Omar Ali Saifuddien III in the context of "Islam in Brunei"

Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) is the capital and largest city of Brunei. It is officially a municipal area (kawasan bandaran) with an area of 100.36 square kilometres (38.75 sq mi) and an estimated population of 100,700 as of 2007. It is part of Brunei–Muara District, the smallest yet most populous district which is home to over 70 percent of the country's population. It is the country's largest urban centre and nominally the country's only city. The capital is home to Brunei's seat of government, as well as a commercial and cultural centre. It was formerly known as Brunei Town until it was renamed in 1970 in honour of Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei and the father of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

The history of Bandar Seri Begawan can be traced back to the establishment of a Malay stilt settlement on the waters of the Brunei River which became the predecessor of Kampong Ayer today. It became the capital of the Bruneian Sultanate from the 16th century onwards, as well as in the 19th century when it became a British protectorate. The establishment of a British Residency in the 20th century saw the establishment of modern-day administration on land, as well as the gradual resettlement of the riverine dwellers to the land. During World War II, the capital was occupied by the Japanese forces from 1941 and bombed in 1945 upon liberation by Allied forces. Brunei's independence from the British was declared on 1 January 1984 on a square in the city centre.

Hassanal Bolkiah Muiz'zaddin Wad'daulah (born 15 July 1946) is Sultan of Brunei, reigning since 1967, and has also served as Prime Minister of Brunei since its independence from the British rule in 1984. He is among the world's few remaining absolute monarchs.

The eldest son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit, he is the 29th sultan to ascend to the Bruneian throne, following the abdication of his father in 1967. The Sultan has been ranked among the wealthiest individuals in the world. As of 2023, Hassanal Bolkiah is said to have a net worth of $50 billion. He is the world's longest-reigning current monarch and the longest-serving current head of state. On 5 October 2017, Bolkiah celebrated his Golden Jubilee to mark the 50th year of his reign.

The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (Malay: Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien) or unofficially Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque (abbreviated as the SOAS Mosque), is a mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is one of the two state mosques (masjid negara), the other Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque. One of the biggest and most striking mosques in the Far East, it was completed in 1958 at a cost of US$5 million, built by the eponymous Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei.

The mosque's design was significantly influenced by Mughal architecture; and it is recognisable by its gold dome that dominates the city's skyline. Situated in a man-made lagoon with a ceremonial stone barge, the mosque has become one of the most photographed icons in the country. The inside is decorated with rugs from Saudi Arabia and walls made of Italian marble. The mosque is a popular tourist destination due to its façade, but its main purpose is to be a place of worship.

The Brunei revolt (Malay: Pemberontakan Brunei) or the Brunei rebellion of 1962 was a December 1962 insurrection in the British protectorate of Brunei by opponents of its monarchy's proposed inclusion in the Federation of Malaysia. The insurgents were members of the TNKU (North Kalimantan National Army), a militia supplied by Indonesia and linked to the left-wing Brunei People's Party, which favoured a North Borneo Federation. The TNKU began co-ordinated attacks on the oil town of Seria (targeting the Royal Dutch Shell oil installations), on police stations, and on government facilities around the protectorate. The revolt began to break down within hours, having failed to achieve key objectives such as the capture of Brunei Town and Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III. The revolt influenced the Sultan's 1963 decision not to join Malaysia. It is seen as one of the first stages of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.