: Is it permissible for the female teacher to teach them? If these boys have not reached puberty, have not shown signs of attachment to women or sexual desire, and are still considered among the children who are unaware of women’s nakedness, then the basic ruling is that there is no harm in the female teacher teaching them, provided that she observes the proper Islamic hijab and dignity, does not remain in seclusion with any one of them, and restricts her interaction with them to what is required for teaching. It was also stated in a specific fatwa entitled “The Ruling on a Woman Teaching Young Males” that the basic ruling is that it is permissible for a female teacher to teach males who have not reached puberty in the early grades, while noting that separating the education of males and females is safer and further removed from prohibited matters. However, if one of the students reaches puberty, or becomes an adolescent who recognizes women’s beauty, becomes attracted to them, and shows signs of sexual desire, then he is not treated like a young child who is unaware of these matters. The rulings concerning hijab, mixing, and fitnah must then be observed. Adult males must be taught by male teachers; it is not permissible for a woman to undertake the teaching of adult men. Sixth: A note concerning the ages of nine and ten. It should not be said unrestrictedly: “Every boy who is nine or ten years old may be taught by a woman because he has not reached puberty.” This statement is not precise. Some boys may reach puberty before the age of fifteen. Likewise, a boy may become aware of women and become attracted to them before reaching puberty according to Shariah. For this reason, the words of Shaykh al-Albani رحمه الله are more precise: the condition of the children should be considered. If they are still unaware of matters relating to women, then the matter is broader. However, if this awareness and desire have appeared in them, then they should not be treated like young children. This is consistent with the statement of Allah تعالى:

From the Qur'an:

[Surah an-Nur: 31]
“Or children who are unaware of women’s nakedness.”

Conclusion: Boys who are nine or ten years old are not judged to have reached puberty merely because of their age. A male reaches puberty through the discharge of semen, the growth of coarse hair around the private parts, or completing fifteen years of age. Therefore, if the third-grade students mentioned have not reached puberty and their condition is still that of children who are unaware of matters relating to women and show no signs of sexual desire, then there appears to be no harm in the female teacher teaching them while observing hijab and the Islamic guidelines. However, if some of them show signs of having reached puberty, or they have become aware of women’s beauty and become attracted to them, then they should not be treated like young children. Separating boys from girls, having men teach boys and women teach girls, is safer for one’s religion and further removed from fitnah, especially around the age of ten and the ages close to it.

And Allah knows best.

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I Am a Female Teacher at an Elementary School and Teach Boys Aged 9–10; Is It Permissible for Me to Teach Them, or Do They Take the Ruling of Adults?

Summary:

From the Qur'an:

From the Scholars:

From the Sunnah:

From the Qur'an:

From the Scholars:

From the Qur'an:

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