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Religious Pluralism in Jordan
(ohammad )li *hatta+
,omparati-e Religion& Ph.& /al0a )pplied 1ni-ersit2
3acult2 o4 5ngineering and 6echnolog2
Abstract
6his research tal7s a+out religious pluralism in 8ordan& since the 4ounding o4 the emirate and so 4ar& and a+out nature
o4 the relationship +etween the -arious 5thnicities and creeds& and how it constitutes a uni0ue case& a homogeneous&
consistent & despite the small si9e o4 the countr2& its no-elt2& the small num+er o4 its population& the scarcit2 o4
natural resources& and the wea7ness o4 its industrial potential. /ut it could constitute an ama9ing mosaic. )ll this
due to the tolerence o4 its people& simplicit2& and the Securit2 oasis the2 li-e and 5n:o2 & (a7ing it a destination 4or
all people& and )-ail thimsel-es o4 the shadow & and participate population leading e;perience& and shared destin2&
and despite the lac7 o4 estimators& +ut this countr2 still welcomes all -isitors& and re4ugees& and called to the rescue
or relie4 or su+sid2.

Introduction
In 6he Name o4 )llah (6he <od the ,ompassionate the (erci4ul
Praise is to )llah =ord o4 the worlds and pra2er and peace +e upon the lord o4 the apostles (uhammad& his 7in and
his companions.
It is an opportunit2 to tal7 a+out an important su+:ect& which constitutes a ma:or a;is in the li4e o4 people and is a
cause o4 concern to man2 nations. /ut praise +e to <od it is& in our +elo-ed 8ordan& a source o4 pride& which ma7es
us an e;emplar2 model 4or the neigh+oring )ra+ and (uslim countries.
6he Hashemite *ingdom o4 8ordan& since its esta+lishment& was 4ounded on pluralism& gi-en that the 5mirate was
esta+lished under e;ceptional conditions. Its go-ernment was the 4irst to ha-e a multinational composition& and in the
wa7e o4 inheriting the message o4 the <reat )ra+ Re-olt it stro-e 4or its citi9ens to +e e0ual li7e the teeth o4 a com+
despite the multiplicit2 o4 their religious& ethnic& national and cultural a44iliations.
6he arm2 o4 the <reat )ra+ Re-olt included man2 nationalities& Including the He:a9i& >emeni& =i+2an& and
5g2ptian& in addition o4 course to the sons o4 the tri+es and clans o4 5ast 8ordan.
1
In the a4termath o4 the declaration o4 independence and the esta+lishment o4 the *ingdom& the 5ast and ?est /an7s
were united to 4orm the nucleus o4 a new societ2 in which the Palestinians +ecame a ma:or partner. 6he new realit2
represented a ma:or challenge to the new state& particularl2 a4ter the 5ast /an7 witnessed the in4lu; o4 large num+ers
o4 displaced persons who inha+ited camps that were hastil2 prepared 4or this emergenc2 circumstance.
2

6he *ingdom +ecame a homeland 4or man2 nationalities& and in conse0uence o4 certain conditions- it hosted man2
)ra+s and (uslims. 3or instance& groups o4 ,ircassia and ,hechen (uslims arri-ed in the 7ingdom due to pressures&
which 4orced them to emigrate 4rom their countries& as a result o4 their occupation +2 the Russians under the
leadership o4 I-an the 6erri+le. 6hose groups set 4oot at an earl2 time& which preceded the esta+lishment o4 the
5mirate at the end o4 the nineteenth centur2. /ut their integration with the indigenous people too7 a long time- and
this e0uall2 applied to the *urds.
#
6here were also )rmenians who 4led 4rom the $ttoman state& and also num+ers o4
6ur7s in the wa7e o4 the a+olition o4 the ,aliphate.
@

)s a result o4 the wars o4 19@! and 19"7& the inha+itants o4 8ordan intermi;ed with signi4icant num+ers o4
mem+ers o4 the )ra+ armies coming to it. 6he occupation& in 4act& o4 the ?est /an7 had a palpa+le impact on all
segments o4 societ2.
A
=i7ewise& the 7ingdom was a44ected +2 a num+er o4 local and regional conditions which also
a44ected the demographic composition o4 societ2 due to domestic circumstances and the pro+lems that transpired in
S2ria and =e+anon& which caused an in4lu; o4 signi4icant num+ers o4 S2rians and =e+anese.
"
6his applies to the Ira0
Iran warB due to the latter& Ira0is o4 Persian stoc7 too7 re4uge in 8ordan& and due to the Ira0i occupation o4 *uwait&
more than hal4 a million o4 its citi9ens returned to 8ordan- this& in addition to 5g2ptian and Pa7istani wor7ers present
in 8ordan estimated to +e a 0uarter o4 a million persons& which is a gross understatement o4 the actual 4igure.
7

(oreo-er& groups o4 5g2ptians returning 4rom Ira0 too7 re4uge in 8ordan& which a44ected the economic conditions o4
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the wor7ers. 6he situation which multiplied the num+ers o4 Ira0is in 8ordan.
!
)nd as a conse0uence o4 the )merican
inter-ention in Ira0 and the collapse o4 the Saddam regime& another wa-e o4 Ira0is came to 8ordan 4or purposes o4
in-estment in 8ordan.
9
and lastl2 the wa-es o4 =i+2ans who came to get medical care in 8ordan& due to the re-olution
against *adda4iCs regime in =i+2a.
(ore o-er the hundreds o4 thousands o4 S2rian re4ugees a4ter the S2rian uprising against the /aCathist regime in
.amascus.
1'
,hapterB 1
Muslim GroupsB
)ll o4 the 4oregoing was a +ac7ground to our theme which I shall write toda2& namel2& religious pluralism in
8ordan.
In 4act& these succeeding immigration wa-es impacted on the religious and sectarian 4a+ric o4 8ordanian societ2 and
made it a garden o4 all sorts o4 4lowers& to spea7 metaphoricall2.
8ordan is considered a (uslim state with a Sunni ma:orit2. 6he 7ingdomCs constitution stipulates that the religion
o4 the state is Islam
11
& emanating 4rom the premise that the 4oremost distinguishing 4eature o4 8ordan is that its rulers-
7ings and princes- are o4 the 4amil2 o4 the Prophet& which was -er2 signi4icant inso4ar as the sentiments and 4eelings
o4 the population. ?hat is recogni9ed is that Sunnism +ranched out into a num+er o4 legal and intellectual schools o4
thought& which emanated 4rom schools headed +2 scholars to whom is attri+uta+le the dissemination and spreading
o4 the reputation o4 those schools.
Jurisprudential Schools:
6he first among these :urisprudential schools was the school o4 the Sha4iDi school o4 thought a44iliated to Imam
(uhammad /in Idrees Sha4iCi (died in 2'@ Hi:ri. 6his legal rite pre-ails among the ma:orit2 o4 the Sunni (uslims
in 8ordan& and the 3atwa acti-it2 (issuance o4 edicts +ased on Islamic law o4 the 8ordanian armed 4orces is +ased on
it& and the imams and preachers thereo4 are instructed in Sha4iDi law. =arge segments o4 the 5g2ptian population and
most o4 the people o4 Palestine and .amascus and the Sunni (uslims o4 =e+anon E and others- are 4ollowers o4 this
madha+& or school o4 Islamic law
12
.
Second: the Hana4i school o4 thought which 4ollows )+u Hani4a (died in 1A' Hi:ri& and to it is a44iliated a si9ea+le
portion o4 Sunni (uslims in 8ordan& especiall2 among students in religious schools where students o4 those schools
recei-e education in :urisprudence& theolog2& )ra+ic language and literature& logic and grammar& and modern
intellectual paradigms etc.
Ne-ertheless& the Hana4iCs are considered a minorit2 compared to the Sha4iCis Howe-er& the Islamic legal school
o4 thought 4ollowed in the matter o4 pu+lic issuance o4 3atwa& and also personal status law and a44airs pertaining to
marriage& di-orce& inheritance& child custod2 etc. is the Hana4i School o4 law li7e most neigh+oring )ra+ countries
such as 5g2pt& Palestine& =e+anon& S2ria and Ira0.
In the 2ear 2''! the 3atwa .epartment has +een esta+lished& in accordance to Sha4iCi madha+.
