Baligh
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In Islamic legal terminology, Baligh or Bulugh (Arabic: بالغ or بُلوغ) refers to a person who has reached maturity or puberty, and has full responsibility under Islamic law.
For a girl, Baligh is attained when she either menstruates, becomes pregnant before, has a wet dream (a dream of a sexual nature resulting in discharge) or she passes 15 lunar years in age.
A boy reaches Baligh when he either grows pubic hair, has a wet dream resulting in discharge , or completes 15 lunar years.
For example, in issues pertaining to marriage, baligh is related to the Arabic legal expression, hatta tutiqa'l-rijal, which means that the a wedding may not take place until the girl is physically fit to engage in sexual intercourse. In comparison, baligh or balaghat concerns the reaching of sexual maturity which becomes manifest by the menses. The age related to these two concepts can, but need not necessarily, coincide. Only after a separate condition called rushd, or intellectual maturity to handle one's own property, is reached can a girl receive her bridewealth.[1]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Masud, Islamic Legal Interpretation, Muftis and Their Fatwas, Harvard University Press, 1996
