Hirabah (الحرابة), also called highway robbery or brigandage, is one of the hudud crimes in Islamic law and among the most severely punished offences in Saudi Arabia, because it attacks people's safety in their lives, property and honour.
Reviewed by: Khaled ElnaggarDirector of USUS Law FirmLast updated:
What is hirabah?
Going out against people to take property, kill or terrorise openly and by force, with weapons or their equivalent, where help cannot be reached. Its basis is Quran 5:33, which names four penalties: execution, crucifixion, amputation of the hand and foot on opposite sides, or exile. Scholars differ on whether the penalty follows the type of act or is left to the judge; Saudi courts decide on the facts and evidence of each case.
Kidnapping and armed robbery
Saudi Arabia's Council of Senior Scholars issued a resolution treating kidnapping, armed robbery and assaults on life, property and honour under threat of weapons as hirabah, to protect the five necessities: religion, life, honour, mind and property.
Hirabah vs theft
| Theft | Hirabah | |
|---|---|---|
| Manner | Secret | Open, by force, weapons or threats |
| Target | Property | Property, life, honour or public safety |
| Hadd penalty | Amputation of the hand, with conditions | One of the four penalties in Quran 5:33 |
See theft penalty in Saudi Arabia.
Proof and defence
Hirabah is proven by a valid confession or legal evidence, and hudud are averted by doubt. Defence focuses on whether the confession was voluntary or retracted, whether the act was truly open and forcible, each defendant's role, and the legality of arrest and investigation. If the hadd is not proven, the court may still impose a discretionary (ta'zir) penalty for what was proven, and the victim's private rights remain. Repentance before capture (Quran 5:34) affects the hadd in the scholars' view but does not cancel people's rights.
Frequently asked questions
What is the punishment for hirabah in Saudi Arabia?
The penalties in Quran 5:33, decided by the court on the facts and evidence; if the hadd is not proven, a ta'zir penalty may apply.
Is kidnapping hirabah?
A Council of Senior Scholars resolution treats kidnapping and armed assaults as hirabah; each case is classified on its own facts.
Usus Law Firm defends serious criminal cases from investigation to judgment. See our criminal lawyer in Riyadh and our Tabuk office.
Legal review: the Usus Law Firm team
A select team of lawyers and legal advisers licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Justice, working from Riyadh and Tabuk, with experience before the general, commercial, labor, criminal, personal status and administrative courts. Every article is reviewed before publication and updated when laws or regulations change.
Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.
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