Article 15 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 15 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الثالث: أركان عقد الزواج وشروطه
The article explains that marriage is concluded by the guardian's offer and the husband's acceptance in the express wording of marriage, or by writing or an understood gesture where speech is impossible.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع التقيد بأحكام المادة (الثالثة عشرة) من هذا النظام، ينعقد الزواج بإيجاب من الولي وقبول من الزوج بلفظ الزواج الصريح، وبالكتابة عند العجز عن النطق، وبالإشارة المفهومة عند العجز عن النطق والكتابة.
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 15 explained in plain English
This article sets how the marriage contract is concluded, that is, the formula by which it is completed, subject to the conditions of validity in Article 13.
The two sides of the formula:
- The offer comes from the guardian.
- The acceptance comes from the husband.
The means of expression, in order:
- The express wording of marriage: this is the rule, and the wording must be express in indicating marriage.
- Writing: where a person is unable to speak.
- An understood gesture: where a person is unable to speak and to write.
The order here matters: writing is resorted to only where speech is impossible, and a gesture only where both speech and writing are impossible, and it must be understood.
The phrase "subject to the provisions of Article 13" means that a valid formula alone is not enough; the provisions in that article must also be observed.
Article 16 sets additional conditions for offer and acceptance, including that they correspond expressly, are joined in one session, and are immediate, neither conditional nor deferred to the future. The article is also linked to Article 14, which makes suitability a condition of enforceability.
If there is doubt about the validity of the formula of a particular contract, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in personal status.
Practical example
A man in Riyadh who is deaf and mute and cannot write wants to marry. His acceptance by an understood gesture is valid, because he is unable to speak and write, subject to the provisions of Article 13.
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 15 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
Who gives the offer in a marriage contract?
Marriage is concluded by an offer from the guardian and acceptance from the husband.
Is the marriage of a mute person valid?
Yes. It is concluded by writing where speech is impossible, and by an understood gesture where both speech and writing are impossible.
Is a specific wording required for the marriage contract?
The article requires the express wording of marriage for a person able to speak.
Articles this article refers to
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.