Islaamically, the accountable person (al-mukallaf) is the one who is pubescent, sane, and has received the message of Islam. Pubescence happens when one reaches the age of fifteen (15) lunar years, or otherwise. The sane person is the one who has not lost one’s mind.For one to be accountable (mukallaf), it is a condition that one receives the call of Islam. This means that if the person is pubescent and sane, he becomes mukallaf simply by receiving the message of Islaam, which is: “No one is God except Allaah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah.”
The non-Muslim mukallaf is obligated to embrace Islaam and follow its teachings.
From this, it is understood that the young child is not accountable until he reaches pubescence. Likewise, the insane person is not accountable. The pubescent one who did not receive the message of Islaam is also not accountable.
Allaah, ta`aalaa, said in the Qur’aan:
)وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً (سورة الإسراء 15
Wa maa kunnaa muadhdhibeena hattaa nabatha rasoolaa
Aayah 15 of Sooratul-Israa’ means: {Allaah does not torture those who do not receive the basic message of Islaam.}
The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said:
عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ((رفع القلم عن ثلاثة: عن النائم حتى يستيقظ، وعن الصبى حتى يحتلم، وعن المجنون حتى يعقل)) رواه ابو داود
Rufi`al qalamu `an thalaathah: `anin-naa’imi hattaa yastayqidh, wa `anis–sabiyyi hattaa yaHtalim, wa `anil-majnooni hattaa ya`qil.
This means: “The pen has been lifted from [writing the deeds of] three: the one who is asleep until awakening, the young child until becoming pubescent, and the crazy person until becoming sane.” Related by Aboo Daawood
Note: During the season of Hajj when many of the Arab blasphemers (non-believers) used to assemble from different places in Makkah, the Prophet called them to Islaam. They would hear the Two Testifications from the Prophet: “I bear witness that no one is God except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah.” The blasphemers came to the Ka`bah in keeping with the traditions of their Muslim ancestors.