ThirdB (ali7i School o4 Islamic law& the madha+ o4 Imam (ali7 /in )nas (died in Hi:ri. Howe-er& the
Sala4is are considered 4ollowers o4 the :urisprudential school o4 I+n 6a2mi22ah& which is generall2 rooted in the
Han+ali rite& +ut it departs 4rom the opinions o4 the madha+ in man2 cases. 6he Sala4is in 8ordan are considered a
signi4icant religious power& which I shall later mention
1#
.
3rom a doctrinal point o4 -iew the 4ollowers o4 these schools o4 thought are di-ided into twoB 4irst& the )shDari
theological school& who are adherents to the -iews o4 )+ul Hassan )l)shDari (#2@ Hi:ri & which is a school o4
thought that com+ines :urisprudence (3i0h with Hadith (prophetic traditions with scholastic theolog2. Second& is
the Sala4i22ah or )hl-alhadith (tradition& which relies on two sources onl2& namel2& the FurCan and Sunnah to the
e;clusion o4 scholastic theolog2 (Ilm al-7alam. 6he pioneer o4 this madha+ is )hmad /in Han+al& and su+se0uentl2
his 4ollower I+n 6a2mi22ah.
6hese two schools o4 dogma primaril2 re-ol-e within the or+it o4 .i-ine )ttri+utes and their interpretations
1@
.
MovementsB
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6he Sunnis o4 8ordan in the intellectual sense are di-ided into se-eral schools& most importantl2, first: the most
widespread& is the school o4 the (uslim /rothersB ()l-I7hwan ul-(uslimin& which was 4ounded in 5g2pt +2 Shei7h
Hassan )l-/anna in the @'s o4 the 2'
th
centur2. It is widespread among the 2oung and the intellectuals& and is
represented in 8ordan +2 a group o4 teachers and scholars& and has the Islamic ,enter ,harita+le Societ2& 4rom which
emanate a num+er o4 schools and ser-ice institutions& and it has a political part2 called the Islamic )ction 3ront
Part2. 6his school and its 4ollowers are politicall2 and sociall2 acti-e& and ha-e le4t clear imprints on societ2. 6he
relationship +etween it and the go-ernment is a pull-push relationship. It is spirituall2 a 4ollower o4 the I7hwan group
in 5g2pt. 6he e-ents in S2ria caused numerous mem+ers o4 the S2rian I7hwan to ta7e re4uge in 8ordan in 19!'s
1A
.
Second: Sala4i <roupsB
6hose are groups o4 indi-iduals which consider the doctrines o4 the Sala4 (earl2 generation o4 (uslims to +e a
paradigm. 6he2 used to get support 4rom the Saudi go-ernment& +ut in the a4termath o4 9G11 the Saudi go-ernment
ceased to support them. In 4act& )4ghanistan had a ma:or in4luence inso4ar as the emergence o4 an e;tremist current
among them& su+se0uentl2 called Sala4i 8ihadism. In 8ordan& the2 are di-ided into two groupsB
The first: follows Sheih !in !a"& who is a prominent Saudi -D)lim- religious scholar.
The second: a group that follows Sheih Muhammad #assereddine Al$ Alban%& who is an e;pert in the
science o4 Hadith (Prophetic Sunnah& and who immigrated 4rom S2ria against the +ac7ground o4 the e-ents in S2ria
in 19!'.
)4ter the death o4 the two -enera+le scholars the Sala4is splintered and di-ided& and there was no more someone to
guide and control mem+ers o4 these groups. 3rom amongst them emerged a group that ascri+es apostas2 to other
(uslims in 8ordan. Howe-er& the num+ers o4 these are -er2 4ew indeed
1"
.
Third: The &iberation Part% Group:
It is a religious group that ad-ocates religiousl2 grounded political thought and the restoration o4 the Islamic
,aliphate to the (uslim nation- which was usurped 4rom the latter- e-en i4 +2 means o4 sei9ing power through coups
dCHtat. 6he 4ounder o4 this part2 is Shei7h 6a0uieddine Na+hani in the middle o4 the pre-ious centur2 in 8erusalem.
His 4ollowers in 8ordan are 4ew in num+er +ut the2 e;ercise an important intellectual in4luence in 8ordanian societ2.
