Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

Is it compulsory on a girl to pray from the age of nine or from the time that she reaches puberty(meaning from the time she starts her mensus)?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

What age should girl start praying?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.80

Who Must Pray

Prayer is obligatory upon every sane, adult Muslim. Aishah related that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "The pen is raised for three (meaning: there is no obligation upon three): one who is sleeping until he wakens, the child until he becomes an adult, and one who is insane until he becomes sane."

Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and al-Hakim,.

Although it is not obligatory for a child to pray, it is a must that his guardian order him to do so when he/she is seven, and he should beat him (get strict and enforce it) if he does not pray after he reaches the age of ten. A minor should practice praying until he reaches puberty. Amr ibn Shu'aib related from his father on the authority of his grandfather that the Prophet (saws) said, "Order your children to pray when they reach the age of seven. Beat them (enforce if they don't pray) when they reach the age of ten."

Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and al-Hakim.

Regardless of whether one is a male or a female, the prayer only becomes obligatory upon the believer after one has reached the age of puberty. If one does not pray after reaching the age of puberty, one will be held accountable in the Court of Allah Subhanah for disobeying one of the obligatory commands of the All-Mighty Lord.

But the Messenger of Allah (saws) guided the believers to encourage and order their children, whether male or female, to start praying regularly from the age of seven; and enforce the prayers (strictly if need be) at the age of ten; so that they get into a habit of praying regularly by the time they reach the age of puberty. But in the Court of Allah Subhanah one will only be accountable for their prayers after one has reached the age of puberty.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan