Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. Shaykhs, if there are children together, and I want to give them candy or gifts etc., but there are some male children among them who might have reached the age where they are non-Mahram (permanently unmarriageable kin) to me, though I am not sure if that is the case or not, can I give all of them that gift etc.? Or is it better to not give it? If I do not give anything to that one child, he may feel bad. Also, please advise, if I know that a male child among them has reached the age of 10 (following Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy upon him), what is best in such a situation? Please note that I am asking regarding when that male child is not alone but in the company of other children. May Allah reward you, Shaykhs.

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

There is no harm on you in gifting children, even if they are adolescents (teenagers). Gifting an adult person is not forbidden, let alone children at the age of ten years old, but you have to adhere to the Islamic conditions, such as abiding by the hijaab in front of adolescents, let alone in front of adults.

Ash-Sharh Al-Kabeer, authored by Ibn Qudaamah reads, “Abu ‘Abdullah was asked, ‘When does a woman cover her head from a boy?’ He replied, ‘If he reaches ten years old.’” Abu ‘Abdullah is Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal .

Allah knows best.