6heir acti-it2 is +anned +2 the go-ernment. Howe-er& the securit2 apparatus turns a +lind e2e on their acti-it2 4rom
time to time
17
.
'ourth: The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Mo(ement )*AMAS+ in Jordan,
6his is a +anned political group& +ut has a pu+lic presence& +ecause it is a mo-ement concerned with the Palestine
issue& and the ratio o4 8ordanians o4 Palestinian origin is large- amounting to hal4 or more o4 the population& this
mo-ement is spiritually a part o4 (uslim /rothers.
'ifth: Islamic Jihad Mo(ement& which is li7e H)()S& +ut its 4ollowers are 4ewer in num+er than is the case
with H)()S and mainl2 gets 4inancial aid 4rom Iran
1!
.
Si-th: Al$Ahbash )Ab%ssiniansB- 6his is a mo-ement that is acti-e among 2outh& and emanates 4rom the )ra+
Islamic ,ultural Societ2. 6his group mi;es the old with the modern& and the2 hold opinions that the conser-ati-es
consider de-iant. 6his period& their num+ers increased and the2 ha-e their schools and their particular Su4i rituals.
6his mo-ement was 4ounded +2 Shei7h )+dullah )l-Harari )l-Ha+ashi& and is -er2 acti-e in =e+anon. Its adherents
are critical o4 all Islamic mo-ements and appease the go-ernments under whose aegis the2 operate.
Se(enth: Arab .ulture Societ%& which is a group that is led +2 3adia 6a++aDa & who is a religious guide and
preacher who was +rought up in a Su4i 4amil2. 6his preacher is in-ol-ed in the womenCs mo-ement and has AdDur
Al-Manthur schools& which is dedicated to the education and up+ringing o4 girls. 6his mo-ement is con4ined to
)mman and its su+ur+s
19
.
/ighth: Al$Mu0ta"ilaB 6he2 are a 4ew persons who adhere to the thought o4 ?asel /in )taDa& who 4ounded this
school o4 thought in /asra in the 2ear 1''Hi:ri& :ointl2 with )mr /in $+eid. Ne-ertheless& their in4luence is -er2
limited +ecause the2 4ocus on scholastic theolog2 as a tool 4or their call& and ilm al-7alam (scholastic theolog2 has
+ecome di44icult 4or people these da2s
2'
.
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#inth: SufismB ?e ha-e regarded Su4ism in this conte;t as an intellectual paradigm and it ma2 +e otherwise.
Howe-er& when we tal7 here o4 Su4ism we must di44erentiate +etween two t2pes o4 Su4ism& the Su4ism o4 penitence
and asceticism and de-otion to worship& and the Su4ism o4 de-iance and pantheism
21
.
6hose are numerous schools& and their 4ollowers are 4rom the common 4ol7. Rarel2 do 2ou 4ind among intellectuals
adherents to them& +ecause the2 4ocus on the superstitious and the miraculous.. as in the Shei7h ma7ing a sword go
into the stomach o4 a man and out o4 his +ac7 without there +eing an2 +lood& or hammering in a 7ni4e into the head
o4 one o4 the 4ollowers and pulling it out without pain or +lood. 6heir opponents accuse them o4 0uac7er2 and magic.
6he2 are se-eral schools& and the2 ha-e places o4 pilgrimage& con-ents and Shei7hs- among them are the 4ollowing
su4i ordersB Na0sha+andi22a& Ri4aDi2a& *ilani2a and Fadiri2a
22
.
Tenth: Jama0at Al$Tabligh& which is called +2 the common 4ol7 8amaDat )l-.aDwa. 6his group is widespread in
8ordan& and is on a par with the (uslim /rothers Societ2& +ut it relies on common 4ol7 and the not so well educated
more than on scholars& although some o4 its adherents are scholars and intellectuals. 6he philosoph2 o4 this group is
+ased on going out 4or the sa7e o4 )llah to spread the message& and to ma7e (uslims committed once again to their
4aith. 6his group was 4ounded +2 Shei7h (uhammad Ilias )l-*andahlawi in India in the mid o4 19
th
centur2
2#
.
