Muhammad Tajuddin

File:Letter from Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin ibni Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddin I.jpg|left]]

Pengiran Muda Besar Muhammad Tajuddin is the son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin I and Pengiran Anak Puteri Nur Alam, daughter of Husin Kamaluddin.{{Sfn|Ukoi|Haji Abd Rahman|Pengiran Mohd Daud|Haji Janudin @ Jerudin|2015|p=109}} Omar Ali Saifuddin I died on Thursday, 22 Zulhijjah 1209 (corresponding to 9 July 1795), according to the inscription on his tombstone. Omar Ali Saifuddin I abdicated prior to his death and left the government in the hands of his oldest son, Pengiran Muda Besar Muhammad Tajuddin, who went on to become the sultan of Brunei. According to a gravestone inscription, a son of Bendahari Omar Ali died in 1192 AH (1778 AD), under the rule of Tajuddin, as Jamil Al-Sufri points out. Given that his father had abdicated while still alive, this implies Tajuddin took the throne before the year 1795, which is usually recorded as 1778.{{Sfn|Ahmad|2020|p=103–104}}{{Cite book |title=Borneo Bulletin Brunei Yearbook |date=2007 |publisher=Brunei Press |location=Bandar Seri Begawan |pages=E-90 |language=en}} Thus, before his father and predecessor died in 1795,{{Sfn|Saunders|2002|p=71}} Tajuddin governed Brunei for around 17 years.{{Sfn|Ahmad|2020|p=103–104}}

Tajuddin made a significant contribution to preserving Brunei's royal ancestry by assigning Pehin Khatib Haji Abdul Latif the task of recording and completing the genealogy of Brunei's sultans. Realising the gaps in the historical record, particularly in the older Kitab Risalat al-Marhum fi 'Adat al-Marhum, compiled during Muhammad Alauddin's reign from 1730 to 1737, Tajuddin ensured that the lineage was updated and correctly preserved for future generations.{{Sfn|Ahmad|2020|p=105–106}} Portions of this genealogy, continued in the {{Lang|ms|Salasilah Raja-Raja Brunei}} manuscript copied during Omar Ali Saifuddin II's reign, are inscribed on the Batu Tarsilah stone tablet and include information about Muhammad Alam, Muhammad Kanzul Alam, and the reigning sultan, carrying on the efforts of Abdul Latif during Tajuddin's reign.{{Sfn|Haji Mail|Anwar|2016|p=4}} The stone tablet would be placed near his grave after his death.{{Sfn|Vienne|2015|p=74}}

Tajuddin entrusted Abdul Latif with the task of acquiring a house in Mecca to serve as a waqaf property where a Bruneian home,{{Sfn|Ahmad|2020|p=110}} known as a rumah wakaf, was built.{{Sfn|Meuleman|2002}} The house was initially constructed for Brunei pilgrims, Sammaniyah members, and perhaps students (muqīmūn).{{Sfn|Meuleman|2002}} Following the completion of the royal genealogy on 2 Zulhijjah 1221 (10 February 1807),{{Sfn|King|Horton|1995|p=207}} Abdul Latif promptly carried out this directive. He successfully purchased a waqaf house on a plot of land in the Al-Shamiya District of Mecca, fulfilling the sultan's vision. The waqaf property was later officially registered with the syariah court in Mecca on Thursday, 15 Jumadilawal 1224 (corresponding to 28 June 1809). This action underscores his commitment to religious and charitable endeavours, ensuring the welfare of Bruneian pilgrims in the holy city.{{Sfn|Ahmad|2020|p=110}}

