Article 5 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
المادة 5 من نظام هيئة البيعة
The article requires the chairman, members and Secretary General of the Succession Commission to take a prescribed oath before the King before they start their work in the Commission.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يؤدي رئيس وأعضاء الهيئة وأمينها العام قبل أن يباشروا أعمالهم في الهيئة أمام الملك القسم التالي:
(أقسم بالله العظيم أن أكون مخلصا لديني، ثم لمليكي وبلادي، وألا أبوح بسر من أسرار الدولة، وأن أحافظ على مصالحها، وأنظمتها، وأن أحرص على وحدة الأسرة المالكة وتعاونها، وعلى الوحدة الوطنية، وأن أؤدي أعمالي بالصدق، والأمانة، والإخلاص، والعدل).
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 5 explained in plain English
This article imposes the oath on those who take up work in the Succession Commission. Its provisions:
- Who takes the oath: the Commission's chairman, its members and its Secretary General.
- When: before they start their work in the Commission.
- Before whom: before the King.
The text of the oath set by the article includes a pledge to:
- Be loyal to the religion, then to the King and the country.
- Not disclose any secret of the State.
- Preserve the State's interests and laws.
- Be keen on the unity of the ruling family and its cooperation, and on national unity.
- Carry out the work with honesty, trustworthiness, loyalty and justice.
The content of the oath reflects the principles the Commission is bound by, chiefly confidentiality, the unity of the ruling family and national unity. The article is linked to Article 4, which sets the Commission's seat in Riyadh and its meetings in the Royal Court, and to Article 6, which provides that on the death of the King the Commission calls for pledging allegiance to the Crown Prince as King of the country in accordance with this Law and the Basic Law of Governance.
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 5 of the Saudi Succession Commission Law
Who takes the oath in the Succession Commission?
The Commission's chairman, its members and its Secretary General.
When and where is the Succession Commission's oath taken?
Before they start their work in the Commission, and before the King.
Does the oath include keeping secrets?
Yes. It includes a pledge not to disclose any secret of the State.
More articles on Formation of the Succession Commission
- Article 1
The article creates the Succession Commission by royal order, and names its members from the sons of the Founding King and those the King appoints, and how a vacant seat is filled.
تكون بأمر ملكي هيئة تسمى (هيئة البيعة)، على النحو الآتي: 1 - أبناء الملك المؤسس عبد العزيز بن عبد الرحمن الفيصل آل سعود. 2 - أحد أبناء كل متوفى، أو معتذر، أو عا
- Article 2
The article provides that the Succession Commission exercises its tasks in accordance with the Succession Commission Law and the Basic Law of Governance.
تمارس الهيئة المهام المنوطة بها وفقا لهذا النظام والنظام الأساسي للحكم.
- Article 3
The article binds the Succession Commission to the Book of God, the Sunnah of His Messenger, preserving the entity of the State, the unity and cooperation of the ruling family, national unity and the interests of the people.
تلتزم الهيئة بكتاب الله تعالى، وسنة رسوله محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، والمحافظة على كيان الدولة، وعلى وحدة الأسرة المالكة، وتعاونها، وعدم تفرقها، وعلى الوحدة الوطن
- Article 4
The article sets the Succession Commission's seat in Riyadh and its meetings in the Royal Court, and, with the King's approval, allows meetings at other Royal Court premises or a place the King determines.
مقر الهيئة في مدينة الرياض، وتعقد اجتماعاتها في الديوان الملكي ، ويجوز بموافقة الملك عقد اجتماعاتها في أحد مقار الديوان الملكي داخل المملكة، أو أي مكان آخر يحدد
- Article 25
The article requires a royal order, after the approval of the Succession Commission, to amend the provisions of the Succession Commission Law.
يتم تعديل أحكام هذا النظام بأمر ملكي بعد موافقة هيئة البيعة.
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.