Article 58 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
المادة 58 من نظام المرافعات الشرعية · الباب الرابع: حضور الخصوم وغيابهم والتوكيل في الخصومة
If there are several defendants, some served in person and some not, and they are absent, the claim must be adjourned (unless urgent) to serve those not served in person, and the judgment counts as given in presence for those served.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا تعدد المدعى عليهم، وكان بعضهم قد بلغ لشخصه وبعضهم الآخر لم يبلغ لشخصه، وتغيبوا جميعًا أو تغيب من لم يبلغ لشخصه؛ وجب على المحكمة في غير الدعاوى المستعجلة تأجيل نظر الدعوى إلى جلسة تالية يبلغ المدعي بها من لم يبلغ لشخصه من الغائبين، ويعد الحكم في الدعوى في حق من تبلغ من المدعى عليهم حكمًا حضوريًا.
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 58 explained in plain English
This article deals with the case of multiple defendants whose situations differ regarding service: some were served in person and some were not.
When does it apply? In one of two situations:
- All the defendants are absent.
- Or those among them who were not served in person are absent.
The rule: the court must, except in urgent claims, adjourn the hearing of the claim to a later hearing of which those of the absentees who were not served in person are notified, as the text provides.
Description of the judgment: the judgment in the claim is treated as given in the presence of those of the defendants who were served.
The purpose of the adjournment is for the claim to be heard in the presence of all the defendants after giving an opportunity to those not served in person, instead of ruling on it when some of them did not learn of it personally. Urgent claims are exempt from the duty to adjourn.
This article complements Article 57, which sets out the rules on the absence of a single defendant and the description of the judgment against him. Anyone who is a party to a claim with multiple parties can consult a lawyer specializing in litigation and court procedure.
Practical example
Badr filed a claim against three persons; two of them were served in person and the third was not, and at the hearing all three were absent. Because the claim is not urgent, the court must adjourn the hearing to a later hearing of which the third is notified, and the judgment against the two who were served is treated as given in their presence.
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 58 of the Saudi Law of Sharia Procedure
What does the court do if some defendants were not served in person?
If they are all absent, or those not served in person are absent, the claim must, unless urgent, be adjourned to a later hearing of which those not served in person are notified.
What is the description of the judgment against someone served in person?
The judgment against him is treated as given in his presence.
Must urgent claims be adjourned?
No. The article limits the duty to adjourn to claims that are not urgent.
More articles on Attendance and Absence of Parties
- Article 48
If the court has set a hearing for two litigants and they appear at a time other than the one set and ask for their dispute to be heard, the court must grant their request if possible.
إذا عينت المحكمة جلسة لشخصين متداعيين، ثم حضرا في غير الوقت المعين وطلبا النظر في خصومتهما، فعليها أن تجيب هذا الطلب إن أمكن.
- Article 49
Litigants attend on the day the case is heard in person or through a representative, and a representative who is an agent must be someone with the right to act as an agent under the law.
في اليوم المعين لنظر الدعوى يحضر الخصوم بأنفسهم أو مَنْ ينوب عنهم، فإذا كان النائب وكيلًا تعين كونه ممن له حق التوكل حسب النظام.
- Article 50
The article requires the agent to declare his attendance on behalf of his principal and file a certified copy of his power of attorney, allows proving the authorization at the hearing, and applies the filing duty to guardians, legal guardians and trustees.
يجب على الوكيل أن يقرر حضوره عن موكله، وأن يودع صورة مصدقة من وثيقة وكالته لدى الكاتب المختص. وللمحكمة أن ترخص للوكيل عند الضرورة بإيداع صورة الوثيقة في موعد تح
- Article 51
What an agent states in his principal's presence counts as the principal's own admission unless he denies it at the hearing, and in the principal's absence the agent has no power over serious acts such as admission, settlement and waiver without special authorization.
كل ما يقرره الوكيل في حضور الموكِّل يكون بمثابة ما يقرره الموكِّل نفسه، إلا إذا نفاه أثناء نظر القضية في الجلسة نفسها. وإذا لم يحضر الموكِّل فلا يصح من الوكيل ا
- Article 52
An agent's withdrawal or dismissal without the court's approval does not stop the proceedings, unless the principal informs his opponent of appointing another agent or of his intention to pursue the claim himself.
لا يحول اعتزال الوكيل أو عزلـه بغير موافقة المحكمة دون سير الإجراءات، إلا إذا أبلغ الموكِّل خصمه بتعيين وكيل آخر بدلًا من المعتزل أو المعزول، أو بعزمه على مباشر
- Article 53
If it appears to the court that the agent asks for extensions too often on the pretext of consulting his principal in order to stall, it may require the principal himself or another agent.
إذا ظهر للمحكمة من أحد الوكلاء كثرة الاستمهالات بحجة سؤال موكله بقصد المماطلة، فلها حق طلب الموكل بنفسه لإتمام المرافعة أو توكيل وكيل آخر.
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.