Explaining the Juristic Concepts of "Mumayyiz" and "Murahiq" through Comparing Jurist's Sayings with Quranic verses and Traditions

The terms "mumayyiz" (discerning child) and "murahiq" (a child who is close to puberty, but has not yet gone through it) are among the basic concepts in fiqh (jurisprudence) as they have been used extensively through this branch of knowledge. Although these two concepts have been used in various texts in different meanings, they are two jurisprudential terms that have been used extensively in the jurisprudence. So far an accurate and precise definition to clarify the components of these terms has not been presented. The definitions offered in some jurisprudential texts are limited and discrepant and their theoretical foundations are not clear. Sometimes, those definitions have these problems altogether. The present research aims to classify the applications of these concepts in fiqh (jurisprudence) explaining its definitions and various aspects as well as the theoretical foundations of each definition. Thus, it has implicitly reached this conclusion that a single and consistent definition of the term "mumayyiz" to encompass the entire jurisprudence would be incorrect. This term has been defined in different ways in accordance with the different chapters of 'ibadat (acts of worship) and muamelat (transactions). It has also presented a definition of "murahiq" which seems to have been used throughout fiqh. The author has also explained the relationship and difference between these two concepts.