9. SULTAN MUHAMMAD HASAN (TM 1582 - 1598)

Sultan Muhammad Hasan ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Saiful Rizal merupakan [Sultan Brunei ke-9, 1582-1598] selepas kekandanya Sultan Shah lindung awal. Baginda yang termasyhur gagah dan keras pemerintahannya sebanding dengan Kerajaan Acheh di bawah pentadbiran Sultan Iskandar Muda Makhota Alam [1612-1631]. Baginda mempunyai empat orang isteri yang terdiri daripada Pengiran Peranakan dan beberapa orang gundik yang melahirkan putera dan puteri Al-Marhum. Di antara putera gahara baginda yang terkenal adalah Pg Muda Besar Abdul Jalilul Akbar, Pg Muda Tengah Ibrahim Ali Omar Shah dan Pg Muda Bongsu Hj Muhammad Ali. Puteri baginda, Pg Anak Puteri Nor Alam adalah isteri kepada anakanda saudaranya iaitu Sultan Abdul Hakkul Mubin [Sultan Brunei ke-13, 1661-1673]. Manakala hubungan keluarga diraja Brunei dengan Malaysia bertambah erat apabila puteri baginda Raja Putri Tuah berkahwin dengan Al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad Shah II [Sultan Pahang ke-11, 1590-1592] dan puteri baginda Raja Bonda berkahwin dengan Al-Marhum Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah III [Sultan Johor ke-6, 1597-1615]. Sultan Muhammad Hasan ini diputerakan kira-kira dalam tahun 1533 kerana menurut catatan Sepanyol yang termuat dalam Boxer Codex, Sultan Brunei yang mereka temui dalam tahun 1589 itu berumur 58 tahun (56 tahun mengikut kiraan Masehi). Menurut Boxer Codex, baginda berwajah riang dan berbadan tegap. Kalau berangkat ke luar istana, baginda membawa ramai pengawal, iaitu dua puluh orang berjalan di hadapan dengan pedang tersahan di bahu mereka, serta beberapa orang Pengiran berjalan mengiringkan di belakang. Boxer Codex juga menyebutkan selain daripada Sultan, pentadbiran negara yang juga dijalankan oleh Pengiran Bendahara, Pengiran Temenggong, Pengiran Digadong dan Pengiran Shahbandar.

Dalam kalangan orang Brunei, baginda terkenal dengan Marhum di Tanjung kerana baginda beristana di Tanjung Kindana, Kg Sg. Bunga. Disebutkan juga, istana baginda sentiasa berhias dengan perhiasan Alat-Alat Kebesaran Diraja. Di atas kota istana baginda yang empat pesegi itu diatur beberapa laras meriam besar, masing-masing dengan namanya, antaranya Sri Negeri, Raja Hindi, Raja Derwis, Si-Kula, Si-Tambang, Si-Dewa, Si-Mangkasar, Si-Pitutan, Si-Gantong, Si-Puchong, Si-Gantar' Alam dan lain-lain. Dalam masa hayat baginda dari Tanjung Kindana ini telah didirikan sebuah jambatan panjang bermula dari 'Kubu Lapau Istana' hingga ke Kuala Pulau Chermin. Sebagai seorang Sultan yang mengambil berat terhadap adat istiadat dan sangat gemarkan alat perhiasan kebesaran Diraja, di hadapan mahligai baginda yang tiga tingkat sentiasa berhias dengan perhiasan alat kebesaran Diraja seperti Payong Ubor-Ubor, Pisang-Pisang, Dadap, Sumbulayang, Hula-Hula, Payong Tinggi, Alam Bernaga, Payong Haram, Payong Tiga Ringkat, Panji-Panji, Sandaran, dan Sapu-Sapu Air seolah-olah istana baginda ketika itu seperti dalam keadaan Musim Berjaga-Jaga sepanjang masa. Datu Imam Yaakub dalam Salasilah Raja Berunai menyebutkan perkara ini antara lain, ".. istana baginda dua, kotanya terus empat persegi, dari kota batu itu hingga air di bakutnya, tanah diratakannya, berbangunan mahligai tiga ringkat di atas lawang chermin berbagai warnanya dan perbuatannya, dan bersumbu layang di halaman lapau..".