Tajuddin willingly abdicated the throne in 1804 after ruling Brunei for over 26 years, believing he was growing too old.{{Sfn|Jamil Al-Sufri|2019|p=111}} He passed the throne to his infant son,{{Sfn|Haji Mail|Anwar|2016|p=6–7}} Pengiran Muda Tengah Muhammad Jamalul Alam, on Thursday, 15 Muharram 1219 (25 April 1804). When the sultan resigned, he became known as "Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan." Upon his coronation, he became Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam I, but his reign was short-lived as he died on Saturday, 6 Sha'ban 1219 (10 November 1804), just seven months into his rule. His son's premature death left his grandson, Pengiran Muda Besar Omar Ali Saifuddin, as the heir, but the young sultan was still a minor. Tajuddin then re-assumed the throne in November 1804 to govern the country until the child sultan reached adulthood.{{Sfn|Ahmad|2020|p=104–105}} Realising his own age, he offered the regency to his son, Pengiran Anak Muhammad Yusof (also known as Pengiran Usop),{{Sfn|Hussainmiya|2006|p=19–20}} but he declined due to the responsibility.{{Sfn|Haji Mail|Anwar|2016|p=6–7}} Consequently, in 1807, Tajuddin's younger half-brother,{{Sfn|Saunders|2002|p=71}}{{Sfn|Saunders|2002|p=71}} Pengiran Digadong Ayah Pengiran Muda Muhammad Kanzul Alam, ascended to the throne, in line with the customary succession that included the late sultan's remaining male siblings.{{Sfn|Haji Mail|Anwar|2016|p=6–7}}File:Tombstone of Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin.jpg

Worried about a power struggle within the royal family, Tajuddin appointed Pengiran Digadong Ayah as regent for the young sultan. Tajuddin's concerns arose from Pengiran Digadong Ayah's multiple marriages to ensure male heirs, which led him to suspect that his stepbrother might seek to establish his own bloodline on the throne. To safeguard Omar Ali's eventual ascent, Tajuddin sought to preserve the royal family's traditional succession. However, after Tajuddin's death in 1807, Pengiran Digadong Ayah renamed his home the royal palace, signalling his intent to solidify his claim to the throne.{{Sfn|Haji Mail|Anwar|2016|p=7}} He officially became Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam, and Tajuddin is laid to rest in the Royal Mausoleum.{{Sfn|Ahmad|2020|p=105}} Kanzul Alam's numerous marriages and sons further hinted at his aspirations to secure the succession for his own lineage, despite the expectation that he would return the throne to the rightful heir.{{Sfn|Haji Mail|Anwar|2016|p=7}}

Tajuddin married Raja Bulan binti Pengiran Digadong Pengiran Abdul,{{Sfn|Jamil Al-Sufri|2019|p=108}} the granddaughter of Husin Kamaluddin, and together they had Pengiran Muhammad Jamalul Alam, who succeeded Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin as Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam I in 1804. Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam I married Raja Isteri Pengiran Nooralam, the daughter of Kanzul Alam. This couple also produced Omar Ali Saifuddin II, who ruled from 1828 to 1852. Omar Ali Saifuddin II married Tuan Zaidah, the daughter of Awang Sulaiman, the son of Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Pengiran Seri Nara Pengiran Seri Ahmad. This marriage resulted in the birth of Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin, who reigned from 1885 to 1906.{{Sfn|Asbol|2014|p=18}} Tajuddin, being the half-brother of Kanzul Alam, in turn, became the uncle of Pengiran Muda Muhammad Alam,{{Sfn|Haji Mail|Anwar|2016|p=1}} and Pengiran Muda Hashim.{{Sfn|Hussainmiya|2006|p=20}}

