Abdul Aziz Juned
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Abdul Aziz bin Juned (born 22 December 1941), also known by his
pen name A pen name or nom-de-plume is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen name may be used to make the author's na ...
Adi Rumi, is a Bruneian aristocrat, poet and politician. Serving as the
State Mufti of Brunei The State Mufti () holds the highest authority in Brunei's religious governance. Unlike in many other countries, this position possesses the exclusive power to issue fatwas, or Islamic legal rulings, which carry enforceable authority within the n ...
since 1994, his appointment marked a pivotal moment in the country's Islamic governance, aligning with a strengthened focus on state-led
Islamisation The spread of Islam spans almost 1,400 years. The early Muslim conquests that occurred following the death of Muhammad in 632 CE led to the creation of the caliphates, expanding over a vast geographical area; conversion to Islam was boosted ...
. Throughout his career, Abdul Aziz has been a staunch advocate for the application of Syariah law as a deterrent to crime and has played a key role in supporting the Syariah Penal Code Order (SPCO) 2013, underscoring his influence in shaping Brunei's Islamic legal framework.


Early life and education

Abdul Aziz bin Juned was born on 22 December 1941 in Kampong Setia Pahlawan Lama, a village within
Kampong Ayer Kampung Ayer (') is a prominent traditional settlement in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It comprises neighbourhoods of traditional houses, schools and mosques built on stilts above the Brunei River near the capital's city centre ...
. He received his early education in Brunei before continuing his studies at
Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah is a full-time, private Islamic institution of learning in Singapore, one of the six such madrasahs in Singapore. Madrasah Aljunied is one of the oldest surviving madrasahs in Singapore. Through its years, it has ga ...
in Singapore in 1955,
Kolej Islam Malaya Kolej Islam Malaya (KIM) or Muslim College Malaya was a premier, independent religious school in Malaysia. It is the first recognised Islamic education institute by the Federation of Malaya government. History The erection of a religious highe ...
in 1962, and
Al-Azhar University The Al-Azhar University ( ; , , ) is a public university in Cairo, Egypt. Associated with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Islamic Cairo, it is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university and is known as one of the most prestigious universities for Islamic ...
in
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, where he graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...
in 1968.


