Article 193 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 193 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الثاني: أركان الوصية وشروطها
The article sets the cases in which a bequeathed benefit returns to the owner of the thing, and gives a perpetual or absolute bequest of a benefit to a body not expected to cease the rule of a waqf.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تعود المنفعة الموصى بها إلى مالك العين -سواء كان وارثاً أو موصى له بالعين- في الحالات الآتية:
أ- إذا انقضت مدة المنفعة الموصى بها.
ب- إذا مات الموصى له بالمنفعة.
ج- إذا انقطع الموصى له -واحداً أو أكثر- وكانت الوصية لفئة محصورة أو غير محصورة يظن انقطاعها.
2- إذا كان الموصى له بالمنفعة أو غلتها شخصاً اعتباريًّا أو فئة غير محصورة لا يظن انقطاعها، وكانت الوصية مؤبدة أو مطلقة؛ فيكون لها حكم الوقف.
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 193 explained in plain English
When a person bequeaths the benefit of a thing, the owner of the thing is someone other than the beneficiary of the benefit, whether its owner is an heir or a beneficiary of the thing itself. This article explains when the benefit returns to this owner, and when the will has the rule of a waqf.
First: cases in which the benefit returns to the owner of the thing:
- The period of the bequeathed benefit ends.
- The beneficiary of the benefit dies.
- The beneficiary ceases, whether one or more, if the will is for a limited or unlimited category expected to cease.
Second: the rule of a waqf: if the beneficiary of the benefit or its yield is a legal person or an unlimited category not expected to cease, and the will is perpetual or absolute, it has the rule of a waqf.
This article is linked to Article 192, which explains how a will of a benefit is counted against one-third of the estate: a perpetual or absolute one, or one for the lifetime of the beneficiary, is counted by the value of the thing at the time of the testator's death, and a temporary one by the value of the benefit during its period. To determine the position of a particular benefit, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in personal status matters.
Practical example
A man left his friend the right to live in a house he owns, and then the man died and the house became his heirs'. Years later the friend died, so the benefit of the house returned to the heirs as owners of the thing.
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 193 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
When does a bequeathed benefit return to the heirs?
It returns to the owner of the thing, whether an heir or a beneficiary of the thing, when its period ends, when the beneficiary of the benefit dies, or when the beneficiary ceases if it was for a category expected to cease.
What happens to the benefit if the person it was bequeathed to dies?
The benefit returns to the owner of the thing.
When does a will of a benefit take the rule of a waqf?
If the beneficiary of the benefit or its yield is a legal person or an unlimited category not expected to cease, and the will is perpetual or absolute.
More articles on Bequest (Will)
- Article 169
The article defines a will as a disposition of property by way of gift that takes effect after the testator's death.
الوصية هي تصرف بمال على وجه التبرع مضاف إلى ما بعد موت الموصي.
- Article 170
The article provides that a will is valid whether it is absolute or restricted.
تصح الوصية مطلقة أو مقيدة.
- Article 171
A will is carried out from the testator's estate after paying the costs of preparing the deceased for burial and settling his debts, subject to Article 190 of the Law.
مع مراعاة ما تقضي به المادة (التسعون بعد المائة) من هذا النظام، تنفذ الوصية من تركة الموصي، بعد إخراج نفقات تجهيز الميت وأداء ديونه.
- Article 172
Any ownership-transferring disposition by a person in a death-illness has the rule of a will if it is a gift; if it is an exchange involving favoritism, the amount of favoritism has the rule of a will.
يأخذ كل تصرف ناقل للملكية يصدر من المريض مرض الموت حكم الوصية إذا كان تبرعاً، وإذا كان معاوضةً فيها محاباة فيأخذ قدرُ المحاباة حكمَ الوصية.
- Article 173
The article sets four pillars of a will: the formula, the testator, the beneficiary and the subject of the bequest.
أركان الوصية هي: الصيغة، والموصي، والموصى له، والموصى به.
- Article 174
A will is concluded by words indicating it, spoken or written, and if the person is unable to do either, by an understandable sign.
تنعقد الوصية باللفظ الدال عليها نطقاً أو كتابةً، وعند العجز عنهما فبالإشارة المفهومة.
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.