We now reach a point in history where Islam is introduced and accepted by the rulers of Santubong. The lifestyle change must have been sudden and abrupt from a leisurely existence to one of strict obedience to the five prayers of the day. From the one year melding into another to one penetrated by a sudden fasting month. From allegiance to the local king to allegiance to Mecca and Medina.

The questions spawned more questions. Could it have been the Chinese Muslims who began trading with the Santubong people and informing them that if they didn’t accept Islam there would be no more trade?

Could the coastal Malays have desired to establish their own identity? Could it have been the desire to unify so that the traders would only trade with other Islamic peoples? Why did the Jinns of Islam persist to even a generation or two ago? Did the Malays consider themselves elite because of Islam?

The local Malays believe that the first Sultan Tengah fell in love with a trader aboard an Islamic ship and converted to Islam to marry her. But, what was a female doing aboard an Arabic trading vessel? They also believe the traders from Arabia brought brass wares and perfumes to trade for local goods. However, does this mean the trade goods from China had saturated the local population with jars, beads and other Chinese goods that a change in trading partners was warranted? These questions need a deeper understanding of the Malay way of life and cannot be answered by an orang putih sitting at a keyboard.

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Indrana Rajian The First Raja Tengah ~1408 – 1447

This history was told to us by a dukun from the Malay kampong.

Indrana Rajia’s first wife was a Malay lady named Liah. They did not have any children. The second wife was Umma, an Iban lady from Sintang, near Sambas. They had one child named Ismail Hasanuddin. After Umma died while giving birth to Ismail, Indrana Rajian converted to Islam and took the name Sultan Abdul Jalil Ibrahim Jaffaruddin (Sultan di Tengah). 

He then married his third wife, Radiah binti Abul Kassim al Makki.” Al Makki” means from Mecca. Ismail was only eight years old.

Pangiran Tuan Indrana Rajian took the name Tuanku Sri Maharajian. When he converted to Islam he took the name Sultan Abdul Jalil Ibrahim Jaffaruddin and was the first Sultan di Tengah and was also known as Akindra Tolen by the Iban.

After a few months, 

Sultan Abdul Jalil sailed to Tumasik (Temasik). On the journey back home, his ship was hit by a storm and was damaged. It was rerouted to Bijakyapura (Wijayapura/Sambas) for repairs. While residing there, he befriended the leader of the Suku Dayak Layek (Iban) who were originally from Setentang (Sintang). His friends’ name was Konchet Ampelang. He invited Ampelang to move to Indera Punik. Because of his offer, Konchet Ampelang followed Maharaja back to Indera Punik with his followers. While there he saw many Suku Layek (Ibans) who lived together with the Malay communities.

In Indera Ponek, Suku Layek was not called Suku Dayak but referred to as Suku Melayek (Ibans) and Melautus (Iban) or known as Orang Mela. After observing the situation in Indera Punik where the community lived in harmony, he told Tuanku Maharajian of his intention to move to Indera Punik and his request was granted. Konchet went back to Vijayapura on a ship provided by Tuanku Sri Maharajian. He brought his family and followers to Indera Ponik. Upon arrival, they stayed at a place near Tanah Berlidah. Konchet had a pretty sister named Umma and Tuanku Maharajian took her as a wife. They were blessed with a son named Pangiran Tuan Indra Ngemas.

Because of Tuanku Maharajian’s marriage, he appointed his brother-in-law as the leader of Suku Melayek and Suku Melautus at Indera Ponik. The Suku Melayek and Suku Melautus were granted the title Iban. The term “Iban” in ancient Malay means saudara or friend. Ever since then, Suku Melayek and Suku Melautus were no longer called Urang Mela but known as Urang Iban. Konchet was given the title Temenggong Iban. That was the first time that a post was given to a non-Malay in government.

The duty of the Iban Temenggong was to act as a representative to the Raja about the well-being of the community of the Iban people in Indera Ponik. Tuanku Seri Maharajian was named by the Iban Community as Aki Tolen which means “Datok Nenek Tulin for Urang Iban” (the genuine grandfather).