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Citations

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Bibliography

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• {{Cite journal |title=Sumbangan Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin Ibni Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin I Menerusi Wakaf Di Makkah Tahun 1809 |trans-title=Contribution of Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin ibni Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin I through Waqf in Mecca in 1809 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339586183 |date=2020 |journal=Kesultanan Brunei Darussalam |pages=91–127 |isbn=978-99917-997-1-1 |publisher=Pusat Sejarah Brunei |location=Bandar Seri Begawan |author=Ahmad |first=Mohammed Hussain |language=ms |via=ResearchGate}}
• {{Cite book |last=Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama Profesor Kehormat Dr Haji Awang Mohd. Jamil Al-Sufri |author-link=Jamil Al-Sufri |title=Tarsilah Brunei: Wasilah Ketakhtaan Kesultanan Brunei (Tahun 1659–1828 Masihi) |publisher=Pusat Sejarah Brunei |year=2019 |isbn=978-99917-63-77-4 |volume=2 |location=Bandar Seri Begawan |language=ms |ref={{Harvid|Jamil Al-Sufri|2019}}}}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Haji Mail |first1=Haji Awang Asbol |last2=Anwar |first2=Zaidul |date=2016 |title=Sultan Muhammad Alam: Roles in Civil War |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328759377 |journal=Jurnal Darussalam |language=ms |location=Bandar Seri Begawan |publisher=Pusat Sejarah Brunei |volume=16 |pages=6–23}}
• {{Cite book |last=Vienne |first=Marie-Sybille de |title=Brunei: from the age of commerce to the 21st century |date=2015 |publisher=NUS Press in association with Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia |isbn=978-9971-69-818-8 |location=Singapore}}
• {{cite book |url=http://www.hmjubliemas.gov.bn/Documents/pdf/Buku%20Sejarah%20Sultan-Sultan%20Brunei.pdf |title=Sejarah Sultan-Sultan Brunei |date=2015 |publisher=Jabatan Perkembangan Kurikulum, Kementerian Pendidikan |isbn=978-99917-2-673-1 |editor-last=Ukoi |editor-first=Susis |page=18 |language=Malay |access-date=17 November 2024 |editor-last2=Haji Abd Rahman |editor-first2=Hajah Asiah |editor-last3=Pengiran Mohd Daud |editor-first3=Dayangku Norzainah |editor-last4=Haji Janudin @ Jerudin |editor-first4=Hajah Rusni |display-editors=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131140936/http://www.hmjubliemas.gov.bn/Documents/pdf/Buku%20Sejarah%20Sultan-Sultan%20Brunei.pdf |archive-date=31 January 2018 |url-status=live|location=Bandar Seri Begawan}}
• {{Cite book |last=Asbol |first=Awang |title=Persejarahan Brunei: unsur dan faktor persejarahan Brunei |date=2014 |publisher=PTS Akademik |isbn=978-967-0444-30-7 |editor-last=Hassan |editor-first=Abdullah |edition=1st |location=Selangor |language=ms}}
• {{Cite book |last=Hussainmiya |first=B. A. |url=https://fass.ubd.edu.bn/staff/docs/BAH/revival.pdf |title=Brunei Revival of 1906: A Popular History |date=2006 |publisher=Brunei Press |edition=1st |location=Bandar Seri Begawan}}
• {{Cite book |last=Haji Jibah |first=Matasim |title=Dokumentasi |date=2004 |publisher=Pusat Sejarah Brunei |isbn=978-99917-34-34-7 |location=Bandar Seri Begawan |language=ms}}
• {{Cite book |last=Saunders |first=Graham |title=A History of Brunei |date=2002 |publisher=RoutledgeCurzon |isbn=9-781-1-36873-942 |edition=2nd |location=Abingdon |language=en}}
• {{Cite book |last=Meuleman |first=Johan |title=Islam in the Era of Globalization: Muslim Attitudes towards Modernity and Identity |date=2002 |publisher=RoutledgeCurzon |isbn=978-1-135-78828-5 |location=Abingdon |language=en}}
• {{Cite book |last=Yura Halim |author-link=Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf |title=Ririsej Brunei Darussalam |date=2002 |publisher=Language and Literature Bureau, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports |isbn=978-99917-0-251-3 |location=Bandar Seri Begawan |language=ms}}
• {{Cite book |last1=King |first1=Victor T. |title=From Buckfast to Borneo: Essays Presented to Father Robert Nicholl on the 85th Anniversary of His Birth 27 March 1995 |last2=Horton |first2=A. V. M. |date=1995 |publisher=Centre for South-East Asian Studies, University of Hull |location=Hull}}

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{{succession box |

before= Omar Ali Saifuddin I
Muhammad Jamalul Alam I |

title= Sultan of Brunei |

years= 1778–1804
1804–1807 |

after= {{nowrap|Muhammad Jamalul Alam I
Muhammad Kanzul Alam}}

}}

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{{Sultans of Brunei}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tajuddin, Muhammad}}

Category:Year of birth unknown

Category:1807 deaths

Category:18th-century sultans of Brunei

Category:19th-century sultans of Brunei