Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu - Marriage and Family

Marriage and Family

Mizan married Sultanah Nur Zahirah on 28 March 1996 in Kuala Terengganu. She is only the second Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) to habitually wear the hijab (ritual Islamic headscarf for women).

The royal couple has two sons and two daughters: Princess Tengku Nadhirah Zaharah (b. 18 December 1996), Prince Tengku Muhammad Ismail (b. 1 March 1998), Prince Tengku Muhammad Mu'az (b. 22 December 2000), and Princess Tengku Fatimatuz Zahra' (b. 19 April 2002).

After Sultan Mizan was elected as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he appointed Tengku Muhammad Ismail, then aged eight, as Regent on 12 November 2006. Because of Tengku Muhammad Ismail's young age, a three-member Regency Advisory Council was established to discharge his duties for him. The council's members were Raja Tengku Baderulzaman, Sultan Mizan's younger brother, Raja Tengku Sulaiman Ismail, Sultan Mizan's uncle, and former Federal Court judge Abdul Kadir Sulaiman. He was proclaimed as regent during a ceremony on 12 December.

Upon reaching Mukallah (13 years of age), the Islamic age of responsibility, and according to Syariah law and the constitution of Terengganu, Tuanku Muhammad Ismail became able to discharge his duties himself. However, the Sultan formed another council, Majlis Perwakilan Pemangku Raja, to perform the Regent’s duty while he was away from Terengganu pursuing his studies. This second and current council is headed by Tengku Mustafa Kamel, another of Sultan Mizan’s younger brothers, together with former Regency Advisory Council members Tengku Sri Laksamana Raja Tengku Sulaiman Ismail and Dato' Haji Abdul Kadir Sulaiman.

During his younger days, Sultan Mizan was a keen footballer. He is currently active in golf, endurance riding and scuba diving. In addition, the Global Taekwondo Federation GTF) awarded Mizan an Honorary 7th Degree Black Belt in recognition of his active participation in the sport.