Article 158 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 158 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب التاسع: إجراءات الإثبات
The article makes possession of movable property a simple presumption of the possessor's ownership when ownership is disputed, while allowing the litigant to prove the opposite.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
حيازة المنقول قرينة بسيطة على ملكية الحائز له عند المنازعة في الملكية، ويجوز للخصم إثبات العكس.
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 158 explained in plain English
This article sets a practical rule for settling many disputes over ownership of movable things, such as devices, furniture, jewelry and goods, that is, property that can be moved from one place to another.
The rule has two elements:
- Possession is a presumption of ownership: if a dispute arises over the ownership of a movable, the fact that it is in a person's possession is treated as a presumption that he owns it.
- The presumption is simple: that is, it admits proof of the contrary, so a litigant may prove that the possessor is not the owner.
The Law thus starts from the assumption that whoever possesses a movable is its owner, and whoever disputes that may present what proves the contrary of this assumption. This is consistent with Article 157, under which each litigant may prove the opposite of a presumption, whereupon it loses its value as evidence.
Note that the article concerns movables only and does not deal with real property, and that it applies "when ownership is disputed." The article does not detail what counts as possession or how it is proven. A person who is party to a dispute over ownership of a movable should consult a lawyer specializing in litigation and court procedure to assess his evidence.
Practical example
Saad and his cousin disagreed over ownership of photography equipment in Saad's shop in Dammam. Since the equipment is in Saad's possession, his possession is a presumption that he owns it, and his cousin may prove the opposite, for example by presenting a purchase invoice in his name and a document showing that he left it with Saad temporarily.
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 158 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Is a person who possesses something considered its owner?
For movables, possession is a simple presumption of the possessor's ownership when ownership is disputed, but it admits proof of the contrary.
What does it mean that the presumption is simple?
It is not conclusive, since the litigant may prove the opposite, as the article provides.
Does this rule apply to real property?
The text of the article is specific to possession of movables and does not deal with real property.
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.