Contract Law and Judicial System in Saudi Arabia.

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b y

S a l i h A b d u l A z i z A l - K u h a i m i , L L . B . , M . P h i l .

of

T h e L a w D e p a r t m e n t

S c h o o l of O r i e n t a l a n d A f r i c a n S t u d i e s U n i v e r s i t y o f L o n d o n

A T h e s i s S u b m i t t e d f o r t h e D e g r e e o f D o c t o r of P h i l o s o p h y

1 9 8 2

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ProQuest Number: 11010589

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ProQuest 11010589

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T h i s t h e s i s is e n t i t l e d C o n t r a c t L a w a n d J u d i c i a l S y s t e m in S a u d i A r a b i a . T h e w o r k is d i v i d e d i n t o s e v e n c h a p t e r s . H o w e v e r , as t h e t i t l e s u g g e s t s , it d e a l s w i t h two i n t e r r e l a t e d s u b j e c t m a t t e r s a n d t h e r e f o r e c a n b e s u b - d i v i d e d i n t o tw o p a r t s .

T h e f i r s t c h a p t e r is i n t r o d u c t o r y to b o t h t o p i c s andl d e a l s w i t h g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s of la w as d e r i v e d fro/m s a c r e d law, the d e v e l o p m e n t of la w a n d the m e a n 

ing; of c o n t r a c t (a k d ) . T h e s e c o n d c h a p t e r e x p l a i n s the p r e s e n t S a u d i j u d i c i a l s y s t e m a n d a n a l y s e s its

s t r u c t u r e a n d d i f f e r e n t p r o c e d u r e s w i t h r e f e r e n c e to h i s t o r i c a l b a c k g r o u n d . C h a p t e r t h r e e d e a l s w i t h the j u d i c i a r y (a l - q a d a ) a n d t h e r o l e of t h e j u d g e

(qa d i ) in I s lam , a g a i n w i t h h i s t o r i c a l r e f e r e n c e in o r d e r to e x p l a i n t h e i r m o d e r n r o l e . C h a p t e r f o u r d e a l s w i t h I s l a m i c law in g e n e r a l a n d m o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y , S a u d i A r a b i a n ( p u b l i c ) law.

C h a p t e r s f i v e a n d six dea l w i t h c o n t r a c t .

C h a p t e r six d e a l s w i t h the p r i n c i p l e s of f r e e d o m of c o n t r a c t in r e l a t i o n to c o n d i t i o n s i m p o s e d w h e r e a s

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c h a p t e r f i v e d e a l s w i t h the t h e o r y of c o n t r a c t w i t h r e g a r d to the d i f f e r i n g s c h o o l s of t h o u g h t e m p h a s i s i n g the H a n a f i a n d H a n b a l i S c h o o l s . C o n t r a c t of s a l e a n d m a r r i a g e a r e a l s o e m p h a s i s e d . C h a p t e r s e v e n c o n c l u d e s w i t h a c r i t i c i s m of the s y s t e m a n d a v e n u e s of r e f o r m w h i c h the S a u d i l e ga l s y s t e m is p e r s u i n g in r e s p o n s e to c h a n g i n g e c o n o m i c c i r c u m s t a n c e s .

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T h i s t h e s i s was w r i t t e n u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n of P r o f e s s o r N.J. C o u l s o n to w h o m I e x t e n d my d e e p e s t g r a t i t u d e . M y t h a n k s a l s o to t h e m e m b e r s of the Law D e p a r t m e n t a n d s p e c i f i c a l l y to Dr. H i n c h c l i f f e . M y t h a n k s a l s o to an E n g l i s h s o l i c i t o r f o r h i s h e l p in the r e a d i n g s of the p r o o f a n d a l s o to M i s s C i n d y and M i s s S h a r o n E a r p f o r t y p i n g t h i s t h e s i s .

N e e d l e s s to say t h i s t h e s i s c o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n w i t h o u t th e s o u r c e m a t e r i a l so k i n d l y s u p p l i e d by t h e U n i v e r s i t y of R i y a d h , t h e S a u d i A r a b i a n M i n i s t r y of J u s t i c e , t h e S h a r i a a n d M a g i s t r a t e s C o u r t s of

R i y a d h a n d M e c c a , T h e I n s t i t u t e of L e g a l R e s e a r c h , T h e H i g h J u d i c i a l I n s t i t u t e a n d the I n s t i t u t e of P u b l i c A d m i n i s t r a t i o n .

F i n a l l y m y t h a n k s to the S a u d i G o v e r n m e n t fo r g i v i n g f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e .

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- i v -

C O N T E N T S

C H A P T E R O N E I n t r o d u c t i o n

C H A P T E R TW O

T h e J u d i c i a l S y s t e m in S a u d i A r a b i a w i t h R e f e r e n c e to its I n s t i t u t i o n s , S t r u c t u r e a n d P r o c e d u r e

I. T h e J u d i c i a l S y s t e m

(i) T h e S e t t i n g Up of th e J u d i c i a l Sys t em

(ii) T h e C o n c e p t of the K i n g as A d m i n i s t r a t o r and H i s D e l a y A c t i o n of P o w e r

(iii) T h e M i n i s t r y of J u s t i c e (iv) T h e P u b l i c R i g h t and the

P r i v a t e R i g h t

(v) T h e B o d i e s w h i c h A d m i n i s t e r J u s t i c e in S a u d i A r a b i a

II. T h e F i r s t M a g i s t r a t e ' s C o u r t s

(i) J u r i s d i c t i o n a n d C o n s t i t u t i o n

III. T h e S e c o n d M a g i s t r a t e ' s C o u r t s

IV. T h e M a g i s t r a t e ' s C o u r t s

V. T h e S h a r i a C o u r t s

Page

1 - 1 0

11 - 9 0

1 1 -1 8

11 - 1 3

13 1 3 -1 4

15 16-1 8

19 - 2 0

20

2 1 - 2 2

23 -24

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Page

VI. The G r a n d S h a r i a Courts

(i) J u r i s d i c t i o n a n d C o n s t i t u t i o n 2 5 - 2 6

VII. P r o c e d u r e in the S h a r i a J u d i c i a r y 27-31

VIII. T h e C o u r t s A s s i s t a n t s or P e r s o n n e l 3 2 - 3 5

IX. L e g a l R e p r e s e n t a t i o n " T h e W a k i l s " 3 6 - 3 7

X . A p p e a l 3 8 - 4 4

(i) R e v i e w 38

(ii) T h e R i g h t of A p p e a l on

D e c i s i o n in all I n s t a n c e s 3 9 - 4 0

(iii) T y p e s of A p p e a l 4 0- 41

(iv) P e r i o d of A p p e a l 4 1 _ 4 2

(v) M e t h o d of A p p e a l 4 3 - 4 4

XI. C o u r t of C a s s a t i o n 4 5 - 5 2

(i) J u r i s d i c t i o n a n d C o n s t i t u t i o n 4 5 - 5 0 (ii) T h e S u p r e m e A p p e l l a t e A u t h o r i t y

(1) T h e P r e s i d e n t of the

J u d i c i a r y 50- 51

(2) T h e J u d i c i a l C o m m i s s i o n

of 197 0 5 1 - 5 2

(3) T h e H i g h J u d i c i a l C o m m i t t e e 52

XII. T h e H i g h J u d i c i a l C o u n c i l

(i) J u r i s d i c t i o n a n d C o n s t i t u t i o n 5 3 - 5 5

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- vi -

XIII .

XIV.

XV.

XVI .

XVII .

