Islam in Brunei
[2] Although the exact date of Islam's entrance in Brunei is unknown, evidence points to as far back as the 10th century, when P'u-lu-shieh, a Chinese Muslim diplomat and trader, arrived in 977.
He promoted Islam in Java, where he tried to win over the Majapahit King, as well as in Brunei, where he constructed a mosque and gave Friday lectures.
Abdul Mokti Nasar's prolonged stay in Mecca serves as an example of Brunei's involvement in Islamic scholarship during this time.
He gained a deeper understanding of Islam and mastered Arabic during his stay in Mecca, which prepared him for a significant role in Brunei's religious and educational life after his return.
The continued religious growth in Brunei was also distinguished by the spread of Sufi tariga orders like Khalwatiyya and Shadhiliyah, however further research is required to determine their precise impact.
Students in Brunei studied and analysed popular books written in the 19th century by religious intellectuals from the Sambas sultanate, such Sheikh Ahmad Khatib (1860–1916).
[6] A substantial portion of Brunei's legal system dates back to the 19th century and is derived on English common law customs.
[7] Following this, Islam fluctuated in popularity in Brunei, a country that was devastated by incursions from Rajah of Sarawak, a nearby province, and lost a large portion of its land.
[4] A set of Sharia laws known as the Mohammedan Enactments were created in 1912 and 1913, shortly after the British residency system was formed, to govern civil concerns pertaining to marriage, family, and inheritance.
Nevertheless, during World War II, Japanese occupation of Brunei in 1941 and held it until 1945, overthrowing the British government, upsetting the nation's newly acquired prosperity and stability.
[8] After conducting an examination, the half-hour of weekly religious teaching offered in both Malay and English schools in Brunei was found to be inadequate.
[3] An elite group of people who attended Al-Azhar University in Egypt and Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah in Singapore began to hold significant governmental posts in Brunei in the mid-1960s.
"[10] During his seventeen-year reign, Brunei rapidly developed through national initiatives that improved living standards and promoted Islam by building mosques, suraus, religious halls, government offices, and schools nationwide.
He also instituted religious seminars for older folks, sent residents overseas to study Islam, and promoted Quran reading competitions.
Large sums of money were spent on numerous Muslim programs as the nation continued to amass significant income from oil in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
In addition to creating the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation in 1992 to support secular and religious studies, he constructed ornate mosques.
[14] 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 Syariah Penal Code Order's (SPCO) implementation two decades later, and as such, pro-MIB academics and local media have consistently referenced it since 2013.
Then State Mufti 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.
[6] 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.
[15] With effect from April 2019, The Sultan's legislation imposing the death penalty by stoning for homosexuality and adultery[16] sparked protests around the world and calls for boycotting companies owned by the Bruneian royal family, especially the Dorchester Collection hotels.
[17] This came after a Sharia law penal code was put into place in 2014 and included severe penalties like flogging, stoning, and limb amputation for offences like abortion, adultery, and same-sex acts.
[28][29] Muslims who believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad to be the fulfilment of the Islamic prophecies concerning the return of Jesus, the Ahmadiyya, are also present.
