Article 104 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 104 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب التاسع: إجراءات الإثبات
The court may question a party who is present, and any party may ask to question his opponent who is present; the answer is given in the same session unless the court grants time, and in the requester's presence.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للمحكمة أن تستجوب من يكون حاضرًا من الخصوم، ولكل منهم أن يطلب استجواب خصمه الحاضر، وتكون الإجابة في الجلسة نفسها إلا إذا رأت المحكمة إعطاء موعد للإجابة، كما تكون الإجابة في مواجهة طالب الاستجواب.
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 104 explained in plain English
Questioning means putting questions to one of the parties to obtain answers that may help uncover the truth. This article regulates the questioning of a party who is present in the session:
- The court may question a party who is present.
- Each party may ask to question his opponent who is present.
As for the answer, two rules apply:
- It is given in the same session, unless the court decides to give a date for answering.
- It is given in the presence of the person who requested the questioning, that is, with him attending, so that he can hear it.
This ruling helps the parties obtain direct answers from the other side, and gives the court a tool for verifying facts.
Article 105 complements this ruling by regulating the case of a party who is not present: the court may order him to attend to be questioned, on its own or at his opponent's request, if it sees a need for that. To learn which questions would help your position in a particular case, a lawyer specializing in pleadings and litigation before the courts can be consulted.
Practical example
In a session of a claim for contracting fees in Riyadh, the plaintiff asked to question the defendant, who was present, about the date the work was received. The court may require the answer in the same session in the plaintiff's presence, or give him another date to answer if it sees fit.
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 104 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Can I ask for my opponent to be questioned in court?
Yes. Each party may ask to question his opponent who is present.
Must the party answer immediately?
The rule is that the answer is given in the same session, unless the court decides to give a date for answering.
Is the party's answer given in my presence?
Yes. The article provides that the answer is given in the presence of the person who requested the questioning.
More articles on Evidence Procedures
- Article 23
The article makes Arabic the official language of the courts, requires hearing non-Arabic speakers through an interpreter, and requires an approved translation from a licensed office for foreign-language papers.
اللغة العربية هي اللغة الرسمية للمحاكم؛ وتسمع المحكمة أقوال الخصوم والشهود ونحوهم من غير الناطقين باللغة العربية عن طريق مترجم، وتقدم ترجمة معتمدة من مكتب مرخص
- Article 67
If a defendant refuses to answer, or answers with something unrelated to the claim, the judge repeats the request for a proper answer three times in the same session; if the defendant persists, he treats them as refusing to answer after a warning.
إذا امتنع المدعى عليه عن الجواب كليًّا، أو أجاب بجواب غير ملاق للدعوى؛ كرر عليه القاضي طلب الجواب الصحيح ثلاثًا في الجلسة نفسها، فإذا أصر على ذلك عدّه ناكلًا بع
- Article 74
The presiding judge puts the questions to the parties, witnesses and others; members and parties may ask him to put their questions, and he may delegate this to a member.
رئيس الجلسة هو الذي يتولى توجيه الأسئلة إلى الخصوم والشهود وغيرهم ممن له صلة بالدعوى، ولأعضاء الدائرة المشتركين معه في الجلسة والخصوم أن يطلبوا منه توجيه ما يري
- Article 101
The article requires that facts to be proved during pleadings be related to the case, material to it, and admissible.
يجب أن تكون الوقائع المراد إثباتها أثناء المرافعة متعلقة بالدعوى منتجة فيها جائزًا قبولها.
- Article 102
If a party's evidence is in a place outside the court's jurisdiction, the court must delegate the judge of that place to hear and vet the evidence.
إذا كانت بينة أحد الخصوم في مكان خارج عن نطاق اختصاص المحكمة، فعليها أن تستخلف القاضي الذي يقع ذلك المكان في نطاق اختصاصه لسماع تلك البينة وتعديلها.
- Article 103
The court may withdraw from evidentiary procedures it ordered, provided it states the reasons in the record, and may decline to adopt a procedure's result, provided it states the reasons in its judgment.
للمحكمة أن تعدل عما أمرت به من إجراءات الإثبات، بشرط أن تبين أسباب العدول في الضبط. ويجوز لها كذلك ألا تأخذ بنتيجة الإجراء، بشرط أن تبين أسباب ذلك في حكمها.
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.