T h e Q u a s i - J u d i c i a l T r i b u n a l s T h e C o m m e r c i a l T r i b u n a l s

1. T h e C o m m e r c i a l C o u n c i l

(i) J u r i s d i c t i o n a n d C o n s t i t u t i o n 2. T h e C o m m i t t e e f o r th e S e t t l e 

m e n t of C o m m e r c i a l D i s p u t e s (i) J u r i s d i c t i o n a n d C o n s t i t u t i o n 3. T h e C o m m i t t e e f o r S e c u r i t i e s (i) J u r i s d i c t i o n a n d C o n s t i t u t i o n

T h e G r i e v a n c e s B o a r d

(i) J u r i s d i c t i o n a n d C o n s t i t u t i o n (ii) P r o c e d u r e

C o m m e r c i a l D i s p u t e s

S e t t l e m e n t of C o m m e r c i a l D i s p u t e s b y C o m m e r c i a l T r i b u n a l

(i) J u r i s d i c t i o n a n d C o n s t i t u t i o n (ii) P r o c e d u r e

(iii) T h e C h a m b e r of C o m m e r c e an d I n d u s t r y

(iv) C o u r t s P r a c t i s e to C o n t r a c t u a l P r o v i s i o n s a n d P r o b l e m s in S a u d i A r a b i a

(v) T h e P r a c t i c e in I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n t r a c t s

T h e L a b o u r C o m m i t t e e

T h e B r i b e r y C o m m i t t e e

Page

56-134

59 - 6 0

61-63

6 3 - 6 4

6 5 - 7 2 6 5 - 7 0 7 0 - 7 2

7 3 -8 3 7 3 - 7 4 7 4 - 7 8

78

79-81 8 1 - 8 3

8 4 - 8 5

86

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XVIII. Th e C u s t o m s C o m m i t t e e

XIX. T h e F o r g e r y C o m m i t t e e

C H A P T E R T H R E E

A l - Q a d a a n d th e R o l e of the Q a d i in I s l a m w i t h R e f e r e n c e to T h e i r H i s t o r i c a l B a c k  g r o u n d

I. A1 Q a d a , D e f i n i t i o n (i) L i t e r a l l y (ii) In the S h a r i a (iii) I t ' s L e g a l i t y

II. H i s t o r i c a l B a c k g r o u n d (i) A1 Q a d a in I s l a m (ii) A1 Q a d a

T i m e

D u r i n g the P r o p h e t ' s (iii) A1 Q a d a

T ime

D u r i n g t h e C a l i p h ' s ( iv) A1 Q a d a

P e r i o d

D u r i n g the U m m a y y a d s (v) A1 Q a d a

P e r i o d

D u r i n g the Abba sids

III. T h e P r i n c i p l e s of A1 Q a d a

Page

8 7 - 8 8

8 9 - 9 0

9 1 - 1 2 9

9 1 - 9 4 9 1 - 9 2

92 9 3 - 9 4

9 5 - 1 0 9 9 7 - 1 0 1 1 0 2 - 1 0 5 1 0 6 - 1 0 8 1 0 8 - 1 0 9

109

1 10

T h e E l e m e n t s of A1 Q a d a 111

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- v i i i -

Page

V. The C o n c e p t of the J u d ge (Q a d i ) 112-127 (i) T h e C h a r a c t e r i s t i c B e h a v i o u r

of th e J u d g e 1 1 6 - 1 1 7

(ii) T h e Q a d i in P r e s e n t D a y S a u d i

A r a b i a 1 1 7 - 1 2 1

(iii) C o n d i t i o n s of A p p o i n t m e n t 1 2 2 - 1 2 7

(iv) D i s m i s s a l of J u d g e s . 127

VI. G u i d a n c e to J u d g e s by a P r a c t i c e of

th e P r o p h e t 1 2 8 - 1 2 9

C H A P T E R F O U R 1 3 0 - 1 6 0

I s l a m i c L a w in S a u d i A r a b i a , I t' s G e n e r a l P r i n c i p l e s w i t h R e f e r e n c e to its H i s t o r i c a l B a c k g r o u n d

I. I n t r o d u c t i o n 1 3 0 - 1 3 1

II. P o p u l a t i o n , H i s t o r i c a l D e v e l o p m e n t , P o l i t i c a l a n d R e l i g i o u s B a c k g r o u n d

of S a u d i A r a b i a 1 3 2 - 1 3 8

III. I n s t i t u t i o n of G o v e r n m e n t , the C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d the P o w e r s of the

S t a t e in S a u d i A r a b i a 139-15*1

IV. P r i n c i p l e s of I s l a m i c L a w 1 5 5 - 1 6 0

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Page

C H A P T E R FIVE

T h e T h e o r y of C o n t r a c t in I s l a m i c L a w 1 6 1 - 2 6 1

I . P r e f a c e 161

II. T h e D e f i n i t i o n of C o n t r a c t in I s l a m i c

S y s t e m s vs O t h e r S y s t e m s 1 6 2 - 1 6 9 (i) T h e D e f i n i t i o n of I s l a m i c

J u r i s p r u d e n c e 1 6 2 - 1 6 3

(ii) D e f i n i t i o n in C i v i l J u r i s 

p r u d e n c e 163

(iii) T h e C o m p a r i s o n b e t w e e n the

I s l a m i c a n d C i v i l La w D e f i n i t i o n 1 6 3 - 1 6 4 (iv) T h e C o m p a r i s o n b e t w e e n the

I s l a m i c J u r i s p r u d e n c e a n d the

E n g l i s h a n d F r e n c h D e f i n i t i o n s 1 6 4 - 1 6 5

III. B i l a t e r a l a n d U n i l a t e r a l C o n t r a c t s T h e D i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n a U n i l a t e r a l

C o n t r a c t a n d a U n i l a t e r a l L e g a l A c t 1 7 0 - 1 7 5

IV. T h e C o n t r a c t in I s l a m i c Law 1 7 6 - 1 9 1

1

.

S o u r c e s 17 6- 1 8 2

(a) T h e Q u r a n 1 7 6 - 1 8 1

(b) S u n n a h 1 8 1 - 1 8 2

2 . E 1 e m e n t s 1 8 3 - 1 9 1

(i) O f f e r a n d A c c e p t a n c e 1 8 3 - 1 8 4 (ii) T h e C o n d i t i o n s of the C o n t r a c t 1 8 4 - 1 8 5

(iii) T h e P a r t i e s 186

(iv) V a l i d a n d I n v a l i d C o n t r a c t s 1 8 6 - 1 9 1

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- X -

V. T h e T h e o r y of C o n t r a c t in th e H a n a f i S c h o o l

(i) P r e f a c e (ii) D e f i n i t i o n

(iii) T h e P r i n c i p l e of C o n s e n t of the C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s

(iv) C o n s e n s u a l D e f e c t s

(v) T h e L e g a l C a p a c i t y of th e P a r t i e s (a) M i n o r i t y

(b) L u n a c y a n d I m b e c i l i t y (c) P r o d i g a l i t y

(d) D e b t

(e) M o r t a l S i c k n e s s (f) M e n t a l D e f i c i e n c y (g) D r u n k e n n e s s

(h) I n a d v e r t e n c e (i) W o m a n h o o d

(vi) T h e B i n d i n g F o r c e of th e C o n t r a c t

VI. T h e T h e o r y of C o n t r a c t in A r a b S t a t e s W h o s e C o d e s a r e I n f l u e n c e d b y the M a l i k i a n d S h a f i i S c h o o l s

(i) P r e f a c e

(ii) T h e P r i n c i p l e of C o n s e n t of the C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s

(iii) C o n s e n s u a l D e f e c t s

(iv) T h e L e g a l C a p a c i t y of t h e C o n  t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s

(v) T h e B i n d i n g F o r c e of t h e C o n t r a c t

VII. T h e T h e o r y of C o n t r a c t in t he H a n b a l i S c h o o l

(i) P r e f a c e

(ii) T h e P r i n c i p l e of C o n s e n t of th e C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s

(iii) C o n s e n s u a l D e f e c t s

(iv) T h e L e g a l C a p a c i t y of the C o n  t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s

(v) T h e B i n d i n g F o r c e of t h e C o n t r a c t

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1 9 2 - 2 0 7 1 9 2 - 1 9 4 1 9 4 - 1 9 5 1 9 5 - 1 9 7 1 9 7 - 1 9 9 1 9 9 - 2 0 3 1 9 9 - 2 0 0 2 0 1 - 2 0 1