6he 4oregoing relates to Sunni (uslims in 8ordan& who constitute around 9'I o4 the population. )ll o4 them pra2
in the same mos0ues& and none o4 them has a particular mos0ue& and it is possi+le to per4orm pra2er +ehind an2
imam without di44erentiation or impediments.
Non Sonnies:
/le(enthB )mong the religious communities that account 4or a noticea+le ratio are the Muslims Shiites. )s has
+een said 8ordan is a Sunni countr2& +ut due to the Ira0i pro+lem& hundreds o4 thousands o4 Ira0is ha-e immigrated
into 8ordan& either 4or wor7 or in-estment or 4or purposes o4 see7ing securit2 and sa4et2. (an2 o4 them ha-e settled&
while some o+tained the 8ordanian citi9enship& and ha-e +egun to 4orm a part o4 the general 4a+ric o4 the countr2
despite the 4ew num+er o4 citi9ens (o4 Ira0i origin +2 comparison with the actual num+er o4 Ira0is in 8ordan.
Ne-ertheless& the Shiites ha-e +egun to constitute a signi4icant ratio o4 the population& 4or the2 li-e in this countr2&
e;ercise in4luence and get in4luenced. 6he calamities that ha-e +e4allen Ira0 ha-e led to the displacement o4 large
num+ers o4 non-(uslim and (uslim Ira0is& Shiites and Sunnis& ,haldeans and )ss2rians& Sa+aeans& >a9idis or
otherwise. 6he large num+ers o4 Ira0i Shiittes in 8ordan notwithstanding& there are no mos0ues particular to them& 4or
the2 pra2 in the mos0ues o4 the Sunnis& although o4tentimes the2 do not pra2 alongside each other. 8ordanian
authorities in the preceding two 2ears ha-e permitted them to practice their rituals in J)shura (4esti-al
commemorating the mart2rdom o4 Imam Hussein at the tom+ o4 the ProphetCs companion 8aDa4ar /in )+i 6ale+ at
(a9ar in *ara7.
(oreo-er& in 8ordan there are .ru9e citi9ens who& it would appear& 7now nothing a+out their esoteric sect which
goes +ac7 to the 11
th
centur2& and which is attri+uta+le to the 3atimid ,aliph )l-Ha7em /i )mrillah. 6he .ru9e
ha-e no mos0ues& and the2 ha-e rituals that are similar to the rituals o4 the Persians who worship 4ire. 6his sect has
man2 secrets& and man2 (uslims consider the 1ru"e to +e non-(uslim& and the2 are closel2 a44iliated with S2ria
2@
.
)lso among the sects e;isting in 8ordan is Al$2adi%ania or Al$Ahmadi%a, which came to 8ordan 4rom Palestine in
the wa7e o4 the 19@! war. 6he Fadi2anis consider Hai4a to +e their main center in the (iddle 5ast& +ut in 19!9 the
8ordanian Religious ,ourt ruled that this group is an apostate& and it +anned its acti-it2& and man2 o4 the mem+ers o4
this group declared their repentance. Howe-er& man2 among them still secretl2 engage in missionar2 acti-it2. 6his
group 4ollows (ir9a <hulam )hmad )l-Fadi2ani who re:ects that (uhammad (p+uh is the seal o4 the prophets&
and claims that he is the seal o4 the prophets. 6his sect originated in India in the nineteenth centur2.
!ahaismB 6his sect is attri+uted to (ir9a Hussein )li )l-(a9indarani& who has the title o4 /aha& and it originated at
the end o4 the nineteenth centur2. /ahaism claimed at 4irst that /aha was a prophet and su+se0uentl2 that he was
god. )mong their most important doctrines is the sacrali9ation o4 the num+er 19& the num+er o4 months 19 and the
num+er o4 da2s in a month 19& and the2 ha-e a representati-e in )cre. In 8ordan& the2 ha-e +een o44iciall2
recogni9ed as a sect in 199A. 6here are tens o4 adherents to this sect
2A
.
6he 4oregoing relates to the (uslims or the groups that emerged in the shadow o4 (uslim societ2.
