Muhammad Usman, also spelt Mohammad Oesman, was the fourth son of Sultan Amiruddin Iskandar alias Ayanhar, who died in 1900.

His full title was Sultan Tajul-Mahsil Binayatullah al-Hannan Siraj ul-Mulk Amiruddin Iskandar Munawar as-Saddik Wahuwa min al-'Adilin Syah.

His reign coincided with increasing Dutch interference in the Indonesian vassal kingdoms, where several rulers in Bali, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and West Timor were defeated through military intervention and sometimes deposed.

[3][4][5] The Sultan had consistently opposed the increasing colonial interference, including the introduction of basic native schools.

The old scattered settlement pattern on the island was forcibly changed and people were pushed to settle in kampungs along the major roads.