201 201 202 202 203 203 203 2 0 4 - 2 0 7

2 0 8 - 2 1 5 2 0 8 - 2 1 0 2 1 0 - 2 1 2 2 1 2 - 2 1 3

213 2 1 4 - 2 1 5

2 1 6 - 2 2 2 216 2 1 6 - 2 1 7 2 1 7 - 2 1 9

220 2 2 0 - 2 2 2

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VIII. The C o n t r a c t of Sale

(i) T h e P r i n c i p l e of S a l e

(ii) T h e C o n c e p t of S a l e w i t h R e g a r d to P r e v i e w of the S a l e O b j e c t (iii) C o n d i t i o n s as to t h e Q u a l i t y

of th e S u b j e c t M a t t e r

(iv) C o m p e n s a t i o n f o r D e f e c t s F o u n d in th e S a l e O b j e c t

(v) A p p o r t i o n m e n t of t h e P r i c e (vi) T h e S a l a m

(a) T h e C o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r G o o d s in t h e C o n t r a c t of S a l a m (b) T h e P r o p e r t i e s of a .'vis

i b l e C o n s i d e r a t i o n in the C o n t r a c t of S a l a m

(c) T h e C o n t r a c t of S a l a m for E x c h a n g e of G o o d s

(vii) E a r n e s t M o n e y (Arb un)

(a) T h e L e g a l i t y of A r b u n ( v i i i ) O t h e r F o r m s of S a l e

IX. T h e C o n t r a c t of M a r r i a g e

(i) T h e V a l i d i t y of t h e C o n t r a c t of M a r r i a g e

(ii) T h e Q u e s t i o n of t h e D o w e r (iii) T h e R o l e of the G u a r d i a n

(a) T h e C o n d i t i o n s of the G u a r d i a n

(iv) T h e P r o h i b i t e d M a r r i a g e (v) D i v o r c e ( R e p u d i a t i o n )

(a) R e v o c a b l e R e p u d i a t i o n (b) I r r e v o c a b l e R e p u d i a t i o n (c) O t h e r F o r m s of I r r e v o c a b l e

R e p u d i a t i o n (vi) M a i n t e n a n c e

Page

2 2 3 - 2 5 0 2 2 3 - 2 2 5 2 2 5 - 2 2 7

228 2 2 9 - 2 3 0 2 3 1 - 2 3 2 2 3 3 - 2 4 1

2 3 6 - 2 3 7

2 3 8 - 2 3 9 2 4 0 - 2 4 1 2 4 2 - 2 4 8 2 4 3 - 2 4 8 2 4 9 - 2 5 0

251 261

251-2 52 2 5 2 - 2 5 3 2 5 3 - 2 5 5

255 256 25 7 - 2 6 1 2 5 7 - 2 5 8 2 5 8 - 2 5 9 2 5 9 - 2 6 0 26 0 - 2 6 1

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- X 1 1 -

C H A P T E R SIX

T h e P r i n c i p l e of the F r e e d o m to C o n t r a c t in I s l a m i c Law

I . I n t r o d u c t i o n

II. T h e C l a s s i f i c a t i o n of C o n d i t i o n s

III. Th e V i e w of M u s l i m J u r i s t s

IV. F r e e d o m to C o n t r a c t A c c o r d i n g to the H a n a f i S c h o o l

V. F r e e d o m to C o n t r a c t A c c o r d i n g to the S h a f i i S c h o o l

VI . F r e e d o m to C o n t r a c t A c c o r d i n g to the M a l i k i S c h o o l

VII. F r e e d o m to C o n t r a c t A c c o r d i n g to the H a n b a l i S c h o o l

C H A P T E R S E V E N C o n e l u s i o n

Page

26 2-2 93

2 6 2 - 2 6 6

267 -268

2 6 9 - 2 7 0

2 71 -280

2 8 1 - 2 8 4

285 - 288

2 89- 293

2 9 4 - 3 0 7

B I B L I O G R A P H Y 3 0 8 - 3 3 6

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I N T R O D U C T I O N

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- 1 -

T h e p u r p o s e of this w o r k is to e x a m i n e t h e S a u d i A r a b i a n l e gal s y s t e m w i t h r e g a r d to its l e gal i n s t i t u  t i o n s a n d c o u r t s as well as to e x a m i n e t h e t h e o r y of c o n t r a c t u n d e r its laws.

T h e g e n e r a l j u d i c i a l p o l i c y of S a u d i A r a b i a is d i f f e r e n t f r o m a n y o t h e r in the w o r l d , in t h a t it is a p o l i c y b a s e d s o l e l y on I s l a m i c r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f . T h e Q u r a n doe s n o t s i m p l y set out a c o d e for p e o p l e s ' p r i v a t e l i v e s bu t a l s o sets out the g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s of the c o n s t i t u t i o n of the c o u n t r y . All a c t i v i t i e s , b o t h p e r s o n a l and p r i v a t e , are g u i d e d b y the t e a c h i n g s of T h e Q u r a n . " T h e Q u r a n is a t e a c h e r , a g u i d e a n d a m e r c y to g o o d b e l i e v e r s T h e S h a r i a , t h e all e n c o m p a s s i n g law of Islam, w h e n t r a n s l a t e d , m e a n s

" t h e c l e a r p a t h to be f o l l o w e d " . S a u d i A r a b i a , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of N o r t h Y em en, is the o n l y c o u n t r y l e f t in t h e w o r l d to b a s e its s y s t e m on p u r e S h a r i a .

T h e r e are a l s o a n c i l l i a r y laws m o r e p r o p e r l y c a l l e d r e g u l a t i o n s , or the n i z a m .

(1) T h e H o l y Q u r a n , S u r a XLV - " J a t h i y a " or " B o w i n g the Knee", v e r s e 20.

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T h e r e are f o u r s o u r c e s of S h a r i a law. T h e f i r s t is t h e Q u r a n , the r e c i t a t i o n of G o d ' s own w o r d s by

t h e a n g e l G a b r i e l to M u h a m m a d , t h e las t of th e P r o p h e t s T h e s e c o n d is the S u n n a , a r e c o r d of t h e P r o p h e t

M u h a m m a d ' s d e e d s a n d u t t e r a n c e s a n d of h i s u n s p o k e n a p p r o v a l or d i s a p p r o v a l in g i v e n s i t u a t i o n s . T h e t h i r d is the I j m a w h i c h is th e c o n s e n s u s of s c h o l a r s on p a r t i c u l a r p r o b l e m s w h o s e s o l u t i o n s a r e n o t f o u n d in e i t h e r th e Q u r a n or t h e S u n n a . T h e f o u r t h is the Q i y a s , w h i c h t r a n s l a t e d m e a n s , " m e a s u r i n g or c o m p a r i n g "

It is a s y s t e m of r e a s o n i n g by a n a l o g y a n d e x t e n d s the p r i n c i p l e s lai d d o w n in th e Q u r a n , S u n n a a n d Ijma.

It is u s e d w h e n t h e s e s o u r c e s a r e n o t s u f f i c i e n t l y s p e c i f i c .

T h e Q u r a n a n d S u n n a c o n t a i n b a s i c b i n d i n g r u l e s a n d c o m m a n d s , e x p r e s s e d in g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s o f t e n s u b j e c t to v a r y i n g i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a n d w i t h o u t

t h e o r i s a t i o n . T h e f o r m a t i o n of t h e o r i e s c a m e in the S e c o n d C e n t u r y a f t e r the " H e j i r a " , the b e g i n n i n g of t h e I s l a m i c c a l e n d a r , a n d w e r e s u b s e q uen tly , d e v e l o p e d .

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T h e l e g a l t h e o r i e s of e a c h s c h o o l a n d t h e i r

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s of T h e Q u r a n a n d S u n n a as to th e b a s i c p r o b l e m s of w h a t is g o o d a n d evil, or w h a t is l e g a l or i l l e g a l , w e r e a f f e c t e d b y the d i f f e r e n t s o c i a l , p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d p r e s s u r e s , a n d l e d to d i f f e r i n g c o n c l u s i o n s on a l m o s t all l e g a l p r i n c i p 1 es .

