13-3 (The compiler of the book narrated) that his father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’ed ibn Abdullah quoted Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr al-Bazanty, on the authority of Abil Hussein al-Khadim - the pearl seller, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Sin’an that Aba Abdullah as-Sadiq (MGB) said,

“My father asked the following question from the Imam (MGB) in my presence, ‘When would an orphan attain the age of puberty?’ The Imam (MGB) replied, ‘When he reaches sexual maturity.’ My father asked, ‘What is the decree in case a boy more or less reaches eighteen but doesn’t attain sexual maturity?’ The Imam (MGB) replied, ‘He will be held responsible for his actions as soon as he attains thirteen years of age whether or not he attains sexual maturity, unless he is retarded or insane.”