Zain Serudin

Dato Seri Utama Dr. Ustaz Haji Mohammad Zain bin Haji Serudin (born 30 August 1936), pen name Shukri Zain, is a Bruneian nobleman, politician and poet who formerly held the position of Minister of Religious Affairs from 1986 to 2010. 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. He also was the leader or president of the Brunei Youth Council (BYL), and a member of the Privy Council.

Early life and education
Shukri Zain is born 30 August 1936 at Kampong Lurong Sikuna, in Kampong Ayer. He had his early education in religious institutions before earning his degree from Egypt's renowned Islamic University of Al-Azhar.

Political career
In December 1963, Zain 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.

He was appointed as the Minister of Religious Affairs on 21 October 1986. 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. He enacted the Islamic Adoption of Children Order on 26 March 2001. On 7 April 2011, he was appointed as a member of the Privy Council.

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.

Literature
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.

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.

Personal life
Pehin Zain is married to Datin Hajah Yukmas binti Mohammad and have three children. His residence is located at Jalan Pasir Berakas, Lambak Kanan.

Awards

 * Youth Leadership Merit (2006)
 * Anugerah Penulisan Islam (API) (2011)
 * Mastera Literary Award (2011)
 * Southeast Asian Writers Award (1991)

Honours
Pehin Zain holds the title of Yang Berhormat (His Honorable) Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja. In addition to earning the following honours;
 * BRU Family Order of Brunei 2nd Class.svg Family Order of Seri Utama (DK; 15 July 1970) – Dato Seri Utama
 * BRU Islamic Religious Order of the State of Brunei.svg Order of Islam Brunei First Class (PSSUB; 15 July 1972) – Dato Paduka Seri Setia
 * BRU Order of Merit of Brunei.svg Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Second Class (DSLJ; 15 July 1969) – Dato Seri Laila Jasa
 * Sultan_Hassanal_Bolkiah_Medal.gif Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal First Class (PHBS; 12 February 1969)
 * Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI).gif Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI)
 * Pingat Jasa Kiebaktian (PJK).gif Meritorious Service Medal (PJK; 24 February 1987)
 * Long Service Medal (PKL).jpg Long Service Medal (PKL; 24 February 1987)
 * Sultan's Silver Jubilee Medal (1992).gif Sultan Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)