mukallaf

Mukallaf is a term used in Islamic jurisprudence to denote a person who has become legally responsible for obeying religious duties and bearing accountability for their actions under Islamic law. The concept centers on the idea of taklif, the imposition of obligation. A mukallaf is typically someone who has reached the age of maturity (balagh) and possesses a sound mind (aql).

Balagh refers to puberty or the attainment of mental discernment. Puberty is identified in various ways, including the appearance of physical signs such as menstruation in girls or other secondary sexual characteristics, and in the absence of clear signs, by age-based criteria that differ among schools of thought. In addition to maturity, a mukallaf must be sane; those who are mentally incapable or temporarily unconscious are not considered mukallaf, though they may regain accountability once they recover.

Being mukallaf means being obliged to perform acts of worship such as prayer, fasting, zakat, and Hajj, and to abstain from prohibitions; it also entails civil rights and duties that may be recognized under Islamic law, including entering into contracts and bearing legal consequences for certain actions. The precise scope of duties and the thresholds for accountability can vary between Sunni and Shia traditions and across different legal schools.

In contemporary contexts, the term is sometimes used to designate adults in Muslim-majority societies who are legally capable of making contracts and bearing responsibilities in both religious and civil frameworks.