Article 101 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 101 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الثاني: اليمين الحاسمة
The article requires whoever tenders the oath to his opponent to state precisely the facts on which he wants him to swear and to give the wording clearly, and allows the court to amend the wording so it addresses the fact precisely.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على من يوجه اليمين إلى خصمه أن يبين بدقة الوقائع التي يريد استحلافه عليها، ويذكر الصيغة بعبارة واضحة، وللمحكمة أن تعدلها لتوجه بوضوح ودقة على الواقعة المطلوب الحلف عليها.
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 101 explained in plain English
This article places a duty on whoever demands an oath from his opponent, so that the oath is clear and not open to interpretation.
What the person demanding the oath must do:
- State precisely the facts on which he wants his opponent to swear; a general or vague demand for an oath is not enough.
- Give the wording of the oath in clear terms.
The role of the court: the court may amend the wording proposed, so that the oath is directed clearly and precisely at the fact on which swearing is required. The wording proposed by the opponent is therefore not final.
The purpose is that an oath may decide the case, so the person swearing must know exactly what he is swearing to, and the court must know what follows from his swearing or refusing.
This rule applies to everyone who tenders an oath, including the guardian, the executor and the endowment supervisor and those in a similar position, whom Article 100 allows to tender the oath in what they may dispose of. It is also connected to Article 102, which requires the oath to be taken in the presence of the person who demanded it, unless he waives attendance or fails to attend despite knowing the date of the hearing.
Wording an oath precisely is a technical matter that may affect the outcome of the case, so anyone who wants to tender an oath is advised to seek the help of a lawyer who specializes in litigation and civil matters.
Practical example
Abdullah asked his opponent to swear "that he owes him nothing." The court considered the wording too general and amended it to concern a specific fact, the receipt of a particular amount on a particular date, so that the oath addresses the subject of the dispute precisely.
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 101 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What must the person demanding an oath from his opponent do?
He must state precisely the facts on which he wants him to swear and give the wording in clear terms.
Does the court have the right to change the wording of the oath?
Yes. The court may amend the wording so the oath is directed clearly and precisely at the fact on which swearing is required.
More articles on The Oath
- Article 3
The article sets general rules of evidence: the evidence is on the claimant and the oath on the denier, the function of each, and the difference between the force of evidence and of admission.
1- البينة على من ادعى، واليمين على من أنكر. 2- البينة لإثبات خلاف الظاهر، واليمين لإبقاء الأصل. 3- البينة حجة متعدية، والإقرار حجة قاصرة. 4- الثابت بالبرهان كال
- Article 12
A mute person's admission, interrogation, testimony and oath, and the directing, refusing and returning of it, are done in writing, or if he cannot write, by his customary gestures.
يكون إقرار الأخرس ومن في حكمه واستجوابه وأداؤه للشهادة واليمين وتوجيهها والنكول عنها وردها بالكتابة، فإن لم يكن يعرف الكتابة فبإشارته المعهودة.
- Article 31
The Article explains when merchants' books are binding for or against their owner, that they are not binding on non-merchants, and when the court may administer the supplementary oath based on them.
1- لا تكون دفاتر التجار حجة على غير التجار، ومع ذلك فإن البيانات المثبتة فيها تصلح أساساً يجيز للمحكمة أن توجه اليمين المتممة لمن قوي جانبه من الطرفين، وذلك فيم
- Article 35
The Article sets out when the court orders the opponent to produce the requested document, and the consequences if he refuses to produce it or denies that it exists.
1- إذا أقر الخصم أن المحرَّر في حوزته أو سكت، أو أثبت الطالب صحة طلبه، أمرت المحكمة بتقديم المحرَّر. 2- إذا امتنع الخصم عن تقديم المحرَّر المطلوب بعد إمهاله مرة
- Article 51
Where proof must be in writing, a judicial admission, a decisive oath, or a beginning of written proof supported by another means of proof may take its place, and the Article defines this beginning of proof.
1- يجوز في الأحوال التي يجب فيها الإثبات بالكتابة أن يحل محلها الإقرار القضائي، أو اليمين الحاسمة، أو مبدأ الثبوت بالكتابة المعزز بطريق إثبات آخر؛ وذلك فيما لم
- Article 74
The Article provides that testimony is given orally and may be given in writing with the court's permission, and that the court may administer an oath to the witness when necessary and assess the effect of his refusal to swear.
1- تؤدى الشهادة شفاهاً. ويجوز أداؤها كتابة بإذن المحكمة. 2- يجوز للمحكمة تحليف الشاهد عند الاقتضاء، وإذا امتنع عن الحلف فتقدر المحكمة أثر ذلك.
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.