Q:

Assalamu Alaikum, I have a question. When will girls be accountable for their sins? Also what signs are there? What happens if you commit a major sin that involves another individual, but you are still a child (but knew what you were doing)? Also what if you are not sure if you have commited the sin, or if it a false memory? How do I know if it is a false memory or not? And lastly can Even the most evil sins be forgiven, Even though you repent and strongly regret it?

Thank you so much for taking your time to answer this question.

A:

Wa alaykum assalamu wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving.

All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad.

Females become accountable for their deeds when they reach puberty. According to Muslim jurists, there are three signs of puberty for females: the occurrence of menstruation, ejaculation (whether awake or asleep) or reaching the age of 15 lunar years. Some jurists also add the appearance of pubic hair as a fourth sign.

Before reaching puberty, children are not accountable for whatever they do. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) told us that there are there persons who are not held accountable for their deeds: a sleeping person until he awakes, a boy until he reaches puberty, and an insane person until he regains consciousness. [Abu Dawoud]

Out of His grace, Allah, the All-Merciful, has opened the gate of repentance wide for all those who repent sincerely and earnestly to Him no matter how grave their sins are. In the Quran we read, “Say, [O Prophet]: O My servants! Those [of you] who have committed [sins in great] excess against their own souls, never despond of the mercy of Allah! For, indeed, Allah forgives sins, one and all. Indeed, it is He [alone] who is the All-Forgiving, the Mercy-Giving.” [39:53] The Quran also tells of the acceptance of sincere repentance even from apostates “How shall Allah guide a people who have disbelieved after [they have professed] their faith and borne witness that the Messenger is true, and [after] the clear proofs [of Allah] have come to them? For Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people [who are godless in heart]. As for [the likes of] these, their recompense is that upon them is the curse of God, and [of] the angels and [of] humanity all together……. except for those [of them] who repent after this [breach of faith], and set things aright. For, indeed, Allah is all-forgiving, mercy-giving.” (Aal Imran 3:86-89)

Allah knows best.