Abdul Kahar

Abdul Kahar Jalilul Alam ibni Bolkiah Shah Alam (Jawi: ; died 1578), posthumously known as Marhum Keramat, was the seventh Sultan of Brunei. He was reputed to possess supernatural abilities and be a devout man (berkeramat). He reigned from 1524 until stepping down from the throne in 1530 to allow his nephew and adopted-son Saiful Rijal to become Sultan. Additionally, he was known as Siripada by Antonio Pigafetta in 1521.

Background
In 1521, a group of Ferdinand Magellan and Antonio Pigafetta visited Brunei when he was the regent. It was said that he was around 40 years old during Pigafetta's visit. In 1526, a Portuguese named Jorge de Menezes came to Brunei with the aim of doing business as well as seeking support to conquer it. But since Brunei's strength at that time was strong, it was expected that it would be quite difficult to defeat, so the purpose of doing business was to continue. Accordingly, he has successfully made a friendship and trade agreement with then Sultan Bolkiah.

Reign
Sultan Abdul Kahar ascended the throne in 1524, marking the continuation of Brunei's Golden Age throughout his rule. The entirety of Borneo as well as other foreign territories were included in the colonies he inherited from his father. Another Portuguese diplomat by the name of Goncalo Pereira visited Brunei in 1530 in order to examine the country's affairs while conducting commerce, but his enterprise failed to take off and finally vanished. Many Islamic scholars still visit Brunei, though. With the title Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Abdul Kahar, he abdicated in 1530. The Brunei Times states that he, proceeded to extend Brunei's possessions with naval expeditions, which included the entire Borneo, Palawan, Sulu, Balayan, Mindoro, Bonbon, Balabak, Balambangan and Bangi and Luzon. Pitis was a new form of coinage developed by him. After his death in 1578, he was known as Marhum Keramat (Saint), because it's a common belief that his phantom rode a horse.

Personal life
Sultan Abdul Kahar had the following issue:


 * Raja Sakam, later Pengiran Bendahara
 * Sultan Saiful Rijal, 7th Sultan of Brunei