Chapter 2
.hristianit%
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,hristianit2 is considered the second most important religion a4ter Islam in 8ordanK 6he histor2 o4 ,hristianit2 in
8ordan goes +ac7 to the era o4 8esus ,hrist (peace +e upon him. )4ter the patriarchies o4 8erusalem seceded 4rom the
Patriarch o4 )ntioch in the 4i4th centur2 ). it +ecame the 4i4th most important patriarchates in the world a4ter Rome&
)ntioch& )le;andria and ,onstantinople& and its authorit2 applied in 8erusalem& Palestine& the )ra+ian Peninsula&
Ira0 and parts o4 Sinai
2"
.
In the age o4 the 5mperor Phillip the area o4 6rans 8ordan +egan to graduall2 con-ert to ,hristianit2 4rom the 4ourth
until the si;th centur2& where churches and monasteries +egan to spread in this area. 5-en +e4ore the (uslim
con0uest in that period there were 4ort2 nine parishes in 8ordan and Palestine& 4rom among which were 4ourteen
churches su+ordinate to the patriarchate o4 8erusalem.
In the era o4 1mar I+n )l-*hatta+ and in the 2ear 17 Hi:ri& corresponding to "@1). the 8erusalem church +ecame
su+:ect to (uslim so-ereignt2& and the )ra+ic language +ecame the uni42ing 4actor among the ,hristian sects despite
their doctrinal di44erences& gi-en that the2 were persecuted under /29antine rule
27
.
.uring the ,rusades the ,rusaders esta+lished a =atin patriarchate in 8erusalem as an alternati-e to the 8erusalem
patriarchate +ecause the latter had +ecome )ra+ 4rom all aspects. /ut it demised as a result o4 the end o4 the
,rusadersC rule& and its in4luence largel2 ended. )s 4or the $ttoman period there was a clear di44erentiation +etween
the churches& gi-en that each churchCs identit2 was determined +2 -irtue o4 a num+er o4 4actorsB
1- ?hat is called the $ttoman s2stem o4 go-ernment.
2- 6he s2stem o4 capitulations in $ttoman societ2 4or opening 4oreign consulates.
#- 5mergence o4 competition and con4lict +etween sects o-er sacred places.
@- 3rance ta7ing the side o4 the =atin (,atholic church and& Russia& the side o4 the $rthodo; ,hurch.
Su+se0uentl2& 4oreign missions and ,hurch missionar2 groups increased their acti-it2& and so churches& hospitals&
schools and hospices were esta+lished- such +eing a4ter o+taining permits 4rom the $ttoman state& which were
recorded in special registers named the ,hurch $ttoman records& which also included the esta+lishment o4 churches
and the reno-ation o4 e;isting ones& or the esta+lishment o4 schools and hospitals 4or other charita+le purposes. )4ter
?.?.1L (i.e. 1921-19@"& which is the era o4 the 8ordanian emirate& one o4 the historians statesB )s 4or religious
minorities in 5ast 8ordan- the2 are ,hristian- and the largest is the $rthodo; sect a44iliated to the 8erusalem
patriarchate& and its leading men were 4rom <reece and the lower echelons were )ra+s. 3ollowers o4 this sect are a
small group o4 S2riacs (Sirian 2!.
)s 4or the other religious communitiesB Roman ,atholic& which was a44iliated with the ,atholic church& which is in
turn a44iliated with )ntioch& and is lin7ed to his holiness the Pope in Rome. 6he =atin sect a44iliated to 8erusalem.
6he Protestant sect& which was relati-el2 recentl2 4ounded in 5ast 8ordan as a conse0uence o4 )merican missionar2
acti-it2
29
.
6hose sects had a noticea+le presence in education and health +ecause the2 were closer to the colonialists. 6he2 had
special schools& which were similar to go-ernmental schools& and the2 were accessi+le to the sons and daughters o4
(uslims. )rticle 1@ o4 the Pu+lic =aw issued in 1922 stipulated the right o4 religious sects and ethnic minorities to
esta+lish their own schools 4or purposes o4 educating their children in their own language& pro-ided there is an
adherence to pu+lic law
#'
.
There are four churches:
'irst3 Gree 4rthodo-B 6he latter denotes the truth or the correct path and it has a =atin et2molog2. 6his term
appeared in the a4termath o4 the di-ision in ,hristianit2 (into sects and a4ter the +uilding o4 ,onstantinople and the
esta+lishment o4 the patriarchate o4 ,onstantinople& and its head +ecame a pope who competed with the pope o4
Rome. 6he adherents o4 this church are easterners who 4ollow the <ree7 ,hurch& and their dogma holds that ,hrist
has a unitar2 nature and a unitar2 will.
