Article 142 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
المادة 142 من نظام المعاملات المدنية · الفرع الرابع: التعويض عن الضرر
If the damage falls on life or less than life, the amount of compensation for the injury itself is determined under the provisions of fixed compensation (daman) in Islamic Sharia for offenses against life and less.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا كان الضرر واقعًا على النفس أو ما دونها فإن مقدار التعويض عن الإصابة ذاتها يتحدد وفقًا لأحكام الضمان المقدّر في الشريعة الإسلامية في الجناية على النفس وما دونها.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 142 explained in plain English
This article sets a special rule for damage falling on life or less than life, meaning damage that affects a person's body, whether death or a lesser injury.
It provides that the amount of compensation for the injury itself is determined under the provisions of fixed compensation (daman) in Islamic Sharia for offenses against life and less than life. The article does not set amounts itself, but refers to those Sharia provisions for assessing this part of the compensation.
Note the phrase "for the injury itself" in the wording of the article; the reference to fixed compensation relates to compensation for the injury itself. The text of the article did not address the rule for other damages that may result from the injury, so no rule on that can be inferred from it.
This article is linked to Article 141, which allows the court a preliminary assessment of compensation if it cannot assess it finally, while preserving the injured person's right to request a review within a period it sets. It is also linked to Article 143, which sets the period for hearing a compensation claim for a harmful act at 3 years from the date of knowledge of the damage and the person liable, and at most 10 years from the date the damage occurred, with a special rule for a claim arising from a crime.
Because determining the amount of fixed compensation for injuries requires knowledge of its Sharia provisions and of the facts of the injury, consider consulting a lawyer who specializes in civil and compensation cases.
Practical example
Faisal was in an accident in Taif that caused him a bodily injury. The amount of compensation for the injury itself is determined under the provisions of fixed compensation (daman) in Islamic Sharia for offenses against less than life, not by an assessment independent of them.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 142 of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law
How is compensation for a bodily injury calculated?
The amount of compensation for the injury itself is determined under the provisions of fixed compensation (daman) in Islamic Sharia for offenses against life and less than life.
Does the article set amounts of compensation for injuries?
No. It refers as to the amount to the provisions of fixed compensation in Islamic Sharia.
Does the article cover cases of death?
Yes. It covers damage falling on life or less than life.
More articles on Compensation for Harm
- Article 28
The article provides that a person who uses his right lawfully is not liable for any harm that arises from that.
من استعمل حقه استعمالًا مشروعًا لا يكون مسؤولًا عما ينشأ عن ذلك من ضرر.
- Article 29
The article prohibits abuse in using a right, and sets its cases: aiming only to harm others, benefit entirely disproportionate to the harm caused, and use for something other than what the right was granted for or for an unlawful purpose.
1- لا يجوز التعسف في استعمال الحق. 2- يكون استعمال الحق تعسفيًّا في الحالات الآتية: أ- إذا لم يقصد بالاستعمال سوى الإضرار بالغير. ب- إذا كانت المنفعة من استعمال
- Article 35
The offeror may withdraw his offer before acceptance is made unless the offer has a fixed period, and if he does not inform the other party he compensates him for the harm suffered but not the expected profit.
1- للموجب أن يعدل عن الإيجاب قبل صدور القبول؛ ما لم تكن للإيجاب مدةٌ معينة. 2- إذا لم تكن للإيجاب مدة معينة؛ فعلى الموجب إذا عدل إعلام من وجه إليه الإيجاب بذلك،
- Article 41
Negotiating does not oblige the parties to conclude a contract, but a person who negotiates or ends negotiations in bad faith is liable for the harm, not for expected profit; bad faith includes lack of seriousness and concealing an essential fact.
1- ذا تمَّ التفاوض على عقد فلا يرتب ذلك على أطراف التفاوض التزامًا بإبرام هذا العقد، ومع ذلك يكون من يتفاوض أو يُنهي التفاوض بسوء نية مسؤولًا عن الضرر الذي أصاب
- Article 56
If a partially incapacitated person resorts to fraudulent means to conceal his incapacity, he must compensate the other contracting party for the harm caused by the annulment of the contract.
إذا لجأ ناقص الأهلية إلى طرقٍ احتياليَّةٍ لإخفاء نقص أهليته لزمه التعويض عن الضرر الذي أصاب المتعاقد معه بسبب إبطال العقد.
- Article 118
The article provides that the provisions on harmful acts apply to liability arising from the act of a natural or legal person, subject to liability provisions in special statutory texts.
مع مراعاة أحكام المسؤولية الواردة في نصوص نظامية خاصة؛ تسري أحكام هذا الفصل على المسؤولية الناشئة عن الفعل الضار من الشخص ذي الصفة الطبيعية أو الاعتبارية.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.