Article 14 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 14 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الثالث: أركان عقد الزواج وشروطه
The article makes the man's suitability (kafa'a) for the woman a condition for the contract's enforceability, not its validity, and gives affected relatives up to the third degree a right to object.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- كفاءة الرجل للمرأة شرطٌ للزوم عقد الزواج لا لصحته.
2- العبرة في كفاءة الرجل حين العقد بصلاح دينه وكل ما قام العرف على اعتباره.
3- لكل ذي مصلحة من الأقارب -حتى الدرجة الثالثة- يتأثر بانعدام الكفاءة؛ الحق في الاعتراض على عقد الزواج، وتقدر المحكمة ذلك.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article regulates the matter of the man's suitability (kafa'a) for the woman in marriage, through three paragraphs:
1- Suitability is a condition of enforceability, not validity: if a marriage is concluded without suitability, the contract is valid but not enforceable, that is, it can be objected to. This differs from the five conditions of validity in Article 13.
2- The criterion of suitability: the man's suitability is judged at the time of the contract, and is based on:
- The soundness of his religion.
- Everything that custom regards as relevant.
What happens after the contract is not considered; what counts is the man's condition at the time it was concluded.
3- The right to object: the right to object to the marriage contract belongs to anyone with the following attributes:
- being a relative up to the third degree.
- having an interest.
- being affected by the lack of suitability.
The court assesses this, that is, whether these attributes are met and how well founded the objection is are left to the court's assessment.
This article is followed by Article 15, which explains how the marriage is concluded by offer and acceptance, subject to the provisions of Article 13.
Because assessing suitability and interest is left to the court, a person facing a dispute of this kind would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in personal status.
Practical example
A young woman in Qassim married a man, and her uncle objected to the marriage on the claim that there was no suitability and that he was affected by it. The contract is valid, but the uncle, as a relative up to the third degree, may object if he has an interest and is affected, and the court assesses this.
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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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 14 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
Is a marriage without suitability void?
No. Suitability is a condition for the enforceability of the marriage contract, not its validity, so the contract is valid but may be objected to under the article.
What is the criterion of suitability in marriage?
The man's suitability is judged at the time of the contract by the soundness of his religion and everything that custom regards as relevant.
Who may object to a marriage for lack of suitability?
Any interested relative up to the third degree who is affected by the lack of suitability, and the court assesses this.
More articles on Marriage Contract and Its Conditions
- Article 6
The article defines marriage as a contract with pillars and conditions that creates rights and duties between the spouses, aimed at chastity and founding a stable family.
الزواج عقد بأركان وشروط، يرتب حقوقاً وواجبات بين الزوجين، غايته الإحصان وإنشاء أسرة مستقرة يرعاها الزوجان بمودة ورحمة.
- Article 7
The article defines seclusion (khalwa) as the spouses being alone in a place where no person of discernment is with them.
الخلوة -في سبيل تطبيق هذا النظام- هي انفراد الزوجين في مكان ليس عندهما من يميِّز.
- Article 8
The article requires the marriage contract to be documented by the spouses or one of them, lets any interested person request proof of an undocumented marriage, and regulates documenting a non-Muslim's marriage.
1- يجب توثيق عقد الزواج، وعلى الزوجين -أو أحدهما- توثيقه، وذلك وفق الأحكام المنظمة لذلك. 2- يجوز لكل ذي مصلحة طلب إثبات عقد الزواج غير الموثق. 3- يوثق عقد زواج
- Article 9
The article bars documenting the marriage contract of a person under 18, and lets the court permit the marriage if the person has reached puberty and his or her interest is established.
يمنع توثيق عقد الزواج لمن هو دون (ثمانية عشر) عاماً، وللمحكمة أن تأذن بزواج من هو دون ذلك ذكراً كان أو أنثى إذا كان بالغاً بعد التحقق من مصلحته في هذا الزواج، و
- Article 10
The article gives a person who married under 18 with the court's permission capacity to litigate in everything relating to the marriage and its effects, provided he or she is of sound mind.
يكتسب من تزوج وفق حكم المادة (التاسعة) من هذا النظام أهلية التقاضي في كل ما له علاقة بالزواج وآثاره؛ إذا كان عاقلاً.
- Article 11
The article lets the court permit the marriage of a person who is insane or mentally impaired at the request of his guardian, on condition of a medical report, the other party's acceptance and a proven interest.
للمحكمة أن تأذن بزواج المجنون أو المعتوه بناء على طلب ولي تزويجه، بعد توافر الشروط الآتية: 1- أن يقدم الولي تقريراً طبيًّا معتمداً عن حالة الجنون أو العته. 2- أ
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.