Islam is the religion chosen by Allah to save mankind from the deadly
Satanic tricks. It is the divine candle bestowed by Him upon people to
guide them among the stumbles of life. Thereby It purifies their souls
allowing them to comprehend the fact that they have been created for one
sacred duty: to worship Allah

Understanding that millions of Muslims are deprived of getting Islamic
knowledge available in Arabic because they are non-Arabs, a center of
translation became a pressing need. Being blessed with Allah's help, we
could achieve such a sublime goal. And we hope that our effort results in
contributing to the Islamic propagation
The goal of the center of translation is to make use of translation as a
means of d'awa. Our task is to provide non-Arab Muslims, as well as
truth seekers, with Islamic materials of a high level of authenticity. Thus,
they may get a better understanding of Islam. May Allah help us
accomplish our duty successfully
Abdulrahman Aljamhoor
PREFACE
This work is the result of the collaboration between Muslim brothers who
have a mutual interest in making such a book available in the English
language. Our goal is to serve a long-standing need on the part of Muslim
youth in Western societies where the younger generations have been rent
asunder by the overt disregard and abandonment of moral values and
ideals on a very broad scale
On the one hand, the book has been particularly selected due to its
concise, yet thorough treatment of the subject, and on the other because
of its interactive dialogue format, which makes real the expression of
positive parental response to the legitimate concerns of young people on
the verge of becoming adults

The communicative approach to translation has been adopted since it
attempts to produce an effect on the readers of the target language
translation equivalent to the effect the source language text has had on its
readers. This is carried out through the study of the active interaction
between form and content
We ask Allah to bless this effort, and make it of benefit to those who read
it. May it be a continuing source of accumulating good deeds for us after
we are returned to our Creator. And peace and blessings be upon our
beloved Prophet, his progeny and companions, and all who follow them
in righteousness until the Day of Resurrection.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
THE AGE OF RELIGIOUS OBLIGATION
RELIGIOUS OBLIGATION AND LEGAL RULINGS
RECONSIDER YOUR LIFE
CUT OFF IN THEIR PRIME
FRATERNITY AND FRIENDSHIP
LOVE AND PASSION
PUBERTY
PARENTS' RIGHTS
INTENSE EMOTIONS
EXAMPLES OF RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE
Introduction
Verily, all praise is due to Allah . We praise Him, ask Him for assistance,
and ask His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil within
ourselves and from the grave consequences of our actions. Whomever
Allah guides will never go astray, and whomever Allah sends astray will
never be guided. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but
Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His
Messenger

At one time, we all were children and we frequently asked such questions
as: when would we become adults? What is the turning point between
childhood and adulthood? When is one considered a child, and when is
one considered an adult
Puberty marks the stage of religious obligation, which is the turning point
from childhood to adulthood. When a person reaches puberty, he bids
farewell to childhood, and leaves behind its affairs. The stage of puberty
is characterized by various physical, mental and psychological changes.
These changes do not always occur simultaneously. The remarkable
increase in growth rate and the alteration of the voice quality and other
physical signs may occur; all for a purpose known only to Allah. This
period also witnesses changes in reasoning patterns and emotions
All these changes prepare one to enter a new stage and begin a new type
of life. This is because Allah has created mankind to worship Him; and to
do so in the most perfect manner will certainly shed some light on the
wisdom behind creation. At this stage, religious obligation begins and one
becomes responsible for his deeds
At this stage, boys and girls encounter a new world, and they usually
have many questions in mind. However, the answers to these questions
are not readily available because specialized books dealing with such a
sensitive issue as puberty from a religious perspective are rare. Besides,
when childhood shyness persists, it often stands as a barrier to asking
questions of a sensitive nature
For these reasons, I have written this book hoping that it may introduce
young youth to the stage of puberty. It is presented in the form of a
dialogue between a father and his son to emphasize the important role

played by the parents in educating their children, especially at this
transitional stage
A writer is likely to face many difficulties when addressing his work to a
generation younger than his own. He may not be able to choose the words
most appropriate for this sector of audience; he may also over-emphasize
a point, which is already clear to them, or he may oversimplify points that
require deeper analysis
However, I have put forth my best effort in this work, drawing upon my
adulthood experiences as well as those deriving from my present career
as a teacher. I have already read many books and articles on the topics
discussed and I hope that these varied sources would have helped me to
overcome many of the difficulties previously mentioned
It is Allah Who provides success in all matters. Peace and blessings of
Allah be upon His Messenger, and all who follow his guidance
Mohammed Abdullah Addawish

The Age of Religious Obligation
Q: Dad, we agreed yesterday to discuss, from an Islamic point of
view, the issue of religious obligation and puberty. I think it is very
important to define accurately the beginning of such a stage that
marks someone's entry into maturity and legal responsibility in Islam

A: Yes, this is central to our discussion of this period of life. We need to
specify the age of religious obligation and puberty before speaking about
any other issue. Since puberty represents legal obligation and
responsibility in Islam, Islamic Shari 'ah (body of laws) mentions certain
clear indications which mark the beginning of this period in order not to
be confused with other subsequent stages
Some of these signs are common to both sexes while others are peculiar
to either sex. One of the common signs of puberty is the growing of pubic
hair around the private parts (genitals). Boys are characterized by the
excretion of sperms (seminal fluid) while girls are characterized by
having menses, commonly known as 'period

 Book O My Child! You've Become an Adult author : Muhammad Bin Abdullah AlDaweesh