Stages of Becoming: A Cross-Tradition Inquiry into Childhood and Personhood

The question of when a child attains full personhood remains a subject of enduring philosophical and legal debate. Within both Western and Islamic scholarship, childhood personhood is justifiably framed as liminal and emergent: children are recognised as rights-holders with moral significance, though not yet autonomous in the adult sense. Thinkers such as John Locke and Immanuel Kant proposed distinct criteria - rationality and autonomous moral agency. Psychological models, including Piaget’s stage-based theories of cognitive and moral development, have been influential, though challenged by perspectives emphasising individual variability and contextual influences. Legally, childhood is commonly defined as under ۱۸, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, ۱۹۸۹), though national laws diverge on key thresholds, such as the age of criminal responsibility or sexual consent. The UNCRC underscores children’s evolving capacities, particularly in Articles ۵ and ۱۲, affirming their right to be heard and guided in accordance with their maturity. Ethically, many argue that children possess interest-protecting rights even prior to achieving full autonomy. Islamic teachings offer a nuanced conception of childhood, integrating spiritual, ethical, legal, and developmental dimensions. Childhood is understood not merely as a biological phase but as a moral and spiritual journey. Islamic tradition delineates four developmental stages, each with distinct legal and ethical implications: ۱ - Infancy (ṣabāwah): From birth to around age seven, children are considered morally and legally innocent, exempt from religious obligations. ۲ - Discernment (mumayyiz): Typically, between seven and nine years, this stage marks the emergence of moral awareness. While still not legally accountable, children begin informal engagement with religious practices and ethical instruction. ۳ - Puberty (bulūgh): Signifying the onset of legal and moral responsibility (taklīf), puberty is recognised through physical signs or age. At this stage, individuals become subject to Islamic legal norms. ۴ - Mental maturity (rushd):

کلیدواژه ها:

Childhood ، Personhood ، Western scholarship ، Islamic scholarship ، United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child ، UNCRC ، Islamic teachings ، developmental stages ، ethical implications ، legal implications