T h e S h a r i a on the w h o l e h a s no p r e c i s e r u l e s to c o v e r e v e r y a s p e c t of c o n t r a c t . H o w e v e r , t h e r e a r e f o u r b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s w h i c h a r e as f o l l o w s :

(a) F r e e d o m of c o n t r a c t .

(b) B o t h p a r t i e s a r e b o u n d b y t h e c o n t r a c t .

(c) T h e r i g h t of p a r t i e s to t h e c o n t r a c t , to e n f o r c e t h e i r r i g h t s in the c o n t r a c t b y all l e g i t i m a t e m e a n s .

(d) All p a r t i e s to a c o n t r a c t h a v e e q u a l s t a t u s b e f o r e t h e c o u r t s .

W h i l e c r i t i c i s m is m a d e of b o t h c i v i l a n d c r i m i n a l p r o c e e d i n g s in S a u d i A r a b i a on the b a s e s t h a t t h e y

a r e n o t in k e e p i n g w i t h m o d e r n n e e d s , s u c h c r i t i c i s m

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is m i t i g a t e d by the f a c t t h a t it is n o t c o n s i d e r e d

w i t h i n the c o n t e x t o f the s o c i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l b a c k g r o u n d of the c o u n t r y .

In 1927, K i n g A b d u l A z i z f o u n d e d the S h a r i a

j u d i c i a r y w h i c h is th e l e g a l s y s t e m . Th e l e g a l s y s t e m is r e s p e c t e d as it a d m i n i s t e r s w h a t is c o n s i d e r e d G o d g i v e n law.

The S h a r i a j u d i c i a r y c o v e r s a l m o s t all the j u d i c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n s and, as such, t h i s w o r k w i l l be d e v o t e d

m a i n l y to the S h a r i a s y s t e m . The s y s t e m o u t s i d e the S h a r i a is k n o w n as the q u a s i - j u d i c i a l s y s t e m an d was f o u n d e d as a r e s u l t o f the i n a b i l i t y a n d r e l u c t a n c e of the S h a r i a j u d i c i a r y to a p p l y the l a w to m e e t the n e e d s of m o d e r n s o c i e t y . T h i s w o r k w i l l a l s o de a l in p a r t w i t h the q u a s i - j u d i c i a l s y s t e m as w e l l as the laws, r e g u l a t i o n a n d p r a c t i c e w i t h i n t h e s e c o u r t s . H o w e v e r , the laws r e l a t i n g to t h e i r c o n d u c t a n d p r a c t i c e are o f t e n too b r i e f and v a g u e to e x t r a c t c l e a r p r i n c i p l e s as to t h e i r p r o c e d u r e .

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T h e p r e s e n t j u d i c i a l s y s t e m wil l h a v e to be

s t r e n g t h e n e d to e n a b l e it to e f f e c t i v e l y dea l w i t h the i n c r e a s e in t he n u m b e r of d i s p u t e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h the i n c r e a s e in p r o s p e r i t y a n d e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t y .

T h i s w o r k wi l l a l s o r e f l e c t the d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e law b y S a u d i l e g i s l a t o r s in r e s p o n s e to d i f f e r i n g m o d e r n s t i m u l i . R e s p o n s e h a s b e e n p o s i t i v e p r o v i d i n g t h a t d e v e l o p m e n t d o e s n o t c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e s p i r i t of the S h a r i a . It w i l l be d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t S a u d i A r a b i a n c o u r t s a p p l y p r o c e d u r a l r u l e s w h i c h v a r y to a l a r g e e x t e n t f r o m t h o s e h e l d b y c l a s s i c a l M u s l i m j u r i s t s w h i c h i n d i c a t e s the c o n t i n u i n g e v o l u t i o n of th e l e gal s y s t e m in S a u d i A r a b i a .

P r e s e n t d a y l if e i n v o l v e s a c t i v i t i e s w h i c h did n o t e x i s t at t h e t i m e of t he P r o p h e t a n d w i t h w h i c h t h e S h a r i a d i d n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y c o n c e r n i t s e l f . T h e s e m o d e r n p r o b l e m s ar e c o v e r e d b y r e g u l a t i o n s ( n i z a m j . T h e y a r e s t a t u t o r y c o d e s p r o m u l g a t e d b y th e h e a d of s t a t e , u n d e r a u t h o r i t y of the S h a r i a , to do w h a t he d e e m s n e c e s s a r y in the b e s t i n t e r e s t an d w e l f a r e of the p e o p l e a n d the c o u n t r y . T h e y a r e i n t e n d e d to i m p l e m e n t the g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s of the S h a r i a in o r d e r to deal

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e f f e c t i v e l y w i t h s p e c i f i c p r o b l e m s of m o d e r n s o c i e t y . T h i s p a r t of the l a w is b o r n of p r a c t i c a l n e c e s s i t y in o r d e r to deal w i t h m o d e r n e v e r y d a y p r o b l e m s , b u t t a k e s its a u t h o r i t y f r o m th e g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s of th e S h a r i a O b v i o u s e x a m p l e s a r e m o t o r v e h i c l e s , a i r p o r t s , c u s t o m s ^

c o m p a n y an d l a b o u r r e g u l a t i o n s . In t h i s way, the p r i n c i p l e s of the S h a r i a ar e i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e g o v e r n  m e n t in o r d e r to s a t i s f y the n e e d s of a m o d e r n , d e v e l o p ing i n d u s t r i a l s o c i e t y .

T h e i n c r e a s e in p o p u l a t i o n , the i n c r e a s e in the n u m b e r of f o r e i g n w o r k e r s as wel l as s o c i a l a n d e c o n 

om i c d e v e l o p m e n t , l e d t o th e i n c r e a s e of t r a n s a c t i o n s b e t w e e n p e o p l e . A c c o r d i n g l y ,the n u m b e r of c a s e s

r o s e f r o m 9 1 , 2 0 3 in 1389 (1969) to 9 9 , 6 3 2 in 13 9 2 (2)

( 1 9 7 2 ) . v J T h e n u m b e r of c o u r t s r o s e f r o m 207 to 241, t h e n u m b e r of j u d g e s f r o m 321 to 46 4 a n d t h e n u m b e r of p u b l i c n o t a r y o f f i c e s f r o m 33 to 51. T w o f i n a n c i a l d e p a r t m e n t s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d in the u p p e r c o u r t s a n d f o u r t e e n in the m e d i u m c o u r t s . T h i r t e e n i n s t i t u t e s of v a r i o u s k i n d s of e x p e r t s w e r e c r e a t e d a l o n g w i t h e i g h t e e n u n i t s in t h e u p p e r c o u r t s , k n o w n

(2) T h e S e c o n d D e v e l o p m e n t P l a n 1 3 9 5 - 1 4 0 0 (1975 - 1980) C h a p t e r Six, S e c t i o n "F" (The J u d i c i a l S y s t e m ) i s s u e d by T h e C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s D e c i s i o n No. 1 4 3 0 2 / 3 / A of 1 5 / 5 / 1 3 9 5 .

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as " o b s e r v a t o r y u n i t s " a n d t w e n t y one u n i t s in t h e m e d i u m c o u r t s to a n s w e r i n q u i r i e s r e g a r d i n g all c a s e s .

C i v i l l a w d e f i n e s a c o n t r a c t as t h e c o m i n g t o  g e t h e r of tw o or m o r e w i l l s a n d the i n t e n t i o n of the p a r t i e s to be b o u n d b y it. In a s i m p l e s a l e of g o o d s t r a n s a c t i o n , it is the w i s h of one to sell a n d the o t h e r to b u y - th e h a n d i n g o v e r of g o o d s in e x c h a n g e

f or. p a y m e n t .

