Article 4 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 4 من نظام الإثبات · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
If items of evidence conflict and cannot be reconciled, the court takes the one that is preferred in light of the case's circumstances, otherwise none, and must state its reasons in the judgment.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
دون إخلال بأحكام هذا النظام، إذا تعارضت أدلة الإثبات ولم يمكن الجمع بينها فتأخذ المحكمة منها بحسب ما يترجح لها من ظروف الدعوى، فإن تعذر ذلك فلا تأخذ المحكمة بأي منها، وفي جميع الأحوال يجب عليها أن تبين أسباب ذلك في حكمها.
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 4 explained in plain English
This article deals with a situation that recurs in cases: items of evidence that conflict, for example where one item points to something and another points to the opposite. The text begins with the phrase without prejudice to the provisions of this law, then sets an order for dealing with the conflict:
- Reconciling the evidence first: the article applies only if the conflicting items of evidence cannot be reconciled.
- Preferring one according to the circumstances of the case: if reconciling is not possible, the court takes the evidence that is preferred in light of the circumstances of the case.
- Leaving all the evidence aside: if preferring one is also not possible, the court takes none of the conflicting items of evidence.
In all these cases the court must state its reasons in its judgment; it is not enough to choose an item of evidence or exclude the evidence without giving reasons.
This article is linked to the general rules in Article 3, such as that the evidence is on the one who claims and the oath on the one who denies, and to what Article 5 provides, that no particular form is required to prove an obligation unless there is a special provision or an agreement between the parties.
Because preferring one item depends on the circumstances of each case, assessing the strength of your evidence against that of your opponent calls for the opinion of a lawyer specializing in civil and commercial cases.
Practical example
The landlord of a shop in Jeddah presented a statement of account showing that the tenant had not paid two months' rent, and the tenant presented a message whose content indicated that he had paid. If the two items of evidence cannot be reconciled, the court looks at the circumstances of the case and prefers one of them; if that is not possible, it takes neither, and in both cases it must state its reasons in its judgment.
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 4 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What does the court do if the evidence conflicts?
If it cannot be reconciled, it takes the one that is preferred in light of the circumstances of the case, and if that is not possible it takes none of them.
Must the court explain why it preferred one item of evidence over another?
Yes. The article requires the court in all cases to state its reasons in its judgment.
Can the court set aside all the conflicting evidence?
Yes. If reconciling and preferring are not possible, the court takes none of them, stating its reasons in its judgment.
More articles on Burden of Proof and General Provisions
- Article 1
Article 1 defines the scope of the Law of Evidence, providing that its provisions apply to civil and commercial transactions.
تسري أحكام هذا النظام على المعاملات المدنية والتجارية.
- Article 2
The article requires the claimant to prove his right and gives the defendant the right to deny it, requires facts to be relevant, material and admissible, and prevents the judge from ruling on his personal knowledge.
1- على المدعي أن يثبت ما يدعيه من حق، وللمدعى عليه نفيه. 2- يجب أن تكون الوقائع المراد إثباتها متعلقة بالدعوى، ومنتجة فيها، وجائزاً قبولها. 3- لا يجوز للقاضي أن
- 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 5
The law does not require any particular form to prove an obligation, unless a special provision or an agreement between the parties says otherwise.
لا يلزم لإثبات الالتزام شكل معين؛ ما لم يرد فيه نص خاص أو اتفاق بين الخصوم.
- Article 6
The court gives effect to the parties' agreement on specific rules of evidence unless it violates public order, and such an agreement is not recognized unless it is in writing.
1- إذا اتفق الخصوم على قواعد محددة في الإثبات فتُعمِل المحكمة اتفاقَهم؛ ما لم يخالف النظام العام. 2- لا يعتد باتفاق الخصوم المنصوص عليه في هذا النظام ما لم يكن
- Article 7
Judgments, orders and decisions issued in evidence procedures need not state reasons unless they contain a final ruling, and judgments in urgent evidence claims must always state reasons.
1- الأحكام والأوامر والقرارات الصادرة بإجراءات الإثبات؛ لا يلزم تسبيبها ما لم تتضمن قضاءً قطعياً. 2- يتعين في جميع الأحوال تسبيب الأحكام الصادرة في دعاوى الإثبا
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.