Article 92 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 92 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الأول: أحكام عامة
The article defines the two kinds of oath: the decisive oath, taken by the defendant to defeat the claim and which may be referred back to the plaintiff, and the supplementary oath, taken by the plaintiff to complete the evidence and which may not be referred back.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- اليمين الحاسمة: هي التي يؤديها المدعى عليه لدفع الدعوى، ويجوز ردها على المدعي، وفقاً للأحكام الواردة في هذا الباب.
2- اليمين المتممة: هي التي يؤديها المدعي لإتمام البينة، ولا يجوز ردها على المدعى عليه، وفقاً للأحكام الواردة في هذا الباب.
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 92 explained in plain English
This article defines the two kinds of oath in the Law of Evidence, and states who takes each and whether it may be referred back to the other party.
- The decisive oath: it is taken by the defendant, and its purpose is to defeat the claim brought against him. It may be referred back to the plaintiff, meaning the plaintiff may be asked to swear in his place.
- The supplementary oath: it is taken by the plaintiff, and its purpose is to complete the evidence, that is, to supplement proof he has presented. It may not be referred back to the defendant.
The article provides that both kinds are subject to "the provisions of this Part," so the definition here is the starting point, while the conditions for tendering each oath and the effects of taking it or refusing it come from the rest of the provisions of the Part, not from this article.
This definition is connected to Article 93, which provides that the oath rests with the stronger of the two litigants.
Knowing the kind of oath matters to a party in a case, because whether it can be referred back differs between the two kinds. To assess the position in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in litigation and civil matters.
Practical example
Khaled sued his neighbor for an amount he had lent him. If the neighbor is asked to swear to defeat the claim, this is a decisive oath that may be referred back to Khaled. But if Khaled presented insufficient evidence and swears to complete it, this is a supplementary oath that is not referred back to the neighbor.
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 92 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What is the difference between the decisive oath and the supplementary oath?
The decisive oath is taken by the defendant to defeat the claim and may be referred back to the plaintiff; the supplementary oath is taken by the plaintiff to complete the evidence and may not be referred back to the defendant.
Who takes the decisive oath?
The defendant takes it, to defeat the claim brought against him.
Can the supplementary oath be referred back to the defendant?
No. The article provides that the supplementary oath may not be referred back to the defendant.
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.