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Article 1 of the Saudi Shura Council Law

المادة 1 من نظام مجلس الشورى

Article 1 establishes the Shura Council on the principle of consultation in the Quran and Sunnah, to exercise its tasks under this Law and the Basic Law of Governance.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

عملا بقول الله تعالى: [فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ] وقوله سبحانه: [وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ] واقتداء برسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - في مشاورة أصحابه، وحث الأمة على التشاور.

ينشأ مجلس الشورى ويمارس المهام المنوطة به وفقا لهذا النظام والنظام الأساسي للحكم ، ملتزما بكتاب الله وسنة رسوله، محافظا على روابط الأخوة والتعاون على البر والتقوى.

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 1 explained in plain English

This article is the founding article of the Shura Council, as it sets out the basis on which the Council rests and the frame of reference within which it works.

The article opens by citing two verses of the Holy Quran that call for consultation and praise those whose affairs are conducted by consultation among themselves, by following the Prophet, peace be upon him, in consulting his companions, and by urging the nation to consult one another. It then states its basic provision: the Shura Council is established.

The article sets three points about the Council's work:

  • Source of its tasks: it exercises the tasks entrusted to it under this Law and the Basic Law of Governance, so it does not work outside what these two laws set out.
  • Its Sharia commitment: it is bound by the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger.
  • The spirit of its work: preserving the bonds of brotherhood and cooperation in righteousness and piety.

Article 2 completes this foundation by stating what the Council rests on: holding fast to the rope of God and adherence to the sources of Islamic legislation, and the members' concern for the public good, the unity of the community, the entity of the State and the interests of the nation. The article thus makes consultation a Sharia basis for the Council's work and ties its existence and tasks to specific legal texts, so its powers are not derived from outside this framework.

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 1 of the Saudi Shura Council Law

On what basis was the Shura Council established?

The article rests on the verses on consultation in the Holy Quran and on following the Prophet, peace be upon him, in consulting his companions and urging the nation to consult one another.

Under which laws does the Shura Council exercise its tasks?

It exercises its tasks under the Shura Council Law and the Basic Law of Governance, bound by the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger.

More articles on Formation and Term of the Shura Council

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.