English abstract
This dissertation tackles the jurisdiction in Oman during the following period (1920-
1970); i.e. the reign both of Sultan Taimur bin Faisal and his son Sultan Said, which
also was of the same epoch of the Imam Mohamad bin Abdullah al-Khalily ruling the
interior regions (Oman proper) in this period (1920-1954).
The dissertation consists of preface, four chapters and conclusion. In the preface I
viewed the political, economic and social conditions in Oman during the period (1920-
1970); consequently, impact of these situations on the jurisdiction and its evolution
during the study period.
The 1st chapter follows the historical movement of the judicial system in Oman because
this epoch witnessed rule both of the sultanate and imamate in some interior regions of
Oman (Oman proper).
The 2nd chapter reviewed the conditions and duties for those who hold post of the judge.
They were the same conditions in effect in Oman and other Islamic countries. I
depended on the Ibadi jurisprudential references as a source in order to study these
conditions and duties and organize council of the judge. In this chapter, I also tackled
the ethics of the jurisdiction, whether those that preceded the hearing session or during
council of the jurisdiction, in addition to time and place of the litigation. Moreover, I
discussed the mechanism in which the judges were appointed during the reign of both
Sultan Said bin Taimur and Imam Mohammad bin Abdullah al-Khalily (i.e. 1920-
1970).
The 3rd chapter tackles institutions of the judicial organization in Oman, especially
regulations of the courts. The period of thesis witnessed beginnings of the
administrative organization in the jurisdiction, as the courts were reorganized,
particularly court of Muscat and court of Mutrah. Also, a special court was opened for
the foreigners. Furthermore, this chapter concerned with other administrative jobs
employing in the jurisdiction; in addition to the judges' salaries and their officials.
Then, the 4th chapter is to the status of judges and their political role in solving the tribal
conflicts, appointing the imams, and participating in the events that happened in Oman
during the period (1920-1970). In this chapter, I also discussed their cultural and social
roles.
The thesis depended on the historical method based on the description and analysis to
tackle the topics. In addition, I depended on the documents and records available at
some religious courts in Oman.
This dissertation gained access to the following results: the Islamic Sharia was the
primary source for the court orders in Oman, even before 1970. Also, it illustrated that
the reign of Sultan Said bin Taimur (1932-1970) considers the beginning of evolving
the judicial organization in Oman as regard to the judicial institutions and their
personnel. Moreover, it sheds light upon the political role of the judges and their
situations in the events which happened in Oman at that period, in addition to their
cultural role that included fields of the education and authorship.
