| Islam by country |
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 Islamportal |
Islam is Brunei's official religion, 82.70 percent of the population is Muslim, [1] mostly Sunnis of Malay origin who follow the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence. Most of the other Muslim groups are Malay Kedayans (converts from indigenous tribal groups), local Chinese and Dayak Iban converts. Islam was introduced to Brunei by traders arriving from Persia, Arabia, China and the Indian subcontinent. Therefore, other religions can be practiced freely.
Islam was adopted in the 15th century when a Muslim-Malay was installed as Sultan. The Sultan traditionally was responsible for upholding Islamic traditions, although the responsibility was usually delegated to appointed officials.
Since the 1930s Sultans have used rising oil revenues to provide an extensive social welfare system and promote Islam, including subsidising the Haji, building Masjids, and expanding the Department of Religious Affairs (KHEU).
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III invited Ismail Omar Abdul Aziz and the Chief Inspector of Religious Schools of Johor, Tuan Haji Othman bin Haji Mohammad, to examine the plan to open a religious school in Brunei in 1955. [2] After conducting an examination, it was determined that Brunei's half-hour of weekly religious instruction—which is provided in both Malay and English schools—is insufficient. It goes without saying that the Sultan approved the establishment of Brunei's first religious school in September 1956 as a consequence of this open examination. [3]
The 1st School was established in 1956 at Sekolah Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam (SMJA) in Brunei Town. The school adopted the same syllabus from Standard 1 to Standard 6 and used the same books as that of Johore Government Islamic School, running in the afternoon at the same school premises as Brunei Government National schools. After completing Standard 6, the students may choose to undergo a special training class for a year to be trained as a qualified Islamic Religious School. Initially, Islamic teachers from Johore were brought in.
The Royal family of Brunei is well-educated in Islam. Similar Islamic education was introduced to all the Royal Families of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, (including the present Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his wife Raja Isteri Saleha). Special School for the Royal Family was established in 1957 at Istana Darul Hana and the first Islamic Religious teacher was Cikgu Hajjah Salbiah Haji Shafii (wife of Tuan Guru Haji Othman Haji Said).
With the constitution in 1959, Islam became the official religion of the country. [4]
Unambiguously speaking, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah stated on 15 July 1996, that it is divinely mandated to create an Islamic Criminal Law Act. Additionally, he assigned a working group of Sharia experts, including a professor from Pakistan, to investigate the issue. Changes among the monarch's religious advisors corresponded with a greater focus on the Islamic penal code. He designated Mahmud Saedon Othman as a special Islamic law expert in 1994. In a paper released in 1996, Mahmud Saedon proposed that Brunei do away with its dual legal system and replace it with a single Sharia framework that included an Islamic criminal code, as it was believed to have done in pre-colonial Brunei. [5]
Despite Mahmud Saedon's passing in 2002, the Islamic Da'wah Center republished the work in English in 2008, the same year that the concept of hudud laws gained traction. His "visionary" paper was undoubtedly crucial in laying the groundwork for the SPCO's implementation two decades later, and as such, pro-MIB academics and local media have consistently referenced it since 2013. Then Abdul Aziz Juned had a major role in creating the SPCO's drafts, was among the other Islamic bureaucratic elites who had long harbored desires for the organization. [5]
On 30 April 2014, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced the implementation and enforcement of the first phase of Syariah Penal Code Law in Brunei starting 1 May 2014. [6]
The Sunni Islam of the Shafi'i school of thought is the official, legal form in Malaysia, although syncretist Islam with elements of Shamanism is still common in rural areas. Mosques are an ordinary scene throughout the country and azan (call to prayer) from minarets are heard five times a day. Government bodies and banking institutions are closed for two hours every Friday so Muslim workers can conduct Friday prayer in mosques.
Since it is compulsory for Muslims to perform a prayer 5 times a day no matter where they are, almost all public places, including shopping malls, hotels, condominiums, usually have allocated spaces called "Surau", for performing the Muslim prayers.
