The Age Limit at Which a Woman Is Considered Capable of Arousing Desire in the Ruling of Wudu

Problem Description:
As is well known, looking at a woman who has reached an age in which she can be sexually desired is prohibited, and touching her can invalidate wudu.

Question:
Up to what age is a woman considered capable of being sexually desired, such that touching her by a man invalidates wudu?

Answer:
According to the sound opinion, this matter is not determined by age, but rather depends on ‘urf (local customs and societal norms). However, the scholars agree that a girl can invalidate wudu once she reaches the age of 7. As for the age of 6, the scholars differ in opinion. At the age of 5, it clearly does not invalidate wudu—unless the one who touches her does so with sexual desire.

Reference:

(مرقاة صعود التصديق, 21)

وَيَنْقُضُ الوُضُؤَ لَمْسُ بَشَرِ الأَجْنَبِيَّةِ مَعَ كِبَرٍ يَقِيْنًا فَلَا تَنْقُضُ صَغِيْرَةٌ لَاتُشْتَهَى لِأَنَّهُ لَيْسَتْ فِىْ مَظِنَّةِ الشَّهْوَةِ وَالمَرْجِعُ فِى المُشْتَهَاةِ وَغَيْرِهَا اِلَى العُرْفِ عَلَى الصَّحِيْحِ قَالَ الشَّيْخُ اَبُوْحَامِدٍ الَّتِي لَاتُشْتَهَى مَنْ لَهَا أَرْبَعُ سِنِيْنَ فَمَا دُوْنَهَا أَفَادَ ذَلِكَ الدميرى وَقَالَ شَيْخُنَا يُوْسُف السنبلاوينى فَاِذَا بَلَغَ الوَلَدُ سَبْعَ سِنِيْنَ فَاِنَّهُ يَنْقُضُ بِاتِّفَاقٍ ذَكَرًا كَانَ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَاِذَا بَلَغَ خَمْسَ سِنِيْنَ فَلَا يَنْقُضُ بِاتِّفَاقٍ وَاَمَّا اذَا بَلَغَ سِتَّ سِنِيْنَ فَفِيْهِ خِلَافٌ فَقِيْلَ يَنْقُضُ وَقِيْلَ لَا وَ هَذَا يُرْجَعُ إِلَى طِبَاعِ النَّاسِ حَتَّى أَنَّ الوَلَدَ الّذِىْ بَلَغَ خَمْسَ سِنِيْنَ فَقَطْ يَنْقُضُ لِمَنْ يَشْتَهِيْهِ وَلَايَنْقُضُ لِغَيْرِهِ انتهى إهـ.