In this
Malay name, there is no
surname or family name. The name Abdul Kahar Jalilul Alam is a
patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their
given name, Saiful Rijal Nurul Alam. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Saiful Rijal ibni Abdul Kahar (
Jawi: سيف الرجال ابن عبد القهار; died 1581),[1] also spelled Saiful Rehal and Saiful Rizal,[2] was the eighth
Sultan of Brunei and reigned from 1533 to 1581. He was succeeded by his eldest son
Shah Berunai.
Its as during his reign, when the
Castilian War occurred between the empires of the
Brunei and
Spain. In addition to the Philippines, he was also renowned for spreading
Islamic teachings throughout Borneo.[3] According to folk tales about his
palace being located on King's Island (Pulau Raja) in
Jerudong.[4] The Sultan was also known as SultanLixar,[5] and Sultan Nula Alan by the Spaniards.[6]
Reign (1533–1581)
Ascension
Pengiran Muda Saiful Rijal was the eldest son of
Sultan Abdul Kahar,[7] therefore making him the successor to the throne after his father's abdication in 1533.[8]
Exchanges between the
Bornean port cities and the
Spaniards who had taken control of the Philippine islands by seizing
Manila in 1571 and
Cebu in 1565. Manila charged Brunei of conducting Muslim
missionary activities in the Philippines because of the Spaniards' zealous proselytising efforts to convert the entire archipelago to
Christianity. In a letter dated 13 April 1578, to Brunei's Sultan Saiful Rijal, the
Spanish Governor of the Philippines,
Francisco de Sande, made the following accusation and gave the following order.[9]
…it has been rumoured that you have tried and are trying to do us harm, and to make war upon us: that you have tried to induce and have solicited the natives of Lucon [Luzon and other districts to rebel and revolt against us, that you have sent spies to Cebu and other districts: that you have left your residence for this purpose of warring against us with a fleet of ships. ...that you shall send no preachers of the sect of Mahoma[d] to any part of these islands, nor to the heathen among the Tingues [hill-people], nor into other parts of your own island.
Brunei disregarded the order as well as the accusations.[9] In revenge, the Spaniards attacked and took control of Brunei in the same month in 1578.[10] Additionally with the assistance of two defectors, Pengiran Seri Lela and Pengiran Seri Ratna.[11][12] When the Spaniards captured the capital, he chose to move the country's capital to Saragua, further emphasizing the importance of
Sarawak.[13] He also had to retreat to Piragong, in Ulu Sungai Brunei to strengthen the
Brunei army.[14] Moreover, to demonstrates the significant impact Brunei had on the nearby areas at the time, the Sultan ordered the reconstruction of their capital city when the Spaniards left Brunei probably in late July 1578.[15]
Death
Sultan Saiful Rijal reportedly became ill near Bintala, but he later reportedly recovered and went back to Brunei. He resided in Istana Mazagong in
Sungai Kedayan, where he also passed away in 1581.[16] He is buried at
Kianggeh Muslim Cemetery.[17]
^Borneo Bulletin Brunei Yearbook. Brunei Press Sdn. Bhd. in collaboration with Integrated Information Pte. Limited. 2007. pp. E-89.
^Umar (Haji.), Awang Mohd Jamil al-Sufri bin Awang; Awang.), Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri (Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Diraja Dato Seri Utama Haji (1971).
Chatatan sejarah perwira2 dan pembesar2 Brunei (in Malay). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. p. 18.
^Awang.), Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri (Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Diraja Dato Seri Utama Haji (1997).
Tarsilah Brunei: Zaman kegemilangan dan kemasyhuran (in Malay). Jabatan Pusat Sejarah, Kementerian Kebudayaan Belia dan Sukan. p. 98.
^Hussein (Datuk), Ismail; Deraman, Aziz; Ahmadi, Abd Rahman al (1989).
Tamadun Melayu (in Malay). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. p. 232.
ISBN978-983-62-0958-0.
^Awang.), Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri (Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Diraja Dato Seri Utama Haji (1990).
Tarsilah Brunei: sejarah awal dan perkembangan Islam (in Malay). Jabatan Pusat Sejarah, Kementerian Kebudayaan Belia dan Sukan. p. 46.
^Umar (Haji.), Awang Mohd Jamil al-Sufri bin Awang; Awang.), Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri (Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Diraja Dato Seri Utama Haji (1995).
Sultan Tengah: sultan Sarawak pertama dan terakhir (in Malay). Jabatan Pusat Sejarah, Kementerian Kebudayaan Belia dan Sukan. p. 4.
^Daulat (in Malay). Jabatan Pusat Sejarah, Kementerian Kebudayaan Belia dan Sukan. 1992. p. 50.