When his son, Pangiran Tuan Ngemas turned eight years old, Maharajian married Radiah, the daughter of a trader and preacher from Arabia known as Maulana Ali Omar. Rajian had met Omar while sailing to Ketapang, Omar’s home. He had the intention of inviting the Arabs to trade with Indera Ponik. While he stayed at the Arab settlement, he was fascinated by Islam after he heard of the religion. After listening to Maulana Ali Omar he embraced Islam.

After becoming a Muslim, Sultan Abdul Jalil invited Omar to Indera Ponek to teach him more about Islam. Upon reaching Ponek he announced to all his Menteri and officers that he had converted to Islam. He then suggested that they embrace Islam as well. Then, all of the royals and the Menteri converted to Islam. He then changed his name to Ibrahim Jaffaruddin and his son also changed his name to Pangiran Ismail Hasanuddin. Tuanku Ibrahim Jaffaruddin took the title Sultan Abdul Jalil Jaffaruddin. He was the first Sultan to become a Muslim in the Middle Kingdom. He changed the name of his kingdom from Indera Punik to Indera Samudera Punik. Islam was spread to all the areas under him.

Santubong became a tributary of Tanjungpura which was under Majapahit and they had to pay a tax. The Chinese diplomats arrived in Santubong and invited the Sultan Abdul Jalil to visit and they noticed the Chinese presence in the area.

Sultan Abdul Jalil 

went to China to obtain recognition of his kingdom. Ni-an Pangiran Sri Tuan Saenan was put in charge of Santubong while Sultan Abdul Jalil and Saenan’s son visited China. 

Saenan was also Ismail Hasanuddin’s father-in-law. While in China, the Sultan told the King that they could not pay tribute to China because of economic problems due to the attacks of the lanun (pirates) from Sulu. The Sultan also stated they needed protection from China in case there was an attack from Java. The Emperor then assured them by presenting him with a seal designating a relationship with the Emperor.

Before Ismail Hasanuddin and his followers came back to Indera Punik, they performed the Umrah. Saenan handed over the administration of Santubong to Ismail Hasanuddin after ~15 years of ruling. Saenan still held the post-Menteri Indra Paduka Bantara Diraja Mangkuk Bumi. It was believed Saenan administered Santubong from Rabiul Achier 840-Jumadil Akhir 855. October/November 1436 -July 1451.

During Abdul Jalil’s meeting with the Emperor, he requested that his Kingdom should be under the power of China. He also asked what form of tribute the Emperor would like from Indera Samudera Punik. The Emperor replied that since it was such a small kingdom he would regard Punik as a friend of China. Sultan Abdul Jalil presented two boxes of bird nests and 15 ipang (big jars) to the Emperor of China as a sign of thanks. The Emperor planned a feast for his group. Sultan Abdul Jalil requested him to serve rice, fruits, grilled fish and sayor rebus (vegetable soup) with salt for their feast. This was because he and his followers did not eat meat and animal fat. This was a nice way to reject the intake of food not slaughtered by Islamic rules. He did not want the Emperor to feel bad about serving pork. He also said he could not eat fried foods. After the feast, he requested that he return to his Kingdom of Indera Samudera Punik. The request was granted by the Emperor and he also requested that his ships be supplied for the return trip.

When Abdul Jalil arrived back in Punik, he received news that his wife, Radiah was with child and he was so happy. His wife requested that she return to the holy city of Madinah and wished to deliver the baby there. Madinah is a sacred city for the Muslim community and also the birthplace of Nabi Muhammad. He wanted the future baby to become an Ulama if the child proved a boy. He would be named Abdullah Muhammad. He granted his wife’s wish to return to Madinah to deliver the baby. He sent his wife and father to Pasay (Pasai Samudera) where they took a ship back to Madinah. After being there for about a year, a messenger from Madinah came and said that his wife had given birth to a baby boy and given the name Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Ibrahim Jaffaruddin. He was so happy to hear the news, that he decided to go to Madinah to see his wife and baby and at the same time to perform his Hajj. So on the month of 1 Ramadan 840 hijrah (9 March 1437), the Sultan went to Pasey to find a trader ship to return to Madinah. 

