Article 102 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 102 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الثاني: اليمين الحاسمة
The article 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 hearing date.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب أن يكون أداء اليمين في مواجهة طالبها إلا إذا قرر تنازله عن حضور أدائها، أو تخلف مع علمه بموعد الجلسة.
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 102 explained in plain English
This article provides that the oath is taken in the presence of whoever demanded it, that is, with him attending. The aim is that the person demanding the oath witnesses it being taken in the prescribed form.
But the article excepts two cases in which the oath may be taken without the attendance of the person who demanded it:
- If the person demanding the oath states that he waives attending its taking.
- If he fails to attend despite knowing the date of the hearing. The absence of the person demanding the oath does not hold up its taking where he knew the date.
In this way the article protects the right of the person demanding the oath to attend, while at the same time preventing his absence from delaying the case if he knew the date. Note that the second exception depends on his knowing the date of the hearing; if he did not know, the exception does not apply.
The article is read with Article 101, which requires whoever tenders the oath to state the facts and give the wording clearly, and with Article 103, which requires a person called to take an oath to attend, and treats him as refusing if he fails to attend without excuse or attends and neither swears nor refers back the oath.
Anyone who demands an oath from his opponent should take care to follow the hearing dates. To learn the effect of absence in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in litigation and civil matters.
Practical example
Noura demanded her opponent's oath in a financial case, and was notified of the date of the hearing for taking the oath but did not attend. The opponent may take the oath at that hearing despite her absence, because she failed to attend despite knowing the date.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 102 of Law of Evidence?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributor
Unwan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 102 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
Must the person who demanded the oath be present when it is taken?
As a rule the oath is 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.
What if the person who demanded the oath is absent from the hearing?
If he fails to attend despite knowing the date of the hearing, the oath may be taken in his absence.
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.