Article 7 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 7 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الثاني: أحكام عامة للزواج
The article defines seclusion (khalwa) as the spouses being alone in a place where no person of discernment is with them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
الخلوة -في سبيل تطبيق هذا النظام- هي انفراد الزوجين في مكان ليس عندهما من يميِّز.
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 7 explained in plain English
This article sets the meaning of seclusion (khalwa) as understood in applying the Personal Status Law: it is the spouses being alone in a place where there is no one with them who has discernment.
According to the text, seclusion requires the following:
- The two parties must be spouses: the definition speaks of the spouses being alone, that is, after the marriage contract.
- Being alone: the spouses are together by themselves.
- No one with them has discernment: the presence of a person of discernment who understands what is going on negates seclusion, whereas, on the apparent wording, the presence of someone without discernment does not prevent it.
The phrase "for the purpose of applying this Law" means that this definition is the one adopted whenever the word seclusion appears in the other articles of the Law, such as articles that may attach particular effects to seclusion.
This definition appears within the general provisions on marriage, after Article 6, which defines marriage as a contract that creates rights and duties between the spouses, and before Article 8, which requires the marriage contract to be documented.
This article does not itself state the effects that follow from seclusion; it is limited to defining it. The articles that mention seclusion should therefore be consulted to learn its effect in each matter, and it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in personal status if there is a dispute over whether it occurred.
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 7 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
What does seclusion (khalwa) mean in the Personal Status Law?
Seclusion is the spouses being alone in a place where there is no one with them who has discernment.
Does the presence of a small child prevent seclusion?
The text requires that no one with the spouses has discernment, so what counts is the presence of a person of discernment, and the article does not set an age for discernment.
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 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
- Article 12
The article sets the two pillars of the marriage contract: the spouses, who are a man and a woman, and offer and acceptance.
أركان عقد الزواج هي: 1- الزوجان، وهما: الرجل والمرأة. 2- الإيجاب والقبول.
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.