Safar ud-Din of Manila (World of Sultans)

Safar ud-Din al-Qasim (Arabic: صفر الدين القاسم) or Safaruddin Alkasim (Jawi: سافارو الدين الكاسيم) and later Don Enrique de Safaruddín y Alkázim (Enrique Safaruddin in short) was the Sixth Sultan of Maynila from 1640-1680 and the Provincial Governer of Manila from 1670-1690.

Unlike the other sultans, Safaruddin embraced the Spanish colonial people and even gave three of his daughters to be wed to Spanish provincial governers. In 1660, he converted to Christianity under the name Enrique.

Childhood
Safar ud-Din al-Qasim was born of the Rajah Sulaiman dynasty, to Qasim Abdullah bin Sulaiman, the fifth sultan of Manila in 1620. Although most of Sulaiman's descendants used the terms "rajah" and "datu" almost extensively (referred to as "Indian sultans" by Spanish colonists), Qasim was the first to officially adopt the title sultan and more often brought Sunni and Orthodox Islamic practices into Manila.

His dad's name "Qasim" meant "protector" in Arabic, he restricted Catholic bishops from preaching Roman Catholicism in the Muslim settlements of the Pasig River and Manila Bay.

Safaruddin recieved an education in Malaysia, where he learned prolific Malay and Arabic alongside his native Tagalog toungue and mastery of the Qu'ran.

Reign
In 1640, Sultan Qasim passed away of old age, and Safaruddin was enthroned as the Sixth Sultan of Manila. His grand vizier, Datu Unto sent a letter and a 100 silver pesos to the Spanish Viceroyality in Mexico City to get Safaruddin's coronation recognized by the Spanish Crown.

King Philip III of Spain approved of his coronation and sent the Spanish provincial governor of Manila notice of Safaruddin's coronation. Alfonso decreed, "Let them coronate the new Indian sultan. Much as we despite their religion, they have paid us necessary tribute and choose to cooperate with us, so let them practice their tradition."

In 1644, Safaruddin married a Sulu princess by the name of Maryam. They had four daughters and two sons, Safaruddin made his youngest son, Jamalul bin Safaruddin the heir to the throne.

In 1650, he strengthened the alliance between Spain and the Sultanate (then Rajahnate) of Manila and Tondo. He allowed three of his daughters to be married to the sons of Spanish provincial governors. They were baptized as Isabela, Consuelo Legazpi y Safaruddín and Penélope Goiti y Safaruddín during Eastern Sunday, Spanish authorities invited the sultan to attend the wedding.

In 1655, the sultan permitted Christian missionaries into Manila which the Spanish Crown appreciated, sending him 400 silver pesos. The missionaries worked diligently to convert Manila's people to Roman Catholicism, which met sporadic resistance from some Muslim groups. The sultan's army and Spanish soldiers alike helped put down the rebellion, Sultan Safaruddin recieved even more awards. By 1660, about 1/3 of Manila's people were converted to Roman Catholicism and by 1667, about half of Manila's people were converted to Roman Catholicism.

Conversion to Christianity
In 1670, Safar ud-Din visited an archdiocese in Manila during the Sunday starting Holy Week in the Catholic calendar and requested and be baptized and introduced into the Roman Catholic faith.

The priest who converted Safar ud-Din was astonished at his timing saying, "The sultan now begins a journey as a Christian, starting in the Holy Week."

Safar ud-Din was converted to Roman Catholicism along with his grand-vizier. The sultan celebrated Palm Sunday that day, attended an Ash Wednesday service at a church and mourned on Good Friday. On Eastern Sunday, he was officially baptized as a Roman Catholic, under the name Enrique, and his full name and addressed title became Don Enrique de Safáruddin y Alkazím and became part of the Principalía, the colonial nobility that consisted of native Filipino chiefs that converted to Roman Catholicism.

His son, Esmael bin Safar ud-Din was also converted that day under the name Carlos Safáruddin y Ismael and his daughter, Zainab bint Safar ud-Din was baptized as Alonsa Safaruddín y Zainab. His children were given free Spanish education and got to join the special privelages with the other Principalía members. Later that year, the provincial governer of Manila was assassinated by a Moro militant groups. Enrique sent armies and successfully pursued them.

The Spanish Crown permitted Enrique Safaruddin to become the provincial governer of Manila, an extremely high rank that was not available to other Principalía members.

In a letter from the Spanish Viceroyality it read, "The sultan has become a favorite of God, it is our honor to present him with the right to control all of Manila."

He controlled Manila from his palace and his throne while he gave the provincial administration to his son Carlos Safáruddin. In 1690, Enrique grew of old age and believed tha he was too old to govern