January 2026 Faraid Order fulfils Syariah Court of Appeal mandate, enabling next legal phase under Istibdal framework
BY TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH
KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 31, 2026 — The Kuala Terengganu Syariah Subordinate Court has issued a Faraid Order (Judgment of Tarekah) certifying the legitimate heirs of the late DYMM Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, a son of the 12th Ruling Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Zainal Abidin III, according to a media statement issued by legal representatives of the heirs.
The Faraid Order, obtained on Jan 4, 2026, formally certifies the heirs and fulfils a mandate issued by the Terengganu Syariah Court of Appeal in 2023, which required official documentation of lineage to be submitted before further legal steps could be taken, the lawyers said.
According to the statement, the issuance of the Faraid Order addresses what the legal team described as a longstanding procedural deadlock in a dispute relating to royal estate land dating back to 1923.
Formal Statement from Legal Counsel
In a statement issued on behalf of Tengku Ibrahim bin Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, Syariah Counsel Tuan Musa Awang and Wan Abdul Halim Wan Harun said the ruling removes a key procedural barrier that had constrained progress for decades.
“This court order fulfils the requirement set by the Syariah Court of Appeal and allows the matter to move into its next legal phase,” Haji Wan Abdul Halim said, as quoted in the statement.
The legal team also emphasised that the proceedings do not involve reclaiming occupied land or displacing current residents, but relate to the clarification of inheritance rights under Syariah law.
The Heirs’ Stated Legal Position
According to the media statement,Tengku Ibrahim, who holds a valid Power of Attorney and represents a substantial portion of the heirs, maintains the following position:
- Undistributed Estate: The one-half (1/2) share attributable to Sultan Zainal Abidin III, derived from the Cap Zuriat Sungai Mengkuang (CZSM) land, forms part of the estate and has yet to be distributed;
- Excluded from 1923 Surrender: The surrender of the CZSM land to the Terengganu State Government in 1923 by Tengku Sri Bijaya Raja did not include the Sultan’s one-half share, according to the lawyers;
- Principle of Substitution (Istibdal): Given that the original 13,500-acre tract has since undergone extensive development, the heirs are invoking the Syariah principle of Istibdal, under which alternative land may be considered in place of the original estate land.
TNS News notes that these positions reflect the claims set out in the media statement and have not been adjudicated beyond the issuance of the Faraid Order.
Call for Surviving Heirs
As part of the verification and consolidation process, the legal team has called on all surviving heirs of Sultan Zainal Abidin III to come forward.
Heirs may contact:
- Razali Ismail: +6016-375-2488
- Iwan Yaacob: +6011-101-99339
At the time of publication, no response had been issued by the Terengganu State Government regarding the matters raised in the statement.
- TNS NEWS
The CZSM Claim at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
| Original Land | Cap Zuriat Sungai Mengkuang (CZSM) |
| Size | 13,500 Acres (Kemaman District) |
| Current Status | FELDA Land Schemes & Settler Colonies |
| Key Legal Principle | Istibdal (Land-for-Land Substitution) |
| Next Step | Negotiations with State Government for alternative site |
TIMELINE: The 103-Year Quest for the CZSM Estate
- 1881 – 1918: Sultan Zainal Abidin III establishes the 13,500-acre CZSM land as part of the royal estate.
- 1923: The Terengganu State Government repossesses the land. The heirs contend the Sultan’s 1/2 share was never legally surrendered.
- 1950s – 1970s: The land is converted into a FELDA scheme, becoming home to thousands of settlers.
- April 10, 2023: The Syariah Court of Appeal mandates a Faraid Order to prove heirship.
- January 4, 2026: Heirs obtain the Faraid Order, satisfying the court’s requirement.
The Legal Pillars of the Case
- Faraid Order: An Islamic certificate of inheritance that mathematically determines the rightful shares of an estate. It acts as the legal “identity card” for the heirs.
- Istibdal (Substitution): An Islamic legal principle allowing an original estate property that cannot be returned to be replaced with another of equal value.
- Cap Zuriat: A historical royal land grant intended specifically for the welfare of the ruler’s descendants (zuriat).
HISTORICAL PROFILE: Sultan Zainal Abidin III
Reign: 1881 – 1918
Legacy: Known as the “Father of Modern Terengganu” and “Sultan Alim” (The Learned Sultan).
Sultan Zainal Abidin III was a visionary scholar-king who introduced Terengganu’s first written constitution in 1911 (Itqan al-muluk). He was a fierce defender of state sovereignty against British colonial encroachment. The pursuit of the CZSM estate by his heirs today is viewed as an act of honouring the administrative and legal legacy he established over a century ago.