I s l a m i c law d e f i n e s c o n t r a c t as an o f f e r g i v e n b y o n e p a r t y an d the a c c e p t a n c e of the o t h e r p a r t y w h i c h e x p r e s s e s i t s e l f b y its l e gal e f f e c t s on the s u b j e c t m a t t e r of the c o n t r a c t . C o n s i d e r i n g b o t h d e f i n i t i o n s , we f i n d th a t the I s l a m i c law d e f i n i t i o n s t e p s f r o m the l i n g u i s t i c m e a n i n g to the j u r i s t i c m e a n i n g , t h a t is (a k d ) the t y i n g of a k n o t by b i n d i n g two en d s of a p i e c e of r o p e a n d s i m i l a r l y so b e t w e e n t h e two p a r t i e s . A1 a k d is the c r e a t i o n of an o b l i g  a t i o n m a d e by an o f f e r an d an a c c e p t a n c e . A c c o r d i n g to I s l a m i c law t h e t y i n g of the k n o t ( a k d ) e x p r e s s e s its l e g a l e f f e c t s u p o n t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r of the

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c o n t r a c t . T h e c o n t r a c t (a k d ) d e n o t e s th e l e ga l act w h i c h i n v o l v e s a b i - l a t e r a l d e c l a r a t i o n , n a m e l y the o f f e r (idj a b ) a n d the a c c e p t a n c e (k a b u l ). T h e o f f e r a n d a c c e p t a n c e s h o u l d b e g i v e n a n d a c c e p t e d at the s a m e p l a c e a n d time. T h e a c c e p t a n c e of t h e o f f e r m u s t b e u n e q u i v o c a l .

M u s l i m j u r i s t s h a v e b e e n o c c u p i e d w i t h t w o m a i n t y p e s of c o n t r a c t - the c o n t r a c t of s a l e of g o o d s (b a i ) a n d the c o n t r a c t of m a r r i a g e (n i k a h ) . O t h e r t y p e s of c o n t r a c t a r e k n o w n a n d r e c o g n i s e d bu t th e c o n t r a c t of s a l e of g o o d s a n d the c o n t r a c t of m a r r i a g e h a v e d o m  i n a t e d th e I s l a m i c t h e o r y of c o n t r a c t . T h e y w e r e d e a l t w i t h in th e g r e a t e s t de p t h , b o t h in p r a c t i c e a n d t h e o r y , and u n t i l r e c e n t t i m e s w e r e th e m a j o r i t y of c o n t r a c t s d e a l t w i t h in S a u d i A r a b i a . W i t h the i n c r e a s e in n a t i o n a l w e a l t h f r o m oil re venue, f o r e i g n e l e m e n t s w e r e i m p o r t e d int o S a u d i s o c i e t y . N o v e l c o n t r a c t u a l s i t u a t i o n s a n d p r o b l e m s a r o s e w i t h w h i c h t h e S a u d i A r a b i a n l e g a l s y s t e m h a s h a d to d e a l. T h e p r e s s u r e to a d a p t a n d e x p a n d c o n t r a c t law h a s r e s u l t e d in c o n c e p t s such as s u b - c o n t r a c t an d q u a s i - c o n t r a c t .

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M a n y A r a b c o u n t r i e s w e r e l e f t b e h i n d by the r e s t of the w o r l d in t e r m s of t e c h n o l o g i c a l a d v a n c e as a r e s u l t of O t t o m a n d o m i n a t i o n . T h e y a r e n o w e m b r a c i n g m o d e r n t e c h n o l o g y a n d t hi s a d v a n c e in t o s c i e n t i f i c m a t e r i a l i s m h a s b e e n a c c o m p a n i e d b y s o m e c o r r o s i o n of fa i t h . T h i s t u r n i n g a w a y f r o m t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f is a b s e n t in S a u d i A r a b i a w h e r e th e b e l i e f in the I s l a m i c w a y of lif e is as s t r o n g as in the t i m e of the P r o p h e t . T h e Q u r a n is th e c o n s t i t u t i o n , g i v i n g the c o u n t r y its l a w s , a n d as s u c h , i s an all p r e v a i l i n g i n f l u e n c e t h r o u g h o u t the s t r u c t u r e of g o v e r n m e n t a n d e v e r y d a y life of S a u d i s o c i e t y .

S a u d i A r a b i a is a d v a n c i n g f a s t e r t h a n a n y o t h e r c o u n t r y in the w o r l d b o t h s o c i a l l y an d e c o n o m i c a l l y . T h i s a d v a n c e is due s o l e l y to the i n c r e a s e in oil r e v e n u e w h i c h is th e h i g h e s t in th e w o r l d on a p e r c a p i t a b a s i s . E m p h a s i s is p l a c e d on p u b l i c s p e n d i n g in a r e a s of e d u c a t i o n , h e a l t h and o t h e r s in t h i s m o d e r n w e l f a r e s o c i e t y . S t a n d a r d s of l i v i n g h a v e r i s e n . T h e i n c r e a s e in n a t i o n a l w e a l t h h a s o c c u r r e d due to the i n c r e a s e in the p r i c e of oil w i t h i n the l as t ten y e a r s . T h e c h a n g e h a s b e e n f r o m p a t e r n a l i s m

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to m o d e r n i t y . T h e s u c c e s s of t h e S a u d i A r a b i a n e c o n o m y ha s t h e r e f o r e c r e a t e d l e gal p r o b l e m s . E c o n o m i c r e a l i t y h a s b e e n the f a t h e r of l egal c h a n g e b u t t h i s h a s b e e n

t e m p e r e d b y I s l a m i c c o n s e r v a t i s m . P r o g r e s s is w e l c o m e bu t o n l y w i t h i n the e x i s t i n g l e g a l f r a m e w o r k . T h e r e f o r e th e p r o b l e m is, can the S h a r i a j u d i c i a r y m e e t the p r o b 

lems of t h e i n c r e a s e in the n u m b e r a n d c o m p l e x i t y of c o n t r a c t u a l t r a n s a c t i o n s a c c o m p a n y i n g th e i n c r e a s e in n a t i o n a l w e a l t h ?

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C H A P T E R T W O

T H E J U D I C I A L S Y S T E M IN S A U D I A R A B I A W I T H R E F E R E N C E T O ITS I N S T I T U T I O N S ,

S T R U C T U R E A N D P R O C E D U R E

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11

.

III .

IV .

V .

VI .

VII .

V I I I

IX .

X.

(ii) The C o n c e p t of t h e K i n g as A d m i n i s t r a t o r and His D e l a y A c t i o n of P o w e r

(iii) The M i n i s t r y of J u s t i c e

(iv) T h e P u b l i c R i g h t a n d the P r i v a t e R i g h t (v) T h e B o d i e s W h i c h A d m i n i s t e r J u s t i c e in

S a u d i A r a b i a

T H E F I R S T M A G I S T R A T E S * C O U R T S

(i) J u r i s d i c t i o n and C o n s t i t u t i o n

T H E S E C O N D M A G I S T R A T E S * C O U R T S (i) J u r i s d i c t i o n and C o n s t i t u t i o n

T H E M A G I S T R A T E S ’C O U R T S

T H E S H A R I A C O U R T S

T H E G R A N D S H A R I A C O U R T S

P R O C E D U R E IN T H E S H A R I A J U D I C I A R Y

T H E C O U R T A S S I S T A N T S OR P E R S O N N E L IN T H E S H A R I A A N D M A G I S T R A T E S ’ C O U R T S

L E G A L R E P R E S E N T A T I O N " T H E W A K I L S "

A P P E A L

(i) R e v i e w

(ii) T h e R i g h t of A p p e a l on D e c i s i o n in All I n s t a n c e s

(iii) T y p e s of A p p e a l (iv) P e r i o d o f A p p e a l (v) M e t h o d of A p p e a l

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XI .

XII .

XII I .

XIV.

XV.

