Article 151 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 151 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب التاسع: إجراءات الإثبات
The article requires the person alleging forgery to hand the challenged paper, or the copy served on him, to the court administration; if it is with his opponent, the judge orders him to hand it over, and if he refuses and it cannot be found it is treated as non-existent.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على مدعي التزوير أن يسلم إلى إدارة المحكمة الورقة المطعون فيها إن كانت تحت يده أو صورتها المبلغة إليه. وإن كانت الورقة تحت يد الخصم فللقاضي بعد اطلاعه على الاستدعاء أن يكلفه فورًا بتسليمها إلى إدارة المحكمة، فإذا امتنع الخصم عن تسليم الورقة وتعذر على المحكمة العثور عليها عُدت غير موجودة، ولا يمنع ذلك من اتخاذ أي إجراء في شأنها إن أمكن فيما بعد.
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 151 explained in plain English
This article regulates a practical question in a forgery claim: where is the challenged paper, and who hands it to the court?
If the paper is with the person alleging forgery: He must hand the challenged paper to the court administration if it is in his possession, or the copy that was served on him.
If the paper is with the opponent: After reviewing the petition alleging forgery, the judge may order the opponent immediately to hand it to the court administration.
If the opponent refuses: If the opponent refuses to hand over the paper and the court cannot find it, the paper is treated as non-existent. The text requires both things together: the refusal and the inability to find it.
Later procedures remain open: Treating the paper as non-existent does not prevent taking any procedure concerning it if that becomes possible later.
This article completes Article 150, which allows alleging forgery by a petition submitted to the court administration stating the instances of forgery and the procedures for investigating it. It is also linked to Article 152, which explains when the court orders an investigation into the allegation of forgery.
The practical meaning is that an opponent who relies on a paper and then refuses to hand it over when it is challenged as forged may have his paper treated as non-existent if the court cannot find it. A person facing a situation of this kind may consult a lawyer who specializes in litigation and court procedure.
Practical example
A tenant in Dammam alleged that a receipt relied on by the landlord was forged, and the original receipt was with the landlord. After reviewing the petition, the judge ordered the landlord immediately to hand it to the court administration. He refused, and the court could not find it, so the receipt was treated as non-existent.
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 151 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
What happens if my opponent refuses to hand over the paper I am challenging as forged?
If he refuses to hand it over and the court cannot find it, it is treated as non-existent, and this does not prevent taking any procedure concerning it if that becomes possible later.
Must I hand over the challenged paper if I have it?
Yes. The person alleging forgery must hand it to the court administration if it is in his possession, or the copy that was served on him.
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.