State Mufti of Brunei

The State Mufti (Malay: Mufti Kerajaan) 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 nation.^[1]

State Mufti Office

Jabatan Mufti Kerajaan جابتن مفتي كراجأن
National emblem of Brunei
State Mufti Office in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Agency overview
Formed	1 September 1994; 30 years ago (1994-09-01)
Jurisdiction	Government of Brunei
Headquarters	26, Jalan Pengiran Babu Raja, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei BA2112
Employees	c. 1,000
Annual budget	B$260 million
Agency executives	Abdul Aziz Juned, State Mufti Japar Mat Dain, Deputy State Mufti
Parent agency	Prime Minister's Office
Child agency	Ministry of Religious Affairs of Brunei
Website	www.pmo.gov.bn www.mufti.gov.bn

Role

The State Mufti is the most senior religious authority in the country. His main role is to give opinions (fatwas) on legal matters and on social affairs base on Islamic Koran, Hadeeth, Qiyas and Ijma' of Ulema.^[2]

History

The first State Mufti of Brunei was Ismail Omar Abdul Aziz from 1962 to 1965. He had been Mufti of Johore in Malaysia. In 1967, Ismail again became Brunei's State Mufti until his death. In 1994, Brunei-born Vice State Mufti Abdul Aziz Juned became the country's State Mufti.^[3]

List of state muftis

State Mufti

Portrait	Minister	Term start	Term end	Time in office	Ref.
	Ismail Omar Abdul Aziz	1 April 1962	31 March 1965	2 years, 364 days	[4]
		8 March 1967	3 February 1994	26 years, 332 days
	Abdul Aziz Juned	1 September 1994	Incumbent	30 years, 338 days	[5]

Deputy State Mufti

Portrait	Minister	Term start	Term end	Time in office	Ref.
	Suhaili Mohiddin	1 September 1994	31 August 2015	20 years, 364 days	[6]
	Japar Mat Dain @ Maidin	1 September 2015	Incumbent	9 years, 338 days	[6]