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Mohammad Zain bin Haji Serudin (born 30 August 1936),[1] pen name Shukri Zain,[2] is a Bruneian aristocrat, politician and poet who formerly held the position of Minister of Religious Affairs from 1986 to 2010.[3][4] He has traveled abroad and made significant literary contributions to Malay-Islamic literature, including Islamic poetry and usage of his own Malay language to convey his poetic ideas.[5] He also was the leader or president of the Brunei Youth Council (BYL),[6] and a member of the Privy Council.[7]
Zain Serudin | |
|---|---|
| زاين سرودين | |
 Pehin Zain in the 1960s | |
| 1st Minister of Religious Affairs | |
| In office 20 October 1986 – 29 May 2010 | |
| Monarch | Hassanal Bolkiah |
| Deputy | Yahya Ibrahim Badaruddin Othman |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Pengiran Mohammad |
| 3rd State Religious Affairs Officer | |
| In office 1 November 1970 – 1 January 1984 | |
| Preceded by | Pengiran Anak Kemaluddin |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 August 1936 Kampong Lurong Sikuna, Kampong Ayer, Brunei |
| Political party | PRB (1962) |
| Spouse | Yukmas Mohammad |
| Children | 2 sons and 1 daughter |
| Alma mater | Al-Azhar University (BA) |
| Profession |
|
| Awards | Mastera Literary Award S.E.A. Write Award |
| Signature |  |
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Shukri Zain is born 30 August 1936 at Kampong Lurong Sikuna, in Kampong Ayer.[8] He had his early education in religious institutions before earning his degree from Egypt's renowned Islamic University of Al-Azhar.[9]
In the 1962 Bruneian district council election, Zain won the Tanjong Maya seat with 277 votes as a Partai Rakyat Brunei candidate.[10] Later in December 1963, he began his career in the civil service as the deputy grand kadhi. He then served as the secretary to the Religious Department in 1965 and became the grand kadhi in October 1967. Additionally from 1 November 1970 to 1 January 1984, he was appointed as the head of the Religious Affairs Department.[9]
He was appointed as the Minister of Religious Affairs on 20 October 1986.[11][4] In 1995, Minister Zain stated that Brunei was "eagerly pursuing a move to make Islamic law the effective judiciary (sic) system in the country" and that civil (secular) law was being reviewed to reinforce Syariah rules.[12] He enacted the Islamic Adoption of Children Order on 26 March 2001.[13] On 7 April 2011, he was appointed as a member of the Privy Council.[14]
The lengthy yet disorganised religious primary school curriculum in Brunei required a lot of reading and understanding, which contributed to many students failing their exams. The curriculum for religious primary schools as well as the textbooks that were used beginning in the middle of the 1970s were both impacted by this change. The textbooks' authors were officers Zain Serudin, Yahya Ibrahim, and Amin Abdul Rahim. In place of Kitab Matla'al Al-Badrain, Pehin Zain wrote novels like Tarikh I, Kitab Pelajaran Ibadat Siri I – III, and Zainuttalib Siri I – VII.[15]
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Pehin Zain has published under a variety of pen names, including Shukri Zain, Mara Siswa, and Md. Zain Brunei. His anthology of poetry, which was released in 1983 and 1990, makes it clear that it is the last pseudonym by which he is better recognised. Not only in Brunei, but also in Singapore and Malaysia, two of its neighboring nations, have his poems been published. The Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka of Malaysia and Brunei has published some of his poems. The Department of Religious Affairs, Brunei has also published his poems underscoring the fact that Shukri Zain's poems are not only valuable to the Malay language, but they are also valuable additions to Islamic literature.[5]
Shukri Zain's literary works include a wide range of subjects, including marital love, the beauty of nature, human sorrow, and Islamic themes like prayer, a meaningful life, being close to Allah, resisting evil inclinations, and patriotism. He handles the subjects in a reasonable and enjoyable manner.[5]
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Pehin Zain has a brother, Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad,[16] the Land Commissioner from 1976 to 1983.[17]
Pehin Zain is married to Datin Hajah Yukmas binti Mohammad and have three children.[18] His residence is located at no.166, KM 8.5, Jalan Pasir Berakas, Lambak Kanan.[19][20]
- Sumbangsih Shukri Zain. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei, Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan. 1988.
- Brunei, an Islamic Nation: Islamic Background (in Malay). Islamic Da'wah Centre, Ministry of Religious Affairs. 2000. ISBN 9789991735160.
- Brunei Darussalam: persepsi sejarah dan masyarakatnya (in Malay). Azza Publishers & Distributors. 1992.
- Prayer, the Key to Heaven; And, Youth Before Old Age. Religious Affairs Department. 1986.
- Kitab zayn al-talib (perhiasan penuntut). Religious Affairs Department. 1979.
- Benar-kah sa-tengah2 pendapat yang mengatakan bahawa ugama Islam itu satu ugama yang baru, statistik dan konservatif (in Malay). Jabatan Hal Ehwal Ugama. 1972.
- Melayu Islam Beraja: suatu pendekatan (in Malay). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei, Kementerian Kebudayaan Belia dan Sukan. 1998. ISBN 9789991700922.
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Awards
- Youth Leadership Merit (2006)[21]
- Anugerah Penulisan Islam (API) (2011)[22]
- Mastera Literary Award (2011)[23]
- Southeast Asian Writers Award (1991)[24]
Honours
Pehin Zain holds the Manteri title of Yang Berhormat (His Honorable) Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja.[4][25] In addition to earning the following honours;[26][18]
Family Order of Seri Utama (DK; 1970) – Dato Seri Utama[27]
Order of Islam Brunei First Class (PSSUB; 15 July 1972) – Dato Paduka Seri Setia
Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Second Class (DSLJ; 15 July 1969) – Dato Seri Laila Jasa
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal First Class (PHBS; 12 February 1969)[28]
Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI)
Meritorious Service Medal (PJK; 24 February 1987)
Long Service Medal (PKL; 24 February 1987)
Sultan Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
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