1. The Origin

The Tarsilah Stone, the Brunei people commonly call batu bersurat, is one of a number inscriptions and likewise, the priceless historical heritages of both Brunei Darussalam and the Brunei Kingdom. The stone tablet reveals the early history of Brunei, especially about the genealogy of the Sultans of Brunei during the Islamic governmental period.

The genealogy of the Sultans of Brunei was started from Sultan Muhammad Syah (1363 – 1402 A.D.). Come next after him were Sultan Ahmad (1408 – 1425 A.D.); Sultan Sharif Ali` (1425 – 1432 A.D.); Sultan Sulaiman (1432 – 1485 A.D.); Sultan Bolkiah (1485 – 1524 A.D.); Sultan Abdul Kahar (1524 – 1530 A.D.); Sultan Saiful Rijal (1533 – 1581 A.D.); Sultan Shah Brunei (1581 – 1582 A.D.); Sultan Hasan (1582 – 1598 A.D.); Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar (1598 – 1659 A.D.); Sultan Abdul Jalilul Jabbar (1659 – 1660 A.D.); Sultan Haji Muhammad Ali (1660 – 1661 A.D.); Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin (1661 – 1673 A.D.); Sultan Muhyiddin (1673 – 1690 A.D.); Sultan Nasruddin (1690 – 1710 A.D.); Sultan Husin Kamaluddin (1710 – 1730 and 1737 – 1740 A.D.); Sultan Muhammad Alauddin (1730 – 1737 A.D.); Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien I (1740 – 1795 A.D.); and Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin (1795 – 1804 and 1804 – 1807 A.D.).

Sultan Muhyiddin, the 14^th Sultan Brunei, and Sultan Kamaluddin, the 16^th Sultan of Brunei, had actually initiated to write down the early history of the Sultans of Brunei on a stone tablet so that it can be known by the following generation of the Brunei people in the future. However, the plan could just finally be written out at the tenure of Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin, the 19^th Sultan Brunei.

According to Datuk Imam Yakub, there is no strong reason for the deferment of the Tarsilah Stone writing. But, Datuk Imam Yakub states that Sultan Muhyiddin and Sultan Kamaluddin were the initiators of the Tarsilah Stone writing, even though it could just be implied at the tenure of Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin. In addition, the name Datuk Imam Yakub is mentioned on the stone as well.

The Sultans of Brunei, referring to the stone, is begun from Sultan Muhammad Syah (1363 – 1402 A.D.), the first Sultan Brunei, and ended by the 19^th Sultan Brunei of Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin (1795 – 1807 A.D.). The genealogy of the Sultans of Brunei was limited until the era of Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin, as the Sultan did not know who his successors became as the ruler of Brunei Kingdom.

The Tarsilah Stone was carved out by Khatib Haji Abdul Latif, an Islamic scholar and a historian who lived at Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin`s era (1795 – 1804 A.D., 1804 – 1807 A.D.). He made the Tarsilah Stone after receiving an order from the Sultan to write the genealogy of the Sultans of Brunei that was intended to unveil the early history of Brunei Kingdom as well as Brunei Darussalam (Al-Sufri; 1997).

2. The Content

The Tarsilah Stone contains the information below:

Inilah salasilah Raja-Raja yang kerajaan di negeri Brunei dinyatakan oleh Datuk Imam Yaakub, ia mendengar daripada Marhum Bongsu yang bernama Sultan Muhyiddin dan Paduka Maulana Sultan Kamaluddin. Kedua-dua raja itu menyuruh menyuratkan datuk nenek moyangnya supaya diketahui oleh segala anak cucunya sampai sekarang ini, wallahu`alam.

Maka Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin menitahkan kepada Khatib Haji Abdul Latif menyuruh menyuratkan salasilah ini diketahui oleh segala anak cucunya raja yang mempunyai Takhta Mahkota Kerajaan dalam kandang Daerah Negeri Brunei Darussalam yang turun-temurun yang mengambil pusaka Nobat, Nakara dan Genta Alamat dari Negeri Johor Kamalul Makam dan mengambil lagi pusaka Nobat dan Nakara dan Genta Alamat dari Minangkabau iaitu Negeri Andalas. Maka adalah yang pertama kerajaan di negeri dan membawa ugama Islam dan mengikut syariat Nabi kita Muhammad Sallahu `Alaihi wa Sallam iaitu Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad dan saudaranya Sultan Ahmad. Maka beranak seorang perempuan dengan isterinya saudara Raja China yang diambil oleh Sharif Ali yang turun dari Negeri Taif.

