Article 103 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 103 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الثاني: اليمين الحاسمة
The article requires whoever is summoned to take an oath to attend and sets out when he is treated as refusing: if he attends but neither swears nor refers back, fails to attend without excuse, or objects and the court is not convinced and he does not swear.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- من دعي للحضور إلى المحكمة لأداء اليمين وجب عليه الحضور.
2- إذا حضر من وجهت إليه اليمين بنفسه ولم ينازع في جوازها أو في تعلقها بالدعوى، وجب عليه أن يؤديها فوراً أو يردها على خصمه وإلا عد ناكلاً، وإن تخلف عن الحضور بغير عذر عدّ ناكلاً.
3- إذا حضر من وجهت إليه اليمين ونازع في جوازها أو في تعلقها بالدعوى لزمه بيان ذلك، فإن لم تقتنع المحكمة بذلك وجب عليه أداء اليمين، وإلا عد ناكلاً.
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 103 explained in plain English
This article sets out the duties of the person to whom the oath is tendered, and when he is treated as refusing (that is, declining the oath), a description that has a direct effect on the judgment.
- Duty to attend: whoever is summoned to attend court to take an oath must attend.
- If he attends and does not object: if he attends in person and does not dispute the admissibility of the oath or its relevance to the case, he must take it at once or refer it back to his opponent, otherwise he is treated as refusing.
- If he fails to attend: if he does not attend without excuse, he is treated as refusing. Failing to attend with an excuse does not fall under this provision.
- If he attends and objects: if he disputes the admissibility of the oath or its relevance to the case, he must state the grounds of his objection. If the court is not convinced by them, he must take the oath, otherwise he is treated as refusing.
The article is connected to Article 102, which provides that 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. It is also connected to Article 104, which sets out when the oath is multiplied by the number of those entitled to it or those to whom it is tendered.
A person to whom an oath is tendered and who believes it is inadmissible or unrelated to the case may, under the article, object while stating his grounds. To assess whether an objection or referring back is worthwhile, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in litigation and civil matters before the hearing.
Practical example
The oath was tendered to Ali in a claim for the value of maintenance work, and he attended and objected that the oath did not relate to the subject of the case, stating his grounds. The court was not convinced by his objection, so he had to swear, and had he declined he would have been treated as refusing.
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 103 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 103 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What happens if I do not attend to take the oath?
If you fail to attend without excuse, you are treated as refusing the oath.
May I object to the oath tendered to me?
Yes. You may dispute its admissibility or its relevance to the case while stating your grounds; if the court is not convinced, you must take it, otherwise you are treated as refusing.
What are the options for someone who attends to take the oath and does not object?
He must take it at once or refer it back to his opponent, otherwise he is treated as refusing.
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.