Career

Abdul Aziz held various roles early in his career with the Brunei government, including religious officer at the Department of Religious Affairs in 1970, head of broadcasting and information in 1971, and member of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council from 1971. He was appointed senior religious officer in 1976, a member of the Succession Council in 1978, and deputy chief kadi in 1983. Abdul Aziz became a member of the Privy Council on 17 April 1984, director of Syariah affairs in 1986, and deputy state mufti on 1 January 1989. The appointment of Abdul Aziz Juned as state mufti on 1 September 1994 marked a significant turning point in Brunei's Islamic governance, coinciding with an intensified effort toward state-led Islamisation. Abdul Aziz, alongside
Mahmud Saedon Mahmud Saedon bin Othman (20 December 1943 – 24 June 2002) was a Bruneian writer and Muslim scholar. His proficiency in the legal and Islamic domains, served as the foundation for the nation's giving of diplomas in law and Syar'ie law. Additi ...
as special advisor in Syariah affairs, emerged as one of the most influential ulama in Brunei's modern history. As the nation's highest religious authority, his office holds the exclusive right to issue
fatwas A fatwa (; ; ; ) is a legal ruling on a point of Islamic law (sharia) given by a qualified Islamic jurist (''faqih'') in response to a question posed by a private individual, judge or government. A jurist issuing fatwas is called a ''mufti'', ...
that are uniquely enforceable as law in Brunei. Succeeding former state mufti Ismail Omar Abdul Aziz, whose "strict" stance had steered Brunei toward a more orthodox Islamic approach, Abdul Aziz further deepened the state's Islamic discourse. His leadership aligned with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's assertion that no law or constitution could supersede the
Quran The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...
. During this period, the groundwork for a comprehensive
Islamic criminal law Islamic criminal law () is criminal law in accordance with Sharia. Strictly speaking, Islamic law does not have a distinct corpus of "criminal law". Islamic law divides crimes into three different categories depending on the offense – ''Hudu ...
code was laid, with Abdul Aziz playing a central role in shaping Brunei's legal and religious framework. As the head of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council's legal committee, Abdul Aziz Juned played a pivotal role in shaping the country's Syariah reforms. A key figure in Brunei's Islamic government, he promoted the SPCO 2013, highlighting in October 2013 that "Islam has its own human rights," which, he argued, are distinct from "man-made" rights. According to him, the latter are less universal and subject to change, whereas the rights guaranteed by Sharia law are timeless and unalterable. He stressed that genuine human rights are consistent with Syariah law, which presents them as enduring and fixed. Abdul Aziz was instrumental in establishing the SPCO 2013 as a model for Southeast Asia, with the hope that it would inspire neighbouring nations. Under his leadership, Brunei also launched an
ASEAN The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated as ASEAN, is a regional grouping of 10 states in Southeast Asia "that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its ten members." Together, its member states r ...
network for Syariah court cooperation in 2013, bringing together countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Brunei's commitment to ensuring the SPCO aligns with established Syariah law principles is further demonstrated by the consultations it held with Islamic organisations in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and
Aceh Aceh ( , ; , Jawi script, Jawoë: ; Van Ophuijsen Spelling System, Old Spelling: ''Atjeh'') is the westernmost Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. It is located on the northern end of Sumatra island, with Banda Aceh being its capit ...
. His contributions underscore his significant role in shaping Brunei's Syariah legal system and its influence in the region. In 2013, Abdul Aziz advocated for the application of Syariah law as a deterrent to crime, particularly supporting severe penalties such as hand-chopping and
stoning Stoning, or lapidation, is a method of capital punishment where a group throws stones at a person until the subject dies from blunt trauma. It has been attested as a form of punishment for grave misdeeds since ancient times. Stoning appears t ...
. He argued that the purpose of these laws was not to punish, but to prevent crimes from spreading through society. Despite widespread condemnation from the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
, human rights organisations, and prominent figures such as
US President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed For ...
Joe Biden Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...
,
George Clooney George Timothy Clooney (born May 6, 1961) is an American actor, filmmaker, and philanthropist. Known for his leading man roles on screen in both blockbuster and independent films, Clooney has received numerous accolades, including two Ac ...
, and
Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...
, Abdul Aziz maintained that those who viewed the sanctions as harsh had misinterpreted their intent. He highlighted that the aim was not to violate human rights but to discourage criminal behaviour. On 4 January 2014, Abdul Aziz responded to critics of the SPCO, claiming that their comments were made without proper understanding of Islamic law. He dismissed the objections of online human rights organisations opposing the law's implementation as ignorant. He also addressed the issue of the headscarf in a speech in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, asserting that despite criticism, wearing the headscarf is a requirement in Islam, as prescribed by the Quran. Abdul Aziz praised Brunei’s decision to implement the alcohol ban, attributing blessings to the country. He concluded by urging students to prioritise regular prayers and Quranic study. In a talk at
International Islamic University Malaysia The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) is a public university in Malaysia. Headquartered in Gombak, Selangor, IIUM has six other campuses all over Malaysia: two medical-centric campuses and a Centre for Foundation Studies in Gam ...
on 20 August, Abdul Aziz highlighted that non-Muslims often praise aspects of Syariah law, particularly the interest-free
Islamic banking Islamic banking, Islamic finance ( ''masrifiyya 'islamia''), or Sharia-compliant finance is banking or financing activity that complies with Sharia (Islamic law) and its practical application through the development of Islamic economics. Some ...
system. He expressed disappointment at the confusion among Muslims, noting that ignorance of the law leads to division and weakens ''
Iman Iman, Imann, Imaan, Eman, Eiman, Imane, Emaan, or Imman may refer to: Places * Iman, Iran, a village in Kalashi District, Kermanshah Province * The Iman River, the former name of the Bolshaya Ussurka River, a tributary of the Ussuri River in ...
''. He stressed that the key to overcoming this "faith crisis" is spreading accurate knowledge through speeches, publications, and talks. In 2015, amid global counter-terrorism efforts, Abdul Aziz condemned
ISIS Isis was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingdom () as one of the main characters of the Osiris myth, in which she resurrects her sla ...
, stressing that Islam forbids bloodshed unless explicitly authorised by Syariah law. His firm stance reinforced Brunei's commitment to opposing extremist ideologies while upholding strict adherence to Islamic principles.