Dalam adat istiadat dan pemerintahan negeri, bagindalah yang mula-mula mengadakan gelaran 'Pengiran Digadong' dan 'Pengiran Pemancha' sebagai tambahan kepada gelaran dua orang Wazir yang sedia ada, iaitu Pengiran Bendahara dan Pengiran Temenggong. Diriwayatkan, sungguhpun kesan pendudukan Sepanyol ke atas Brunei itu telah menyebabkan kekuatan Brunei menjadi pusah, tetapi apabila Sultan Muhammad Hasan menaiki takhta, baginda telah berusaha membangun semula kekuatan Brunei dengan melatih beberapa hulubalang yang gagah perkasa dan ketika itu menurut tradisi lisan, baginda ini mempunyai 40 orang hulubalang yang gagah perkasa dan tidak lut senjata maka mana-mana negeri dan jajahan takluk yang bugat (derhaka) seperti Milau (Melanau) misalnya telah baginda perangi dan tumpaskan. Begitu juga dalam mengatur strategi pemerintahan, baginda telah melantik pegawai-pegawai berdasarkan sukat-sukat, iaitu pertama orang berbangsa, kedua orang bijaksana lagi berakal, ketiga orang berani lagi perkasa, dan keempat orang yang hormat dan takut kepada Raja. Justeru itulah, jawatan pembesar-pembesar negara di Brunei yang ditugaskan menjalankan pemerintahan telah dipenuhi dengan secukupnya, dan diberi kuasa membuat sesuatu keputusan bagi sesuatu masalah yang dihadapi dengan seberapa cepat yang boleh tanpa bertangguh-tangguh, tetapi disyaratkan keputusan itu hendaklah dilakukan dengan adil dan saksama.

Pada zaman kegemilangan Sultan Muhammad Hasan, baginda dikenali sebagai seorang sultan Brunei yang gagah dan masyhur malah merupakan pemain utama di dalam memperkembangkan syiar Islam di Filipina. Sistem pentadbirannya juga dikatakan sebagai yang terbaik pernah ada. Selain itu, hukum/undang-undang yang dijalankan oleh sultan-sultan yang terdahulu telah dicatatkan dalam Hukum Kanun Brunei, bagi memantapkan pemerintahan, di bawah pengawasan Pehin-Pehin Khatib dan Mudim-Mudim - inilah kemudiannya yang melahirkan Institusi Menteri Ugama, yang tugas dan tanggungjawabnya, selain menjadi kadhi, imam, dan pengelola masjid, juga menjadi penasihat kepada sultan dalam hal ehwal ugama Islam dan hukum-hukumnya. Disebutkan, ‘Kanun Brunei’ ini mempunyai beberapa fasal yang memuat berbagai-bagai hukum-hakam antaranya Hukum Bendahara, Hukum Temenggong, Hukum Shahbandar, Hukum Adat Majlis Raja, Hukum Bahasa Raja, Hukum Nikah Kahwin, Hukum Murtad, Hukum Jual Beli, Hukum Fitnah dan lain-lain. Tujuan hukum ini dibuat dan dilaksanakan adalah untuk keamanan negeri dan memelihara keselamatan dan ketenteraman hamba rakyat. Dalam meningkatkan keamanan dan kebajikan rakyat itu, pertahanan negara telah baginda ambil perhatian supaya sentiasa teguh dan kuat. Di atas kota empat persegi yang mengelilingi istana baginda telah diaturkan beberapa buah meriam besar, masing-masing dengan namanya. Kekukuhan dan kekuatan pemerintahan Brunei itu telah menjadi ristaan kepada Sepanyol di Manila dan mereka telah berasa takut dan gentar kepada Brunei, kalau-kalau pengaruh mereka di Filipina tergugat. Apabila baginda lindung baginda dimakamkan di Makam Diraja Tanjung Kindana dan pada tahun 1598, takhta Kerajaan Brunei digantikan oleh putera baginda Sultan Abdul Jalilul Akbar.

والله أعلمُ

The era of Sultan Muhammad Hassan (by ROZAN YUNOS)

When Sultan Saiful Rijal, the sixth, died in 1581, he was succeeded by his son Sultan Shah Brunei. But Sultan Shah Brunei ruled for only two years and he was quite old by the time he ascended the throne. Sultan Saiful Rijal had reigned for a long time by the time he passed away. Sultan Shah Brunei however knew that he did not have much time left. He also did not have any male heir to pass the throne to. He surrendered the throne to his younger brother, after reigning for about a year. Sultan Shah Brunei became Brunei's third Begawan Sultan after he abdicated the throne.

Sultan Muhammad Hasan became the ninth Sultan of Brunei Darussalam in 1582. Not much was known of Sultan Muhammad Hasan but it was said that he was a brave Sultan. He was very conscious of the need to protect the sovereignty of the country, look after the well being of the people and also conscious of the need to prevent enemy intrusion into Brunei Darussalam. Sultan Muhammad Hasan lived through the period when Brunei was attacked and invaded by the Spanish dubbed as the Castillan War (Perang Kastila) during the reign of his father Sultan Saiful Rijal. It took the might of Bendahara Sakam and his soldiers to drive the Spanish back to Manila.

