Article 4 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 4 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
Article 4 provides that a hisbah case may be filed only through the public prosecutor after the King's approval, and is not heard after 60 days from the date the claimed right arose.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا ترفع أي دعوى حسبة إلا عن طريق المدعي العام بعد موافقة الملك، ولا تسمع بعد مضي (ستين) يومًا من تاريخ نشوء الحق المدعى به.
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 4 explained in plain English
This article regulates a special type of case, the hisbah case, which in the general understanding is a case filed in defense of a public right and not of the private interest of the person filing it. The article places two clear restrictions on it:
- Who files it: no hisbah case is filed except through the public prosecutor, and after the King's approval. An individual cannot file it directly before the court himself.
- The time limit: a hisbah case is not heard after 60 days have passed from the date the claimed right arose.
The apparent aim of these two restrictions is to control this type of case, so that it does not become a means of occupying the courts or harming others, which is consistent with Article 3, which requires a lawful, existing interest for requests to be accepted and requires the rejection of a malicious case.
The article does not specify how the public prosecutor is reached or the details of requesting approval; these matters are not addressed by the article's text.
The 60-day period is counted from the date the claimed right arose, not from the date of knowing of it. If you believe a matter affects a public right and want to know the lawful route, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in procedure and litigation.
Practical example
A group of residents of a neighborhood in Medina want to file a hisbah case over a matter they believe affects a public right. They cannot file it directly before the court: this case is filed only through the public prosecutor after the King's approval, and it is not heard if 60 days have passed from the date the claimed right arose.
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 4 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
Can anyone file a hisbah case?
No. A hisbah case is filed only through the public prosecutor after the King's approval.
Within what period is a hisbah case heard?
It is not heard after 60 days have passed from the date the claimed right arose.
From what date is the 60-day period counted?
From the date the claimed right arose, as the article provides.
More articles on Filing and Registering a Case
- Article 3
Article 3 requires a lawful, existing interest for any request or defense to be accepted, with a potential interest sufficient in two cases, and requires the court to reject a sham or malicious case.
1- لا يقبل أي طلب أو دفع لا تكون لصاحبه فيه مصلحة قائمة مشروعة، ومع ذلك تكفي المصلحة المحتملة إذا كان الغرض من الطلب الاحتياط لدفع ضرر محدق أو الاستيثاق لحق يخش
- Article 10
The article bars transferring a case properly filed before a competent court to another court or body, or withdrawing it before judgment, and treats the case as filed from the date of its registration.
لا يجوز نقل أي قضية رفعت بطريقة صحيحة لمحكمة مختصة إلى محكمة أو جهة أخرى، ولا يحق لأحد سحبها منها قبل الحكم فيها، وتعد القضية مرفوعة من تاريخ قيدها في المحكمة.
- Article 41Amended (1440 AH)
Article 41 requires a case to be filed by a signed statement of claim with specified details, bars combining unrelated requests, and applies the rules of other labor disputes to collective labor disputes.
1- ترفع الدعوى من المدعي بصحيفة ـ موقعة منه أو ممن يمثله ـ تودع لدى المحكمة من أصل وصور بعدد المدعى عليهم. ويجب أن تشمل صحيفة الدعوى البيانات الآتية: أ - الاسم
- Article 42
The competent clerk registers the case on the day its statement of claim is submitted after recording the hearing date, and hands the original and copies to the process server or claimant for service by the next day at the latest.
يقيد الكاتب المختص الدعوى في يوم تقديم الصحيفة في السجل الخاص بذلك بعد أن يثبت - بحضور المدعي أو مَنْ يمثله - تاريخ الجلسة المحددة لنظرها في أصل الصحيفة، وصورها
- Article 43
The process server or claimant must deliver a copy of the statement of claim to the defendant within 15 days at most, or before the hearing if it is sooner, observing the appearance period.
يقوم المحضر أو المدعي ـ بحسب الأحوال ـ بتسليم صورة صحيفة الدعوى إلى المدعى عليه خلال خمسة عشر يومًا على الأكثرمن تسليمها إليه، إلا إذا كان قد حدد لنظر الدعوى جل
- Article 44
The article sets the appearance period at eight days before the general court and four days before the labor, commercial and personal status courts, and allows it to be shortened to 24 hours on conditions.
موعد الحضور أمام المحكمة العامة ثمانية أيام على الأقل من تاريخ تبليغ صحيفة الدعوى. وموعد الحضور أمام المحاكم العمالية والتجارية والأحوال الشخصية أربعة أيام على
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.