Literacy career


Themes

Through his Islamic literary works, Abdul Aziz—known as Adi Rumi in the literary world—has made an impact on the development of language, literature, religion, culture, and his country. An advocate for the importance of literature and language, he has highlighted the need for "language heroes" to address the challenges facing the
Malay language Malay ( , ; , Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ) is an Austronesian languages, Austronesian language spoken primarily by Malays (ethnic group), Malays in several islands of Maritime Southeast Asia and the Malay Peninsula on the mainland Asia. The lang ...
. His writings frequently explore spiritual and cultural themes, promoting Islamic values and beliefs through the medium of literature. Adi Rumi's works primarily engage with Syariah law, and the beauty of these legal systems, challenging misconceptions about their relevance and advocating for their application. is a notable long poem that underscores the significance of Syariah law, emphasising justice and the all-encompassing nature of divine law.


Selected works

Abdul Aziz has authored several books, with some of his selected works including: * * * * * * * * * * *


Personal life

Abdul Aziz is married to Datin Hajah Maznah binti Haji Mohammad, and they have three children—two sons and one daughter. Their daughter, Hanan, serves as the deputy dean of law and a lecturer at the
Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University The Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA or Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University) is a public research university located in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, established in 2007. As the country’s first Islamic university and second national ...
. His home is located at Jalan Mulaut,
Mukim Sengkurong Mukim Sengkurong is a mukims of Brunei, mukim in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. The population was 31,493 in 2016. Etymology The mukim is named after Kampong Sengkurong, one of the villages of Brunei, villages it encompasses. Geography Th ...
.


Titles, styles and honours


Titles and styles

On 26 March 1983, Abdul Aziz was honoured by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah with the
manteri The Manteri (Minister (government), Minister or Officer) are a group of state dignitaries within the Brunei, Sultanate of Brunei whose position ranks the fourth-highest official in the country behind the List of sultans of Brunei, Sultan. There a ...
title of . He was later elevated to the title of on 6 November 1984, and eventually to on 9 May 1996. The latter title carries the
style Style, or styles may refer to: Film and television * ''Style'' (2001 film), a Hindi film starring Sharman Joshi, Riya Sen, Sahil Khan and Shilpi Mudgal * ''Style'' (2002 film), a Tamil drama film * ''Style'' (2004 film), a Burmese film * '' ...
.


Awards

Abdul Aziz has been given the following awards: * ASEAN Cultural Award for Literary Works (1993) *
SEA Write Award The S.E.A. Write Award, or Southeast Asian Writers Award, is an award that is presented annually since 1979 to poets and writers of Southeast Asia. The awards are given to the writers from each of the countries comprised in the Association of S ...
(2000) * (27 June 2011) * (26 November 2011) * (25 November 2013) * from the (10 December 2014) * at the Brunei Book Festival and Reading Culture Empowerment Carnival (2015)


Honours

Abdul Aziz has been bestowed the following honours: *
Order of Islam Brunei The Most Eminent Order of Islam Brunei (), also translated as The Most Illustrious Islamic Religious Order of the State of Brunei, is an Order (decoration), order of Brunei. It was established on 1 August 1968 by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah for servi ...
First Class (PSSUB; 1984) – ''Dato Paduka Seri Setia'' * Order of Islam Brunei Third Class (SSUB; 1982) *
Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa The Most Distinguished Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa (), also translated as The Most Distinguished Order of Merit of Brunei, is an order of Brunei. It was established in February 1964 by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III. Current classes The th ...
Second Class (DSLJ; 1983) – ''Dato Seri Laila Jasa'' *
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal Sultan (; ', ) is a Royal and noble ranks, position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". La ...
First Class (PHBS; 15 July 2010) * ''Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas'' (PBLI; 1982) * Long Service Medal (PKL) * Honorary Doctorate in Literature from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (11 September 2007)


References

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Juned, Abdul Aziz Bruneian Muslims Living people State Muftis of Brunei 1941 births S.E.A. Write Award winners Members of the Privy Council of Brunei