As a result of the attack, one of the many things which Sultan Muhammad Hasan did was to build a fort across the river as well as a fortification around the Sultan's palace. Sultan Muhammad Hassan built his palace at Tanjung Kindana. From Tanjung Kindana, he built a bridge linking Tanjung Kindana at Kubu Lapau to Kuala Pulau Chermin. The fort surrounding the palace had cannons with proper names. Among the well known cannons were Seri Negeri, Raja Hindi, Raja Derwis, Si-Kula, Si-Tambang, Si-Dewa, Si-Mangkasar, Si-Pitutan, Si-Gandong, Si-Puchong, and Si-Gantar Alam.

Sultan Muhammad Hasan had four wives and several concubines. Among his well known children were Pengiran Muda Abdul Jalilul Akbar who succeeded him when he died, Pengiran Muda Tengah who became Sarawak's first Sultan and Pengiran Muda Muhammad Ali who became the 12th Sultan of Brunei. The splendour of Brunei during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Hassan was as well known as the Acheh government under the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda Mahkota Alam Shah. The fame of Brunei was not only known among the regional government but also among international travellers. One of the earliest Dutchmen to come to Brunei was Liver Van Noorf who came to Brunei in 1600.

Even the Spanish who had burnt Brunei Town a few years earlier were willing to come back to Brunei as traders. A letter from Don Francisco Tello, the Governor General of Manila dated 1599 imploring for a return of normal relationship survived till today. He addressed the letter to Sultan Adil. Sultan Adil (adil means just or fair in Malay) was another name for Sultan Muhammad Hassan. Sultan Muhammad Hassan also regained control over several islands and regions which broke away from Brunei. Renewed contacts were made with former dependencies of Brunei. One was Sulu. One of his princes, Pengiran Shahbandar Maharaja Laila was appointed as the Raja of Sulu. In 1617, Brunei's army conquered Santao and destroyed the city causing damages as much as $1 million dollars. In those days, even Manila paid tributes to Brunei Darussalam.

Sultan Muhammad Hassan was also said to be instrumental in appointing four wazirs or viziers instead of two. The original wazirs were Duli Pengiran Bendahara and Duli Pengiran Temenggong. He added the titles and positions of Duli Pengiran Digadong and Duli Pengiran Pemancha. He appointed a reasonable number of Cheterias, Manteris and other nobilities as he required. According to legends, he had 40 personal warriors who is said to be so strong that even metal cannot pierce their skin. Among the most important contribution made by Sultan Muhammad Hassan was a set of laws or known as the canons or laws of Brunei. They were also known as Sultan Muhammad Hassan's canons. It is not known who actually wrote the canons. But it was found together with other papers during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Hassan, so the laws were attributed to him.

The laws were probably originally drafted much earlier than that. However the laws were updated according to Islamic laws and conventions at that time. The canons were divided into three parts. Each of the set of laws was carried out by a different person. The first part was known as Hukum Bendahara, the second Hukum Temenggong and the third was known as Hukum Shahbandar.

Each of the set of laws deal with different aspects of the laws. Hukum Bendahara was dealt with by the Duli Pengiran Bendahara for the more serious capital crimes and matters regarding nobilities, Hukum Temenggong was dealt with by Duli Pengiran Temenggong for lighter crimes and punishments, whereas Hukum Shahbandar was dealt with by Pengiran Shahbandar for matters concerning the rules of customs and trades. The laws were very indeed modern and covered virtually all aspects. For instance Chapter 33 covered matters with regard to debts and Chapter 34 covered matters with regard to bankruptcy. The laws also covered matters with regard to marriages and divorces, interest payments, slanders, theft, burglary, murder, trade and many other aspects of life and matters related to the well being of the population.

Graham Saunders in his book 'A History of Brunei' described Sultan Muhammad Hassan "... was in many respects an enlightened ruler, with a broader interest in the world and an interest in theological debate. He impressed the Jesuit, Father Antonio Preira, who was resident in Brunei for some months when caught by the monsoons, with both his tolerance and his knowledge ..."

Sultan Muhammad Hassan died in 1598 in his palace at Tanjung Kindana and as a result he was known as Marhum Di-Tanjung. - The Brunei Times

Ref: [http://www.bt.com.bn/golden_legacy/2009/03/01/the_era_of_sultan_muh...]