Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram is the eldest son of Mohammed Mahakuttah Abdullah Kiram, the last titular sultan of Sulu recognized by the government of the Philippines. He is one of the main claimants to the headship of the House of Kiram and therefore a claimant to title of sultan. Between his father's death in 1986 and his coronation in 2012, he described himself by the title by which he was recognized by the Philippine government in 1974, that of Raja Muda.