C O U R T OF C A S S A T I O N

(i) J u r i s d i c t i o n an d C o n s t i t u t i o n (ii) T h e S u p r e m e A p p e l l a t e A u t h o r i t y

1. T h e P r e s i d e n t of th e J u d i c i a r y 2. T h e J u d i c i a l C o m m i s s i o n of 19 70 3. T h e H i g h J u d i c i a l C o m m i t t e e T H E H I G H J U D I C I A L C O U N C I L

(i) J u r i s d i c t i o n a n d C o n s t i t u t i o n T H E Q U A S I - J U D I C I A L T R I B U N A L S

T h e C o m m e r i c a l T r i b u n a l s

1. T h e C o m m e r c i a l C o u n c i l o f 1345 (i) J u r i s i d i c t i o n and C o n s t i t u t i o n

2. T h e C o m m i t t e e for the S e t t l e m e n t of C o m m e r c i a l D s i p u t e s

(i) J u r i s d i c t i o n and C o n s t i t u t i o n 3. T h e C o m m i t t e e for S e c u r i t i e s (i) J u r i s d i c t i o n an d C o n s t i t u t i o n T H E G R I E V A N C E S B O A R D

(i) J u r i s i d i c t i o n an d C o n s t i t u t i o n

(ii) P r o c e e d i n g s B e f o r e th e G r i e v a n c e s B o a r d C O M M E R C I A L D I S P U T E S

S e t t l e m e n t of C o m m e r c i a l D i s p u t e s b y C o m m e r c i a l T r i b u n a 1.

(i) J u r i s i d i c t i o n and C o n s t i t u t i o n (ii) P r o c e d u r e s in C o m m e r c i a l T r i b u n a l s ( i i i ) T h e C h a m b e r s of C o m m e r c e an d I n d u s t r y

(iv) C o u r t ’s P r a c t i s e to C o n t r a c t u r a l P r o v i s i o n s and P r o b l e m s in S a u d i A r a b i a

(v) The P r a c t i c e in I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n t r a c t s

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XVII. T H E B R I B E R Y C O M M I T T E E

(i) J u r i s d i c t i o n an d C o n s t i t u t i o n

XV I I I . T H E C U S T O M S C O M M I T T E E

XIX. T H E F O R G E R Y C O M M I T T E E

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- 11 -

I . T H E J U D I C I A L S Y S T E M

T h e j u d i c i a r y is on e of th e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p o w e r s of th e stat e. In S a u d i A r a b i a , its i n d e p e n d e n c e is g u a r a n t e e d by t he r e l i g i o n .

(i ) Th e S e t t i n g Up o f the J u d i c i a l S y s t e m

W h e n K i n g Ibn S a u d c a m e i nt o p o w e r in 1926, the leg al s y s t e m of S a u d i A r a b i a w a s u n i f i e d by d e c r e e .

The s y s t e m in f u t u r e w o u l d be b a s e d on t h e H a n b a l i S c h o o l of Law, w h i c h wa s the m o s t c o n s e r v a t i v e of the v a r i o u s s c h o o l s and w h i c h m a y be r e g a r d e d as t h e m o s t a c c e p t a b l e to t h e s t r o n g r e l i g i o u s p r i n c i p l e s of the S a u d i A r a b i a n p e o p l e .

T h e S a u d i j u d i c i a r y ha s b e e n t h e s u b j e c t o f m a j o r l e g i s l a t i o n s i n c e 1926 , p a r t i c u l a r 1y in the f i e l d of j u d i c i a l p r o c e d u r e . T h e r e h a v e b e e n six m a j o r l e g i s  l a t i o n s of the S a u d i j u d i c i a r y .

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(a) T h e J u d i c i a l I n s t i t u t i o n s of 1927 r 31

(A w d a a l - M a h a k m a l - S h a r i y y a W a t a s h k i l a t i h a ) .

(b) T h e Law C o n c e r n i n g t h e C o n d u c t of T r i a l s in the S h a r i a C o u r t of 1931 (4 1 (N i z a m S a y y r a 1 -

M u h a k a m a t a l - S h a r i y y a ') .

(c) T h e Law of P r o c e d u r e of 1936 ^ ^ (N i z a m a 1 - M u r a f a ' t a l - S h a r i y y a ') .

(d) Th e Law C o n c e r n i n g C e n t r a l i s a t i o n of the J u d i c i a l R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of 1 9 5 2 ^ ^ (N i z a m T a r k i z M a s o u - L e y a t a l - Q a d a a l - S h a r e e ) .

(e) T h e O r g a n i s a t i o n of A d m i n i s t r a t i v e F u n c t i o n s in the S h a r i a C o u r t S y s t e m of 1952 ^ ^ (T a n z i m a l - A fmal a l - E d a r i y y a fi a l - D a w a ' e r a l - S h a r i y y a ) .

(f) Th e J u d i c i a l L a w of 1975 ^ ^ (Ni zam al - Q ada ) .

(3) R o y a l D e c r e e of 4 / 2 / 1 3 4 6 (1927).

(4) H i g h O r d e r No. 21 of 2 9 / 2 / 1 3 5 0 (1931).

(5) H i g h O r d e r of 1 1 / 2 / 1 3 5 5 (1936).

(6) H i g h O r d e r No. 109 of 2 4 / 1 / 1 3 7 2 (1952).

(7) H i g h O r d e r No. 109 of 2 4 / 1 / 1 3 7 2 (1952).

(8) R o y a l D e c r e e No. M / 6 4 o f 1 4 / 7 / 1 3 9 5 (1975).

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- 13 -

(i i ) Th e C o n c e p t of th e K i n g as A d m i n i s t r a t o r a n d H i s D e l a y A c t i o n o f P o w e r

T h e Kin g is th e c h i e f a d m i n i s t r a t o r o f j u s t i c e an d is t h e f i n a l c o u r t o f a p p e a l . H o w e v e r , t h e K i n g is s u b j e c t to law and c a n be s u e d in hi s o w n c o u r t s . T h e c o n c e p t of a b s o l u t e s o v e r e i g n i t y ha s no p l a c e in the S h a r i a , and t h e K i n g is s u b j e c t to t h e S h a r i a Law

In p r a c t i c e , t h e l e g a l p o w e r v e s t e d in th e K i n g is d e l e g a t e d to a n u m b e r o f j u d g e s w h o a p p l y th e S h a r i a , as w e l l as th e a n c i e n t a n d e s t a b l i s h e d c u s t o m a r y law, w h i c h f o r m s p a r t of the law of t h e land.

(iii) M i n i s t r y o f J u s t i c e

T h e M i n i s t r y o f J u s t i c e w a s f o r m e d in 1 9 7 0 ^ ^ to r e p l a c e t h e P r e s i d e n c y o f t h e J u d i c i a r y w h i c h w a s c r e a t e d in 1926. T h e p r e s i d e n c y o f t h e j u d i c i a r y w a s a h i g h j u d i c i a l a u t h o r i t y w i t h a p p e l l a t e p o w e r and in t h e o r y t hi s s a m e p o w e r is v e s t e d in t h e M i n i s t e r o f J u s t i c e b e g i n n i n g in 1970.

(9) R o y a l O r d e r No. A / 1 0 5 of 2 1 / 7 / 1 3 9 0 .

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T h e J u d i c i a l L a w of 1975 c r e a t e d the D e p a r t m e n t of L e g a l R e s e a r c h (a l - I d a r a a l - F a n n i y a Li a l - B u h u t h ) w h i c h is a t t a c h e d to t h i s M i n i s t r y . T h i s d e p a r t m e n t c o n s i s t s of an e q u a l n u m b e r o f m e m b e r s h o l d i n g at l e a s t t h e c e r t i f i c a t e of a S h a r i a c o l l e g e . T h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f th i s d e p a r t m e n t is as f o l l o w s .

(a) To d r a w up the p r i n c i p l e s o f j u d g e m e n t s i s s u e d by t h e C o u r t of C a s s a t i o n a n d b y th e H i g h J u d i c i a l C o u n c i l fo r r e f e r e n c e .

(b) To a r r a n g e c e r t a i n c h o s e n j u d g e m e n t s fo r p u b l i c a t i o n .

(c) To c a r r y out c e r t a i n r e s e a r c h w o r k b y a r e q u e s t f r o m the M i n i s t r y of J u s t i c e .

