Article 97 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 97 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الثاني: اليمين الحاسمة
The article regulates the plaintiff's demand for his opponent's oath when he lacks evidence, referring the oath back on refusal, the case of facts only the defendant knows, the timing of the demand, and the bar on withdrawal once the opponent accepts to swear.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا عجز المدعي عن البينة وطلب يمين خصمه حُلِّف، فإن نكل ردت اليمين على المدعي بطلب المدعى عليه، فإذا نكل المدعي عن اليمين المردودة رُدّت دعواه.
2- لا تُرد اليمين فيما ينفرد المدعى عليه بعلمه، ويقضى عليه بنكوله.
3- للمدعي طلب يمين خصمه، ما لم يُفصل في الدعوى بحكم نهائي.
4- لا يجوز لمن وجه اليمين أو ردها أن يرجع في ذلك متى قَبِل خصمه أن يحلف.
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 97 explained in plain English
This article regulates the steps of the decisive oath when the plaintiff has no evidence for his claim.
- Demanding the oath and referring it back: if the plaintiff is unable to produce evidence and demands his opponent's oath, the defendant is made to swear. If he refuses (declines to swear), the oath is referred back to the plaintiff, at the defendant's request. If the plaintiff refuses the oath referred back to him, his claim is dismissed.
- What only the defendant knows: the oath is not referred back to the plaintiff if the fact is one only the defendant knows, and in that case judgment is given against him on his refusal.
- Timing of the demand: the plaintiff may demand his opponent's oath unless the case has been decided by a final judgment.
- No withdrawal: whoever tenders the oath or refers it back may not withdraw from that once his opponent has accepted to swear.
The article is read with Article 96, which allows the oath to be tendered in financial rights and requires the court to prevent it if it is unrelated to the case or unproductive, and with Article 98, which provides that whoever swears is given judgment in his favor, and whoever refuses without referring the oath back has judgment given against him after being warned.
The decision to demand the oath or refer it back affects the outcome of the case and cannot be reversed once the opponent accepts to swear, so it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in litigation and civil matters before taking it.
Practical example
Sarah claimed from her friend an amount she had lent her, without writing or witnesses, and demanded her oath. The friend refused to swear and asked for the oath to be referred back to Sarah; if Sarah swears she wins the case, and if she refuses her claim is dismissed.
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 97 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What happens if the defendant refuses to take the oath?
The oath is referred back to the plaintiff at the defendant's request; if the plaintiff refuses the oath referred back, his claim is dismissed.
When may the oath not be referred back to the plaintiff?
In what only the defendant knows, and in that case judgment is given against him on his refusal.
Can the oath be demanded after judgment is issued?
The plaintiff may demand his opponent's oath unless the case has been decided by a final judgment.
Can tendering the oath be withdrawn?
Whoever tenders the oath or refers it back may not withdraw once his opponent has accepted to swear.
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.