#1
.
6he con4lict +etween the $rthodo; and other ,hristians was palpa+le particularl2 inso4ar as the =atin (,atholics and
the Protestants due to the con-ersion o4 the $rthodo; to these sects. 6he con4lict also occurred +etween the )ra+s
and <ree7s& the Russians and <ree7s o-er the church& which negati-el2 a44ected it& and its 4loc7 +egan to diminish in
num+ers& and some estimated their num+er in 8ordan and Palestine at #'&''' and around 1'&''' in 8ordan. (an2
con-erted to ,atholicism and Protestantism& +ut the2 still constituted the ma:or sect relati-e to the other sects& and
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their church is the most conser-ati-e& with the largest 4ollowing and the richest in endowments. (oreo-er& the )ra+
<ree7 con4lict came to the sur4ace +ecause the )ra+s demand an )ra+ leadership 4or the church and the con4lict
continues particularl2 a4ter the sale o4 some o4 the church properties to the 8ews recentl2. In 4act& the entit2 o4 the
church is lin7ed to the dominant go-ernments& and change is contingent upon a change o4 the political situation
#2
.
Second3 &atin .hristiansB ?estern pilgrims used to come to the 5ast without ha-ing a church. ?ith the dominance
o4 the ,rusaders o-er 8erusalem the2 4ounded a =atin patriarchate under the leadership o4 a ?estern patriarch& and
the2 made him responsi+le 4or the $rthodo; and =atin churches. 6his was not accepta+le to the eastern ,hristians.
?hen the ,rusaders departed in the 2ear 11!7 in the wa7e o4 the +attle o4 Hittin& and a4ter its li+eration in the 2ear
1291 the =atins +ecame Mcustodians o4 the hol2 landN& who were considered the inheritor o4 the =atin patriarchate.
In the nineteenth centur2 the $ttoman state permitted the return o4 the =atin ,hristians and the =atin patriarch2 was
once again esta+lished& and its patriarchate returned to the 5ast& which led to an increase in missionar2 acti-ities in
8ordan and Palestine& whose center was the 8ordanian cit2 o4 Salt. It mo-ed in the circle o4 Rmemein& 3uheis& *ara7&
(ada+a& Husn& )n:arah and ):lun. )nd within hal4 a centur2 the =atin ,hristians succeeded in re-i-ing their
in4luence and the2 esta+lished the 8erusalem patriarchate. 6he patriarchate was a+le to attract new 4ollowers +ecause
it 4ul4illed their spiritual& cultural and social needs& and +ecame an 5astern )ra+ parish due to the predominance o4
the eastern element in it. 6he2 su+se0uentl2 +ecame a part o4 the )ra+ people and tri+es& and in -iew o4 this
patriarchate& we deem it the most e44icacious institution among the church institutions in 8ordan and Palestine& e-en
though it is not the most numerous.
Third3 The Anglican /piscopal .hurch:
6his episcopate came as an e;tension o4 the Protestant mo-ement in <erman2& and it em+ar7ed on settling in the
5ast& and hence& it esta+lished missionar2 institutions& schools and hospitals. 6his +ecame a new and independent
church entit2 in Palestine and later in 8ordan. 6he $ttomans recogni9ed it as an o44icial millet (religious communit2
and a 4irman (edict was issued recogni9ing all Protestants irrespecti-e o4 sects& and so& the2 adhered to the $ttoman
millet s2stem. 6he2 are& in e44ect& an e;tension o4 the ?est& and particularl2& <erman2 and /ritain& which esta+lished
the )nglican 5piscopal ,hurch. 6his church ardentl2 tries to ,hristiani9e the 8ews& and some )ra+s em+raced its
4aithL it di-ided at the end o4 the nineteenth centur2 intoB
a )n 5nglish church o4 the )nglican 4aith
+ ) <erman2 church o4 the =utheran 4aith
6he 8ordanian go-ernment recogni9ed the =utherans in the 2ear 19A9& and in the 2ear 197" it +ecame 7nown as the
)nglican )ra+ 5piscopal ,hurch& which was considered an alternati-e to its predecessor.