(d) To a n s w e r q u e r i e s f r o m j u d g e s .

(e) To r e v i e w j u d g e m e n t s a n d to s t a t e its v i e w r e g a r d i n g the j u r i s p r u d e n t i a l r u l e w h i c h s u c h j u d g e m e n t s a r e b a s e d on a n d to its c o m p a t i b i l i t y to t h e r u l e s of p r o b i t y a c c o r d i n g to c h a n g i n g

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- 15 -

c i r c u m s t a n c e s . T h i s v i e w is t h e n p u t to the H i g h J u d i c i a l C o u n c i l to d r a w up g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s a c c o r d i n g to a r t i c l e 8, p a r a g r a p h (1) o f th e j u d i c i a l law.

The M i n i s t r y c o n t r o l s t he a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a n d f i n a n c i a l b o d i e s of the c o u r t s a n d of a n y j u d i c i a l d e p a r t m e n t or c e n t r e .

(i v ) P u b l i c a n d P r i v a t e R i g h t s

T h e r e a re two t y p e s o f c a s e s , t h o s e w h i c h i n v o l v e the p r i v a t e r i g h t s of the i n d i v i d u a l i.e. p r o p e r t y r i g h t s , a n d t h o s e w h i c h i n v o l v e the p u b l i c r i g h t (the r i g h t o f God) e.g. d r i n k i n g w in e, c o m m i t t i n g a d u l t e r y . The p u b l i c p r o s  e c u t o r m a y c l a i m t h i s t y p e o f r i g h t .

M a n y c a s e s i n v o l v e b o t h r i g h t s e.g. t h e f t or h i g h w a y r o b b e r y . The p u b l i c p r o s e c u t o r m a y a l s o c l a i m t h e s e r i g h t s .

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( v) T h e B o d i e s W h i c h A d m i n i s t e r J u s t i c e in S a u d i A r a b i a

T h e b o d i e s w h i c h a d m i n i s t e r j u s t i c e in S a u d i A r a b i a a r e of f i v e c a t e g o r i e s .

S h a r i a C o u r t s

T h e I s l a m i c (Sh ar i a ) is t h e l a w of S a u d i A r a b i a a n d the S h a r i a c o u r t s h a v e j u r i s d i c t i o n in all ci v i l , c r i m i n a l a n d f a m i l y c a s e s .

T h e C o m m e r c i a l C o u r t a n d th e C o m m i t t e e f o r S e t t l e m e n t o f C o m m e r c i a l D i s p u t e s

A c o m m e r c i a l c o u r t w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in J e d d a h in 1 9 2 6 to h e a r c a s e s b e t w e e n m e r c h a n t s , m o n e y c h a n g e r s , c a s e s on b i l l s of e x c h a n g e , t r a d e m a r k s , c o m p a n i e s a n d m a r i n e d i s p u t e s . T h i s c o u r t wa s a b o l i s h e d in 1955. In 1931 a c o m m e r c i a l c o d e w a s p r o m u l g a t e d by R o y a l D e c r e e No. 32 of 1 5 / 1 / 1 3 5 0 A .H . (1931 A .D .)

a n d on N o v e m b e r 20, 1960, D e c i s i o n No. 228 w a s p a s s e d b y t h e C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s g i v i n g c o n t r o l of the c o m m e r c i a l c o u r t to t h e M i n i s t r y of C o m m e r c e a n d I n d u s t r y (at t h e time) a n d on J u n e 27, 19 6 2 M i n i s -

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- 17 -

t e r i a l o r d e r c r e a t i n g two c o m m i t t e e s , a c o m m i t t e e of f i r s t i n s t a n c e a n d an a p p e l l a t e c o m m i t t e e to h e a r a n d d e c i d e c o m m e r c i a l d i s p u t e s . T h e f i n a l d e c i s i o n s of b o t h c o m m i t t e e s h a d to be a p p r o v e d b y th e M i n i s t e r c o n c e r n e d . S i n c e th e s e p a r a t i o n of th e M i n i s t r y of C o m m e r c e a n d I n d u s t r y i n t o t w o M i n i s t r i e s , one fo r C o m m e r c e a n d the o t h e r f o r I n d u s t r y a n d E l e c t r i c i t y , all d e c i s i o n s m a d e b y th e c o m m i t t e e s in d i s p u t e s

r e l a t i n g to I n d u s t r y m u s t b e a p p r o v e d b y th e M i n i s t r y o f I n d u s t r y a n d E l e c t r i c i t y , w h i l s t all o t h e r d e c 

i s i o n s m u s t be a p p r o v e d b y the M i n i s t e r of C o m m e r c e .

O t h e r C o m m i t t e e s

T h e f o r m a t i o n of s p e c i a l c o m m i t t e e s is a u s u a l p r a c t i c e . A s p e c i a l c o m m i t t e e , a l s o k n o w n as a t r i  b u n a l , is e s t a b l i s h e d f o r a s p e c i a l p u r p o s e .

C e r t a i n M i n i s t e r i a l D e p a r t m e n t s

C e r t a i n m i n i s t e r i a l d e p a r t m e n t s e n f o r c e the la w s r e l a t i n g to t he m.

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T h e B o a r d of G r i e v a n c e s

T h i s b o a r d w a s e s t a b l i s h e d in 1955 . [Royal D e c r e e No. 2 / 1 3 / 9 7 5 9 of 1 7 / 9 / 1 3 7 4 A .H . (May 10, 1958)] a n d is h e a d e d b y a p e r s o n o f th e r a n k of M i n i s t e r . Its m a i n

f u n c t i o n is to i n v e s t i g a t e C o m p l a i n t s c o n c e r n i n g m i s  c a r r i a g e or d e n i a l of j u s t i c e or o t h e r a l l e g e d l y u n  l a w f u l a c t s of t h e q a d i s , d i f f i c u l t i e s in s e c u r i n g th e e x e c u t i o n of j u d g e m e n t s , w r o n g s c o m m i t t e d by g o v  e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l s a n d s i m i l a r m a t t e r s . Its j u r i s d i c  t i o n is, in e s s e n c e , c o n c e r n e d w i t h g r i e v a n c e s w i t h t h e s y s t e m of a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of j u s t i c e .

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- 19 -

I I . T H E F I R S T M A G I S T R A T E ' S C O U R T

(A1 M a h k a m a a l - M u s t a 'j a l a a l - u l a )

(i ) J u r i s d i c t i o n a n d C o n s t i t u t i o n

T h e f i r s t M a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t is c o m p e t e n t to h e a r all c r i m e s o f t a z i r ^ ^ ^ c r i m e s o f the h a d d ^ ^ o f i n t o x i c a t i o n

(a l - s u k r ) an d d e f a m a t i o n (a l - q a d h f ). Its j u r i s p r u d e n c e is l i m i t e d to m i n o r c i v i l c a s e s i n v o l v i n g a s u m n o t m o r e t h a n S.R. 3 0 0 (£30) a n d c a s e s c o n c e r n i n g the c o m p e n s a t i o n fo r c o r p o r a l i n j u r y w h i c h do n o t e x c e e d on e t e n t h o f the

(1 2 ) w h o l e b l o o d m o n e y .

T h e s e c o u r t s c a n h e a r m o s t c r i m e s w h i c h f a l l w i t h i n the S h a r i a j u d i c i a r y e x c e p t the H a d d o f i l l e g a l s e x r e l a t i o n s (a l - z i n a ), the h a d d of t h e f t (a l - s a r i q a ), the h a d d o f h i g h w a y r o b b e r y (q a t a l - t a r i q ) , the h a d d k n o w n as a p o s t a s y f r o m I s l a m {a l - r i d d a ) a n d the h a d d of r e t a l i a t i o n (a l - q i s a s ).

Th e f i r s t m a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t h e a r s c a s e s i n v o l v i n g u r b a n d w e l l e r s onl y. T h i s t y p e of c o u r t ha s a s m a l l e r j u r i s 

d i c t i o n t h a n the M a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t , b u t the l a r g e s t n u m b e r of

*

c a s e s .