In 2017, it was reported that Wahhabism doesn't spreading among Bruneian's elite, and that the traditional Islamic theology currently taught in Government schools is gradually being shifted to a view of theology derived from the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia. [7] [8]
The Brunei government has strict policies against other Islamic sects, including a complete ban on Shia Islam, [9] allegedly to "avoid violence between the two faiths that has sometimes broken out in other parts of the world by promoting only the Sunni faith". [10] [11] Due to decades of the Saudi funding, Shia Islam is openly and freely demonized and Shia Muslims are oppressed in the country, their prayers and gatherings are broken up, state's secret service also engages in Shia forced disappearances. Anti-Shi'ism reaches such an extent that the mainstream media always present Iran in bad light while blindly glorying Saudi Arabia. [12] For example, in 2019 Malaysian police raided multiple private functions commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali at the battle of Karbala, arresting scores of foreign and local Shia Muslims. [13] While the true numbers are not known, the number of Bruneian Shia Muslims is estimated at around 26,600. [12]
Muslims who believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad to be the fulfilment of the Islamic prophecies concerning the return of Jesus, the Ahmadiyya, are also present. There are approximately 500 Ahmadis in the country. [14] But now, the Ahmadi's were illegal spreading to all Brunei citizens. [15]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 122,269 | — |
| 1991 | 174,973 | +43.1% |
| 2001 | 249,822 | +42.8% |
| 2011 | 309,962 | +24.1% |
| 2016 | 337,391 | +8.8% |
| Source: Bruneian Department of Statistics [16] | ||
The number of Bruneian converts to Islam has increased ever since Islam became the official religion of the country in 1954. And by 2004, it was recorded that over 16,000 Bruneians had converted to Islam. [17] From 2009 to 2020, there have been 5,884 individuals who have converted to Islam in Brunei. [18]
| District | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunei Muara | 234 | 281 | 260 | 269 | 256 | 300 | 245 | 242 | 203 | 204 | 152 | 218 |
| Belait | 153 | 161 | 115 | 94 | 124 | 130 | 94 | 110 | 67 | 74 | 109 | 77 |
| Tutong | 125 | 175 | 124 | 88 | 129 | 132 | 130 | 102 | 112 | 104 | 64 | 125 |
| Temburong | 21 | 25 | 37 | 18 | 29 | 23 | 45 | 18 | 27 | 22 | 22 | 16 |
| Total: | 533 | 642 | 536 | 469 | 537 | 585 | 514 | 472 | 409 | 404 | 347 | 436 |
| Ethnicity | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dusun | 151 | 154 | 131 | 103 | 149 | 164 | 141 | 122 | 108 | 110 | 102 | 122 |
| Murut | 14 | 20 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 13 |
| Iban | 173 | 208 | 149 | 136 | 130 | 139 | 134 | 115 | 109 | 99 | 111 | 118 |
| Chinese | 61 | 74 | 63 | 58 | 80 | 78 | 66 | 75 | 60 | 70 | 47 | 74 |
| Other | 134 | 186 | 182 | 158 | 168 | 197 | 161 | 148 | 128 | 112 | 83 | 109 |
| Total: | 533 | 642 | 536 | 469 | 537 | 585 | 514 | 472 | 409 | 404 | 347 | 436 |
Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital and largest city of Brunei. It is officially a municipal area with an area of 100.36 square kilometres (38.75 sq mi) and an estimated population of 100,700 as of 2007. It is part of Brunei-Muara District, the smallest yet most populous district which is home to over 70 per cent of the country's population. It is the country's largest urban centre and nominally the country's only city. The capital is home to Brunei's seat of government, as well as a commercial and cultural centre. It was formerly known as Brunei Town until it was renamed in 1970 in honour of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei and the father of the current Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Islam in Malaysia is represented by the Shafi‘i school of Sunni jurisprudence. Islam was introduced to Malaysia by traders arriving from Persia, Arabia, China and the Indian subcontinent. It became firmly established in the 15th century. In the Constitution of Malaysia, Islam is granted the status of "religion of the Federation" to symbolize its importance to Malaysian society, while defining Malaysia constitutionally as a secular state. Therefore, other religions can be practiced freely.
