Judicial System

Judicial System in Saudi Arabia
Sources of the Saudi Legal System
Prof. Zaid Al Zaid *
Sources of the Saudi legal system are numerous in a
manner allows judges broad discretion as to forming their
opinions. Some of these sources are based on revelation
(the Revelation) (the Holy Quran and Sunnah) and some
not unanimously agreed upon between Muslim scholars –all
these may be described as the Sharia sources of the Saudi
legal system. In addition, there are different types of legal
sources. These sources, combined together, give judges
discretion to form their opinions; they combine originality
of sacred and unchanging texts and contributions of learned
scholars who are aware of the changes of their era.
*
Professor of comparative jurisprudence and former dean of the Higher
Judicial Institute in Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University.
An arbiter accredited by the Ministry of Justice and other justice
authorities outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He has extensively
provided legal consultation and conducted training courses in
arbitration, drafting of contracts for the Government and private sector
entities.
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