(10) C r i m e s fo r w h i c h t h e i r p u n i s h m e n t s are l e f t to the d i s c r e t i o n of the a p p r o p r i a t e a u t h o r i t y to d e t e r m i n e . (11) L i t e r a l l y m e a n s the b o u n d s or the l i m i t s . T h e y ar e

c r i m e s fo r w h i c h t h e i r p u n i s h m e n t s are s e t by the Q u r a n .

(12) M o n e y p a i d for c o m p e n s a t i o n to the i n j u r e d p a r t y .

* The f i r s t m a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t of R i y d h d e a l t w i t h t h i r t e e n c a s e s o f t h e f t , two c a s e s o f m o r a l i t y , f o r t y - f i v e c a s e s of d r u n k e n e s s , f i f t e e n c a s e s of i n j u r y , f i v e c a s e s of dr u g s , t h i r t y c a s e s o f c a r a c c i d e n t s a n d t w o c a s e s of

a s s a u l t b e t w e e n 2 6 / 1 / 1 3 9 3 a n d 1 3 / 3 / 1 3 9 3 (J a n u a r y - M a r c h 1 9 7 3 The c o u r t ' s R e g i s t r y Book.

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T h e s e c o u r t s c o n s i s t u s u a l l y of a s i n g l e j u d g e (q a d i ) a n d f o u r c l e r k s .

Ill . THE S E C O N D M A G I S T R A T E ' S C O U R T

(A l - M a h k a m a a l - M u s t a 'j a l a a l - T h a n i y a )

Th e s e c o n d M a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t ha s the s a m e j u r i s d i c t i o n as the f i r s t M a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t a n d h e a r s c a s e s o n l y if

b o t h p a r t i e s a re B e d o u i n s b u t it h a d b e e n k n o w n to d e c i d e on m i n o r c a s e s , w h i c h i n v o l v e d a n o n - B e d o u i n p a r t y . The

n u m b e r of c a s e s d e a l t w i t h is s m a l l e r t h a n in o t h e r t y p e s o f M a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t s .

T h e s e c o u r t s c o n s i s t o f a s i n g l e j u d ge.

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- 21 -

IV. THE M A G I S T R A T E ' S C O U R T S ( A l - M a h k a m a a l - M u s t a 1j a l a )

O n e or m o r e m a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t s is g e n e r a l l y f o r m e d in t o w n s an d c i t i e s w h e r e a G r a n d S h a r i a c o u r t is f o u n d .

Tw o m a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d (in J e d d a h an d M e d i n a ) as a r e s u l t o f th e l a w o f 1927.

T h e s e c o u r t s w e r e f o r m e d in t o w n s w h e r e t h e r e w e r e no o t h e r f o r m s o f m a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t s to h a n d l e c a s e s w h i c h are u s u a l l y t r i e d by a m a g i s t r a t e c o u r t . A j u d g e of a

S h a r i a c o u r t in th e c i t i e s a n d v i l l a g e s w h e r e no m a g i s t r a t e s w e r e f o u n d c o u l d c a r r y o u t the job o f m a g i s t r a t e . It s h o u l d be m e n t i o n e d h e r e t h a t the M a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t o f M e d i n a was d e p r i v e d f r o m its p o w e r to h a n d l e c r i m i n a l c a s e s r e f e r r e d to

(1 3 ) the r e s i d e n t s o f M e d i n a u n d e r a R o y a l w i l l p a s s e d in 1936.

T h i s d e p r i v a t i o n o f p o w e r ha s n o t b e e n r e f e r r e d to in the d i f f e r e n t r e l a t e d l a w s p a s s e d s i n c e 1936. It is, t h e r e f o r e a s s u m e d t h a t the r e l a t e d c o u r t h e a r all c a s e s w h i c h f a l l u n d e r the j u r i s d i c t i o n o f M a g i s t r a t e s .

(13) The R o y a l W i l l o f 8 / 1 / 1 3 5 6 (193 6), q u o t e d in M a j u ' a t a l - N u z a m , pp. 6 3 - 6 4

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T h e s e c o u r t s are e n t i t l e d to h a n d l e c a s e s , c r i m i n a l or (1 4)

ci v i l , i n v o l v i n g b o t h u r b a n d w e l l e r s a n d B e d o u i n s , a n d w h e r e o ne p a r t y is B e d o u i n a n d t h e o t h e r is an u r b a n d w e l l e r .

It c a n be s a i d t h a t the m a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t s h a v e the g r e a t e s t j u r i s d i c t i o n s i n c e t h e y a r e e m p o w e r e d to h e a r a n d h a n d l e all k i n d s o f c a s e s u s u a l l y d e c i d e d by th e F i r s t a n d S e c o n d M a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t s . T h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e s e m a g i s t r a t e s c o u r t s h a s b e e n l i m i t e d b e c a u s e c a s e s w h i c h u s e d to be t r i e d by t h e m h a v e b e e n a l l o c a t e d to the

d i f f e r e n t q u a s i - j u d i c i a l t r i b u n a l s . A l l j u d g e m e n t s o f th e (1 5 )

M a g i s t r a t e ' s C o u r t s ar e s u b j e c t to a p p e a l e x c e p t w h e n the s e n t e n c e is of no m o r e t h a n f o r t y l a s h e s or ten d a y s

i m p r i s o n m e n t or w h e n th e j u d g e m e n t c o n c e r n s a s u m of n o t m o r e t h a n SR 500 (£50) or its e q u i v a l e n t .

All m a g i s t r a t e ' s c o u r t s h e a r c a s e s w h i c h n e e d a s p e e d y p r o c e d u r e and w h i c h a r e n o t v e r y s e r i o u s to be h e a r d by a

S h a r i a or G r a n d S h a r i a c o u r t .

T h e s e c o u r t s c o n s i s t o f a s i n g l e ju d g e .

(14) The J u d i c i a l I n s t i t u t i o n s o f 1 9 2 7, Art. 2 (a) ■ (15) T a ' L i m a t T a m y i z a l - A h k a ' m a l - S h a r i y y a , a p p r o v e d

by the p r e s i d e n t o f the C o u n c i l o f M i n i s t e r s L e t t e r to the p r e s i d e n t o f the j u d i c i a r y No. 2 4 8 3 6 of

2 9 / 1 0 / 1 3 8 0 (1968)

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- 2 3 -

V. THE S H A R I A C O U R T S

(Al-Muhfcaima a l - S h a r i y y a )

The L a w o f 1 9 2 7 c r e a t e d t wo S h a r i a c o u r t s one in

J e d d a h a n d the o t h e r in M e d i n a , t h e y w e r e s o m e W h a t o r g a n i s e d , o c c u p i e d a c o u r t b u i l d i n g a n d k e p t f i x e d h o u r s w h e r e a s in the v i l l a g e s a n d o t h e r t o w n s the c a s e s w e r e h e a r d in any h a n d y p l a c e a n d at a n y s u i t a b l e time.

S i n c e 1 9 2 7 the n u m b e r of t h e s e c o u r t s has s p r e a d t h r o u g h o u t the c o u n t r y . At p r e s e n t , e v e r y c o u r t , e v e n if it is in a v i l l a g e , o c c u p i e s a b u i l d i n g k n o w n as the c o u r t (a l - m a h k a m a ) a n d the c a s e s are d e c i d e d d u r i n g f i x e d h o u r s . A S h a r i a c o u r t is f o r m e d in e v e r y c i t y or t o w n w h e r e no

G r a n d S h a r i a c o u r t e x i s t s a n d in the v i l l a g e s if the n e c e s s i t y a r i s e s u p o n the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f the M i n i s t e r of J u s t i c e .

S h a r i a c o u r t s are e n t i t l e d to h e a r c a s e s , in the f o l l o w i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s :

(a) All c a s e s a d j u s t e d by a G r a n d S h a r i a C o u r t w h e r e no G r a n d S h a r i a C o u r t e x i s t s , b u t a S h a r i a c o u r t e x i s t s in t h a t area.