Question
What is the meaning of rushd, where Allaah has ordered to transfer the wealth of an orphan over to him once he reaches that age and we find this characteristic in him?
Answer
Rushd means uprightness, and it comes with puberty. It is the age when the person has the ability to manage his wealth making it grow without losing it or squandering it. Thus, when a young person reaches the age of maturity and the age when he is responsible, he is to be tested regarding his wealth. He is given a small portion of his wealth to see if he succeeds the test, then it is recognized that he indeed has reached rushd, in which case he is given the rest of his wealth.