Before going to Pasey, he mandated that his cousin, Pangiran Paduka Tuan Saenan who was a Menteri Indra Paduka Bantara diraja Mangkuk Bumi (acting Sultan) rule the kingdom of Indera Punik. He told Saenan that he would hold the post of Menteri Indra Paduka Bantara diraja Mangkuk Bumi. He also left a will to the Menteris and the officers stating that if he passed away during his journey, then Saenan would be the acting Sultan until his children were ready to rule. He stated in his will that his eldest son Pangiran Paduka Tuan Ismail Hasanuddin should become King and later, replaced by his second son Pangiran Paduka Tuan Abdullah Muhammad. This meant the throne went to his son and then to his second son.

He made an oath regarding the will with Pangiran Paduka Tuan Saenan and the Menteris to obey and follow the will and not break it. While he was in Pasey, he fell sick and could not proceed to Madinah. Because of his decline in health, the Pangiran Paduka Tuan Saenan ordered Menteri Sri Indra Amar Diraja who followed him to bring Sultan Abdul Jalil Jaffaruddin back to Indera Semuda Punik. During the journey back home, his health continued to decline which forced them to stop at Bijakyapura (Vijapura/Sambas). A few days after arriving, Sultan Abdul Jalil Jaffaruddin died on a Friday afternoon, Rabiul Akhir 840 hijrah (1437) His remains were taken care of according to Muslim custom and were buried at the area in the Ulu Sungai (upriver at Vijayapura / Sambas).

When Sultan Abdul Jalil Jaffaruddin died his eldest son, Pangiran Paduka Tuan Ismail Hassanuddin 

was only ten years old and his brother Abdullah Muhammad was only two.

After the news of his death came to be known to the Menteris and Pangirans in Santubong, Pengiran Paduka Tuan Saenan ruled on behalf of the Sultan in the Kingdom of Indera Samudera Punik. Saenan sent a messenger to Madinah to inform the Sultan’s younger son of his death. Later, he sent word to Madinah to his father-in-law and Radiah.

Saenan managed the Kingdom of Santubong for~ 15 years. At the age of ~20, Pangiran Paduka Ismail Hasanuddin together with Pangiran Paduka Tuan Saenan (his Uncle) went to Mecca to meet his brother Pangiran Sri Tuan Abdullah Muhammad who was 12 years old. They were happy to meet each other. Pangiran Paduka Tuan Ismail Hasanuddin found out that his brother was very fluent in the Malay language and was familiar with the Koran. He offered his brother and Bonda Permaisuri Radiah the opportunity to return with him to Santubong. Unfortunately, his brother could not follow because he was still studying the religious texts. Pangiran Sri Tuan Abdullah Muhammad studied Islam with the Lamas in Mecca. Pangiran Paduka Tuan Ismail Hasanuddin followed what their father had stated in the will, that he and his brother should rule the Kingdom.

 Saenan obtained a kris that had nine loks (curves on the blade whose number is always odd) with a carving of a dragon. It was given to their father by the Emperor of China. He then broke the kris in two. This symbolized the supremacy of the Kingdom of Santubong. He also broke in half a jade amulet. Pangiran Paduka Tuan Ismail Hasanuddin was given three loks of the kris and also the head part of the dragon. 

Whereas, his brother was given the ulu (handle) of the kris that had six loks and the broken part of the jade which contained the tail of the carved dragon. He was to bring these items to Indera Punik to introduce himself to his brother.

Before Ismail Hasanuddin and his followers came back to Indera Punik, they performed the Umrah. Saenan handed over the administration of Santubong to Ismail Hasanuddin after ~15 years of ruling. Saenan still held the post-Menteri Indra Paduka Bantara Diraja Mangkuk Bumi. It was believed Saenan administered Santubong from Rabiul Achier 840-Jumadil Akhir 855. October/November 1436 -July 1451.

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