Saiful Rijal ibni Abdul Kahar (Jawi: سيف الرجال; reign: 1533–1581), also spelled Saiful Rehal and Saiful Rizal, was the seventh Sultan of Brunei and ruled from 1533 to 1581. He was succeeded by his eldest son Shah Berunai. Its as during his reign, when the Castilian War occurred between empires of Brunei and the Spain. In addition to the Philippines, he was also renowned for spreading Islamic teachings throughout Borneo. According to folk tales about his palace being located on King's Island (Pulau Raja) in Jerudong. The Sultan was also known as Sultan Lixar, and Sultan Nula Alan by the Spaniards.

Reign (1533–1581)

Ascension 
Pengiran Muda Saiful Rijal was the eldest son of Sultan Abdul Kahar, therefore making him the successor to the throne after his father's abdication in 1533.

Castilian War 
Exchanges between the Bornean port cities and the Spaniards who had taken control of the Philippine islands by seizing Manila in 1571 and Cebu in 1565. Manila charged Brunei of conducting Muslim missionary activities in the Philippines because of the Spaniards' zealous proselytising efforts to convert the entire archipelago to Christianity. In a letter dated 13 April 1578, to Brunei's Sultan Saiful Rijal, the Spanish Governor of the Philippines, Francisco de Sande, made the following accusation and gave the following order.

Brunei disregarded the order as well as the accusations. In revenge, the Spaniards attacked and took control of Brunei in the same month in 1578. Additionally with the assistance of two defectors, Pengiran Seri Lela and Pengiran Seri Ratna. When the Spaniards captured the capital, he chose to move the country's capital to Saragua, further emphasizing the importance of Sarawak. He also had to retreat to Piragong, in Ulu Sungai Brunei to strengthen the Brunei army. Moreover, to demonstrates the significant impact Brunei had on the nearby areas at the time, the Sultan ordered the reconstruction of their capital city when the Spaniards left Brunei probably in late July 1578.

Death 
Sultan Saiful Rijal reportedly became ill near Bintala, but he later reportedly recovered and went back to Brunei. He resided in Istana Mazagong in Sungai Kedayan, where he also passed away in 1581. He is buried at Kianggeh Muslim Cemetery.

Personal life 
Sultan Saiful Rijal had the following issue:

 Sultan Shah Berunai, 8th Sultan of Brunei
 Sultan Muhammad Hasan, 9th Sultan of Brunei
 Pengiran Anak Kasim
 Raja Bonda (Puteri Lamturak), consort to Sultan Abdul Ghafur Muhiuddin Shah

Legacy 

 IBTE Sultan Saiful Rijal Campus, school in Bandar Seri Begawan.

See also
 List of Sultans of Brunei

References

1581 deaths
16th-century Sultans of Brunei
Year of birth unknown