Sharif ul-Hāshim of Sulu facts for kids

Sharif ul-Hashim was a very important leader in history. His real name was Sharif Abubakar Abirin Al-Hashmi. He was an Arab-Muslim explorer. He founded the Sultanate of Sulu, a powerful kingdom.

He became the first ruler, or Sultan, of Sulu. He led both the government and the religious life of the area. During his time, he created the first laws for Sulu. These laws were called Diwan and were based on the Quran, the holy book of Islam. He also made Islam the main religion of the state.

Who Was Sharif ul-Hashim?

Not much is known about Sharif ul-Hashim's early life. He was born in Johore, which is now part of Malaysia. His full regal name was Paduka Mahasari Maulana al Sultan Sharif ul-Hashim. This long name means "The Master, His Majesty, Protector and Sultan, Sharif of Hashim."

The "Sharif of Hashim" part shows his noble family background. He was a descendant of the Hashim clan. This is the same clan that the Islamic prophet Muhammad belonged to. He was also a scholar of Islamic law and beliefs.

His Family and Titles

Abubakar bin Abirin had special titles like Sayyid and Shareef. These titles mean he was a respected descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. His family line came through Muhammad's grandsons, Hassan and Hussain.

His family history shows he was related to Muhammad through his mother's side. This connection goes back to Sayyed Zainul Abidin from Hadhramaut, Yemen. This family was known as the Ba 'Alawiyya of Yemen.

Sharif ul-Hashim's Children

Sharif ul-Hashim had children who also became important leaders. His oldest son, Sharif Kamal ud-Din, became the next Sultan after him. He ruled from 1480 to 1505.

Another son was Sultan Sharif Ala ud-Din. Sharif ul-Hashim also had a grandson, Sultan Sharif Mu-izz ul-Mutawadi-in. This grandson became Sultan from 1527 to 1548. He took the throne after Kamal ud-Din passed away.

The Sulu Sultanate Today

The Sultanate of Sulu's power became much smaller after 1915. However, some people who say they are heirs of the Sultanate still appear in the news.

One important event happened in 1878. The Sultan of Sulu at that time made an agreement with British businessmen. This agreement was about land in North Borneo. The British paid the Sultan a yearly fee for the right to use these lands.

Today, this land is in the Malaysian region of Sabah. Malaysia continued to make these payments for many years. However, payments stopped in 2013 after an event called the Lahad Datu Standoff.

Later, some people claiming to be the Sultan's descendants went to court. They asked for money related to the old agreement. After a long legal process, a court in Paris ordered Malaysia to pay a large amount of money. But this decision was later overturned by the International Court of Justice in June 2023.

See also

• Sharif ‘Ali ibn ‘Ajlan ibn Rumaithah ibn Muhammad
• Sultans of Sulu