Maka Sharif Ali itulah kerajaan dinamakan ia Paduka Seri Sultan Berkat yang mengeraskan syariat Rasulullah Sallallahu `Alaihi wa Sallam dan berbuat masjid dan segala rakyat Cina berbuat Kota Batu. Tuan Sharif Ali itu pancir salasilah daripada Amirul Mu`minin Sayidina Hasan cucu Rasulullah. Maka Paduka Seri Sultan Berkat ini beranakkan Sultan Sulaiman, Sultan Sulaiman beranakkan Paduka Seri Sultan Bolkiah ialah Rajanya Datu Gamban dan lagi Sultan Bolkiah beranakkan Paduka Seri Sultan Abdul Kahar yang dinamai Marhum Keramat. Marhum Keramat beranakkan Paduka Seri Sultan Saiful Rijal.

Sultan Saiful Rijal beranakkan Paduka Seri Sultan Shah Brunei. Kemudian saudaranya pula kerajaan Paduka Seri Sultan Hasan ialah Marhum Di-Tanjung. Maka anak cucu baginda itulah yang mengambil kerajaan dalam Negeri Brunei itu mana yang baik bicaranya. Sultan Hasan itulah yang keras di atas takhta kerajaan mengikut perintah Sultan Mahkota Alam yang di Negeri Acheh dan Sultan Hasan yang beranakkan Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar yang dinamai Marhum Tua yang beranakkan Sultan Abdul Jalilul Jabbar. Sultan Abdul Jalilul Jabbar beranakkan Pengiran Bendahara Untong. Pengiran Bendahara Untong beranakkan Pengiran Temenggong Mo`min Amirul Faza di dalam Negeri Brunei juga. Kemudian saudaranya Marhum Tua dinaikkan Kerajaan bernama Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad Ali ialah nenda Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad `Alauddin yang kerajaan sekarang ini di Negeri Brunei. Maka wafatlah baginda itu. Maka kemudian kerajaan pula anak saudaranya bernama Paduka Seri Sultan Muhyidin. Kemudian anak saudaranya Paduka Seri Sultan Nasruddin. Kemudian anak Sultan Muhammad Ali bernama Paduka Seri Sultan Kamaluddin ialah memberikan kerajaannya kepada anak cucu saudaranya ialah kerajaan pada masa ini bernama Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad `Alauddin. Kemudian dirajakan pula anaknya Paduka Seri Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin. Kemudian diberikan pula kerajaannya itu kepada anaknya Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin. Kemudian diberikan pula kerajaannya itu kepada anaknya Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam. Maka telah wafatlah baginda itu. Maka kembali pula kerajaannya itu kepada ayahanda baginda iaitu Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin, wallahu `alam. Kemudian dari itu tiadalah hamba mengetahui akan hal anak cucunya yang akan menjadi raja pada hijrat Nabi Sallallahu ”Alaihi wa Sallam seribu dua ratus dua puluh setahun pada Tahun Dal pada dua haribulan Dzulhijjah pada hari Arba`a Sannah 1221. (Quoted from Tarsilah Brunei: Sejarah Awal dan Perkembangan Islam; 2001).

The English translation:

This is the genealogy of the kings of the Kingdom of Brunei as told by Datuk Imam Yaakub, who heard of it from Marhum Bungsu Sultan Muhyiddin and Paduka Maulana Sultan Kamaluddin. Both these kings instructed that their genealogy be written down so that it could be known by all their descendants up to the present day. Only Allah knows the truth.

That Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin commanded Khatib Haji Abdul Latif to write down the genealogy for the information to all the descendants of the Kings of the Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam, who inherited the Nobat, Nakara and Genta Alamat from the Kingdom of Andalas in Minangkabau. That it is known that the first ruler of the Kingdom and the one who brought Islam and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, May the Blessing and Peace of Allah be upon him, was Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad and his brother Sultan Ahmad. That Sultan Ahmad begot a daughter by his marriage to the sister of the Chinese King known from Sharif Ali coming from Taif.

