H.H. the Amir’s directives guide Civil Code amendment, no legislation will breach Islamic Sharia, says Al-Sumait
- Sharia safeguards in inheritance law, 16.5 million dinars raised for debtors
- Kuwait to introduce three major laws as judicial cases fall 20 percent
Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait has dismissed reports claiming that amendments to the Civil Code governing inheritance matters violate the provisions of Islamic Sharia, stressing that the country’s legislation remains firmly grounded in Islamic principles and directives issued by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Al-Sumait reaffirmed that no law would be enacted and no legislative amendment approved if it contradicted the provisions of Islamic Sharia, emphasizing that the recent amendment to Article 830 of the Civil Code was introduced in response to direct instructions from His Highness the Amir.
Speaking at a press conference announcing the final results of the national debtors’ relief campaign, Al-Sumait said the amendment was designed to safeguard the rights of individuals who risk losing their only residential property when jointly owned real estate is divided or sold through a public auction.
The amendment empowers courts to postpone the division of a jointly owned property if it is established that the property constitutes the only residence of one of the partners and that the individual does not have sufficient financial resources to purchase a suitable alternative. Courts are required to consider the family and social circumstances of the affected individual before making a decision.
The minister explained that the postponement would not be permanent, as the remaining partners could request its termination once the circumstances justifying it no longer existed. The court may also determine fair compensation in the interest of the other partners.
Under the amended provision, the remaining partners may acquire the share of the individual requesting the division by paying its assessed value, which will be determined by an expert appointed by the court. Al-Sumait stressed that the amendment neither obstructs inheritance distribution nor changes the established Sharia principles governing succession.
He added that an official fatwa issued by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs had confirmed that the amendment was consistent with Islamic Sharia, dismissing claims that the legislative change represented a departure from religious provisions.
The press conference was attended by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice Awatif Al-Sanad and Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Technical and Administrative Affairs Nouf Al-Qabandi.
Turning to the results of the debtors’ relief campaign, launched on the 27th day of Ramadan last year under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Al-Sumait announced that total contributions had reached 16,539,659 dinars, raised through donations from 138,328 contributors.
The campaign benefited 3,807 debtors by settling their outstanding liabilities either fully or partially. A total of 5,645 judicial rulings were issued against the beneficiaries, while the initiative helped lift 14,928 enforcement measures, providing financial and legal relief to thousands of affected individuals.
Al-Sumait said the campaign received financial support from 62 government and private entities, reflecting broad institutional and community participation. He also announced plans to launch an exceptional and unprecedented debt-relief campaign during the coming Ramadan, featuring wider facilities and more flexible eligibility conditions to extend assistance to the largest possible number of beneficiaries.
Addressing developments in the country’s legislative reform program, the Justice Minister highlighted the impact of laws introduced under the National Plan to Modernize the Legislative System, revealing a substantial reduction in the volume of cases before courts across Kuwait.
According to Al-Sumait, the number of cases registered before the judiciary in 2026 declined by 20 percent, equivalent to approximately 170,000 cases, compared with the corresponding period in 2024. He said the decline reflected the impact of legislative and regulatory measures introduced to improve the judicial system and address the accumulation of cases.
Looking ahead, Al-Sumait announced that three new laws — the Family Law, Penal Law and Personal Status Law — would be unveiled soon as part of the continuing legislative modernization program.
He disclosed that the Personal Status Law was scheduled to be presented to the ministerial committee during the week, with completion targeted before the end of this year. The proposed legislation is expected to address major issues affecting families and individuals, which he said had become significant concerns in society.
The announcements underline the government’s continuing efforts to strengthen legislative safeguards, improve access to justice, ease financial hardship among debtors and modernize Kuwait’s legal framework.
