Developments in Religious Affairs and Religious Education
When Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III was proclaimed as the 28th Sultan of Brunei on 6 June 1950, he also became the head of the Islamic religion in the country. His influence over religion guaranteed the continued beliefs and practices of Islam among the people.
One important contribution of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III was to regularise Islamic administration in Brunei. In 1948, a religious council, comprising the Mohammedan Religious Advisers, was formed. Due to His Highness’s initiative, the council met for the first time on 31 January 1948. His Highness himself was appointed chairman of this council. After examining several laws on Islamic affairs in the Malay Peninsula, the board made new proposals regarding the religious administration in Brunei.
According to his speech during the Opening Ceremony of the Shariah Council,
| “ | The purpose of the Shariah Council is to develop policies and teachings of Islam and to promote and defend the sovereignty of the holy religion of Islam. With the purposes of which are embedded in the minds of all of us, God-willing, Islam will be stepped-up, developed, keel and wide. | ” |
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—Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III |
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He was also responsible for the formation of the Department of Religious Affairs on 1 July 1954. The department was responsible for all the important decisions made on Islam in Brunei. All aspects of Islamic activities such as community life, laws, education, missionary activities and social administration were supervised by these two religious bodies.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III was also concerned about the insufficient time allocated for religious instruction in government schools. The Brunei Government, with the approval of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, requested the help of Johore to study the situation and recommended suggestions.
In 1954, two religious officers from Johore were sent to Brunei. They were Haji Othman bin Mohammad Said and Haji Ismail bin Omar Abdul Aziz. (The latter, also known as Pehin Dato Seri Maharaja, was appointed as the State Mufti in 1962 until his death in 1993). As a result of their recommendations, in September 1956, religious schools operating in the afternoon were established.
The Brunei Government also offered religious scholarships to students with potential to continue their higher education overseas. This was limited to Aljunied Arabic School in Singapore at first, but from 1956 onwards, students were also sent to the Islamic College in Klang and Al-Azhar University in Cairo for degree courses.
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