That Sharif Ali was acknowledged as Paduka Seri Sultan Berkat who taught Islamic Shariat brought by the prophet Muhammad, May the Blessing and Peace be upon him, and built a masjid while the Chinese descents worked collectively to establish Kota Batu. Tuan Sharif Ali was a direct descendant of Amirul Mukminin Sayidina Hasan, a grandson of the prophet Muhammad. That Paduka Seri Sultan Berkat begot Sultan Sulaiman who begot Paduka Seri Sultan Bolkiah given title Rajanya Datu Gamban and again, Sultan Bolkiah begot Paduka Seri Sultan Abdul Kahar given title Marhum Keramat. Marhum Keramat begot Paduka Seri Sultan Saiful Rijal.

Sultan Saiful Rijal begot Paduka Seri Sultan Shah Brunei. Then his brother Paduka Seri Sultan Hasan who was given title Marhum Di-tanjung. That Seri Sultan Hasan came up as the Sultan of Brunei because he was known for possessing eloquent speech. That he held powerful authority as well as Sultan Mahkota Alam in Aceh and Sultan Hasan who begot Sultan Abdul Jalilul Jabbar or Marhum Tua, who begot Pengiran Bendahara Untong. Pengiran Bendahara Untong begot Pengiran Temenggong Mo`min Amirul Faza who was originally from Brunei as well. That the Baginda passed away. Then the son of his brother named Paduka Seri Sultan Muhyidin became the Sultan of Brunei. Then the son of his brother named Paduka Seri Sultan Nasruddin. Then, the son of Sultan Muhammad Ali, Paduka Seri Sultan Kamaluddin who gave the throne to the grandson of his brother, Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad `Alaudin. Then, his son Paduka Seri Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin became the next Sultan of Brunei. Then, the throne was given to his son Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin. Then it was given to his son Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam. That the Sultan passed away. That, the throne was given back to Paduka Seri Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin, only Allah knows the truth. After that, I do not know whom became the next Sultans of Brunei dated from Wednesday, Dzulhijjah 2^nd, 1220 H. (Tarsilah Brunei: The Early History of Brunei Up To 1432 A.D.)

3. Physical Condition of the Stone

The physical condition of the stone looks quite well. The carvings on the upper part that reveals the genealogy of the Sultans of Brunei Kingdom can be clearly read. People taking a look the stone can learn the detail of intricately carving motifs on the border of the stone. That is why; researchers do not find any serious problem to read the genealogy of the Sultans of Brunei Kingdom that was written down in Jawi (Arabic Malay) script on this stone.

4. Location

The Tarsilah Stone is located in Makam Diraja, in Tutong Street, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.

5. Values

Hundreds years ago, Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin had brilliantly understood the urgency of historical documentation for the future. He knew that the historical dynamics of the Brunei people will ceaselessly develop as the time keeps running out and the people`s interest grow massively. The existence of Tarsilah Stone, which discloses the genealogy of the Sultans of Brunei Kingdom, is therefore able to tell and reveal the historical facts relating to the early history of Brunei Darussalam.

To some extent, Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin has indirectly told us to trace back the early history of Brunei Darussalam, and undertaken research on the history of the Brunei Kingdom itself. Without the Tarsilah Stone, it is impossible for many researchers to gain information about the history of Brunei Kingdom and the genealogy of the Sultans who had ever ruled the Brunei Kingdom due to the era of Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin. The stone can be an entrance gate to discover the truth about the past, about the time when the Brunei people history was started.

Likewise, the Arabic Malay script on the stone indicates that Islam has spread in Brunei vastly since hundreds years ago and still becomes the major religion amongst the Brunei people today. It is likewise shows us that Islam has become a unity with the Brunei people. By undertaking research on the stone, we know a lot of things colouring the history of Brunei Kingdom during the Islamic governmental period.

Nanum Sofia (sej/22/07-08)

Translated by Irfan Nugroho (ter/81/11-08)

Sources:

• Al-Sufri, Haji Awang Moh. Jamil. 1997. Tarsilah Brunei: Zaman Kegemilangan dan Kemasyhuran. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: Pusat Sejarah Brunei Kementrian Kebudayaan Belia dan Sukan.
• ________, 2001. Tarsilah Brunei: Sejarah Awal dan Perkembangan Islam. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: Pusat Sejarah Brunei Kementrian Kebudayaan Belia dan Sukan.

Photo Credit: The Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture (BKPBM)

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