Mohamed Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III is a member of the royal family of Brunei. He is the second son of Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, and Raja Isteri (Queen) Pengiran Anak Damit. He is the Head of the Brunei’s Viziers. After Brunei’s independence in 1984, he became the country’s first foreign minister, serving from 1 January 1984 until 22 October 2015. He served in the cabinet as the Minister of the Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade alongside the second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lim Jock Seng.
Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien was the 28th Sultan of Brunei, reigning from 1950 until his abdication from the throne in 1967.
The Lapau, also known as the Royal Ceremonial Hall, is a ceremonial hall in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. It is where the royal ceremonies, state investiture and some state events are traditionally held. It was the place where the present Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, was crowned in 1968.
Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is a mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is one of the country's two masjid negara or national mosques, as well as a national landmark. It is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the country and is named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III (1914–1986), the 28th Sultan of Brunei and the father of the current monarch Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The mosque serves as a symbol of the Islamic faith in Brunei.
Universiti Brunei Darussalam is a national research university located in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. It was established in 1985 and has since become the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered.
Pusat Bandar is the city centre of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is home to a number of national landmarks, important government offices, and commercial and financial establishments.
Ismail bin Omar Abdul Aziz or also nicknamed The Sunni Defender, was a Malaysian nobleman and politician whom became the first State Mufti of Brunei under the Ministry of Religious Affairs office, later State Mufti Office. He was a well-respected Malaysian expatriate ulema whom have contributed greatly to Islam and the people, notably for the State of Johor and Brunei.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA or MoRA; Malay: Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama, KHEU) is a cabinet-level ministry in the government of Brunei which is responsible for the propagation of Islam and its upholding as the state religion, as well as oversees the Islamic religious education in the country. It is currently led by a minister and a deputy minister, whereby the incumbents are Badaruddin Othman and Pengiran Mohd Tashim Pengiran Hassan respectively. The ministry is headquartered in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III is Sultan of Brunei since 1967 and the prime minister of Brunei since independence from the United Kingdom in 1984.
Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, is a mosque in Kampong Kiarong of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. It is named after Hassanal Bolkiah, the 29th and current Sultan of Brunei. It is one of the two state mosques, the other Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque.
Batu Satu, also known as Kampong Parit, is an area in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is also a designated village in Brunei-Muara District, within Mukim Kianggeh. The population was 1,509 in 2016. It encompasses a commercial area of the capital. It is also home to the country's Supreme Court, as well as some of important Islamic religious educational institutions of the country.
The Most Eminent Order of Islam Brunei, also translated as The Most Illustrious Islamic Religious Order of the State of Brunei, is an order of Brunei. It was established on 1 August 1968 by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah for service in the propagation, preservation and strengthening of the Islamic religion.
The Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei is an order of Brunei. It was established on 15 August 1982 by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The order carries the post-nominal letters "DKMB".
Pengiran Anak Damit was Queen of Brunei as the wife of the 28th Sultan of Brunei, Omar Ali Saifuddien III.
Abdul Aziz bin Umar, also sometimes referred to as Pehin Abdul Aziz Umar, is a Bruneian nobleman and politician whom had a wide range of positions in the Government of Brunei. Before to that, he served as the Minister of Communications, the Minister of Education, and the Minister of Health. His last position was as Minister of Education, which he held from 1988 until 24 May 2005. His Excellency served in the civil service beginning with his first appointment in 1964 and held a number of roles from that time until Brunei's independence in 1984, including acting Chief Minister.
Mohammad Ali bin Mohammad Daud was a Bruneian nobleman, politician and diplomat whom formerly served as the Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 1986 to 1989, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1989 to 2005. Additionally, he was a member of the Islamic Religious Council, director of several Bruneian banks and the President of the Brunei Scouts from 1974 to 1979.
Pengiran Mohammad, pen name Zairis M.S., is a Bruneian politician and writer in the Government of Brunei whole formerly took office as the second Minister of Religious Affairs from 2010 to 2015, and Deputy Minister of Education from 2005 to 2010.
Mahmud Saedon bin Othman was a Bruneian writer and Muslim scholar. His proficiency in the legal and Islamic domains, served as the foundation for the nation's giving of diplomas in law and Syar'ie law. Additionally, he was the principal advocate for the progressive reinstatement of syariah laws as the supreme law of the nation and the Islamic Legal Specialist in the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA).
