Hi Zaria
It is easy to determine when somebody reaches adulthood from a physical perspective. Like you say, that happens when we reach physical maturity.
But what about mental maturity? How do we measure that? Or does that not part of the statement you made? Does physical maturity assume mental maturity?
Like I said in a post earlier, I find that there can be a vast discrepancy between physical and mental maturity in adolescents ...
Hi Glo,
From an islamic point of view, adulthood is recognised from the above mentioned criteria.
Mental maturity is not considered in this definition, and I think there is wisdom in this:
- How would one 'define' mental maturity?
- How would one assess the mental maturity of the illiterate/ poorly educated person?
- A person may reach the age of 20/ 25/ older - and still claim to be not 'mentally mature' as yet.
One needs to realise that the hormonal changes that occur during physical maturation affect not only the sexual organs, but the brain as well:
Testosterone surges in young men and monthly fluctuations in estrogen levels - all impact on ones higher functioning, ones sexual desires and transitions one away from childhood and into adulthood.
By recognising physical maturation as a sign of adulthood, we are placing a responsibility on our young adults - to behave and act as adults.
They need to realise that they are now accountable for all their deeds.
If a young adult/ teenager dies - he will not be protected by his 'lack of mental maturity' on the Day of Judgement.
And so, if we have kids who reached maturity - we need to reprimand them if they fail to pray/ fast in Ramadaan, etc......all this, for their own benefit.
And what about being of sound mind?
From what we know about this young girl, how can we be sure that she is of sound mind?
Prising your unborn baby out of your own body with scissors and keeping it's dead body in a box in your bedroom until it begins to smell are not the actions of somebody of sound mind (as I have also mentioned in an earlier post).
Do you think these are the actions of a human being in a rational state?
It is indeed difficult to judge this case from the information that we have at hand.
However, I am
leaning towards this young being of sound mind from the following:
- By her own testimony, she says that she "didn't know what to do with it,".
She does not mention that she was hearing 'voices' prompting her to commit the murder of an innocent newborn.
Considering the following:
- "As evidence that she wasn't pregnant, Cassidy Goodson had shown her mother two home pregnancy tests that turned up negative. However, the teen had conducted the tests completely alone."
......tells me that she was intentionally trying to deceive her family - and had the ability to devise a plan in this regard.
- Her mother does not appear to question her own daughters state of mind (and this is a very important clue as well).
- Her method of extracting her fetus, choking it to death and being able to sleep with the dead body in her own room.......would
then indicate absolute callousness and a disregard of acccountability to a higher power (if she is infact sane).
These are just my opinions drawn from the information provided in the article.
Perhaps I am wrong, and there is much more to this case.
Allah knows best.
And I do trust, that He is the best of Judgers in all matters.
Peace.
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