6he )nglican ,hurch included a num+er o4 groups and societies& namel2B
6he e-angelical +rothers& the group o4 <od& )d-entists& /aptists& the 3ree Na9arenes ,hurch& the ,hurch o4 <od and
the ,hristian 1nion. Howe-er& the )nglican )ra+ 5piscopal ,hurch in 8erusalem re4used to recogni9e some o4 them&
gi-en that the2 engaged in suspect acti-ities. 6he 8ordanian go-ernment recogni9ed some o4 these churches as
independent churches& and so recogni9ed the )nglican Na9arene church in the 2ear 19A1& the 3ree )nglican church
in the 2ear 19AA& the group o4 <od the 2ear 19A"& the /aptist ,hurch the 2ear 19A7& the )d-entist ,hurch in the 2ear
19"1& the ,hristian 1nion in the 2ear 197!.
'ourth3 .atholic .hurches:
It includes the (aronites& who are 4ew in num+er& and the ,haldenas& who +elong to the Nestorian church& which
united with Rome under the name o4 the ,atholic ,haldean ,hurch& and the S2rian church who seceded 4rom the
$rthodo; S2rians in the middle o4 the 19
th
centur2& and the )rmenians& who were called the ,atholic )rmenians
a4ter the2 united with Rome in the 1!
th
centur2.
6he <ree7 ,atholic (elchites are among the largest sects in the 5ast& and the2 do not ha-e a large presence in
8erusalem. Howe-er& in the latter part o4 the 19
th
centur2 the2 recei-ed support 4rom 3rance& which caused their
church to 4lourish. In 4act& the ,atholic church is considered the most distincti-e among the 4our churches +ecause it
is a single& sacred and apostolic church& 4or all the churches are one& and their 4ocal point o4 authorit2 is Rome& 6he
,atholic doctrine has it that ,hrist has two natures and two wills& <od and man in a single di-ine person.
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Ha-ing spo7en o4 the ma:or churches I must re4er to those 5astern churches which included man2 ethnic groups such
as the S2rians& ,opts& )rmenians and )+2ssinians& and so the names assigned o-erlapped- which ha-e -aried ethnic&
linguistic& doctrinal and ritualistic denotations. )mong these sects are Non-,halcedonian& the Nestorians& S2rians&
)rmenians& ,opts& $rthodo; )+2ssinians.
(oreo-er& 8ordan is considered a -enue 4or the 8eho-ah ?itnesses& although man2 ,hristians do not consider them
as co-religionists. )nd the2 are growing in num+ers& and ha-e two churches in 8ordan.
)s 4or the (ormons the2 ha-e a tin2 presence& and ha-e no independent church.
Religious sects councilsB )ccording to )rticle 1'@ o4 the 8ordanian ,onstitution o4 the 2ear 19A2& religious courts
were di-ided into two t2pesB
) Religious courts 4or (uslims.
/ ,ouncils 4or other religious sects o44iciall2 recogni9ed +2 the go-ernment.
6he sectarian council law o4 the 2ear 19#! was promulgated& which gi-es non-(uslim religious communities the
:urisdiction to organi9e personal status a44airs according to their own laws& and the appointment o4 the mem+ers o4
these courts shall +e +2 -irtue o4 the decision o4 the ,ouncil o4 (inisters& and +ased on the recommendation o4 the
spiritual head o4 those religious sects& pro-ided that such is co-terminus with a Ro2al decree.
6he religious sects that are recogni9ed until the 2earKB
<ree7 $rthodo; and Roman ,atholic& )rmenian& =atin& the )ra+ )nglican 5piscopal ,hurch a4ter the amendment o4
its name& the (aronite sect& the =utheran )nglican ,hurch& S2rians& $rthodo;& )d-entists.
6he religious sects councils ha-e the right to :udge and loo7 into all the cases related to their a44airs. 8oint courts are
esta+lished in the e-ent that those cases in-ol-e (uslims.
Historians and researchers ha-e di44ered o-er the classi4ication o4 ,hristian sects. Some ha-e classi4ied them +ased
on language& others classi4ied them according to ethnic +elonging& and others classi4ied them according to rituals or
+ased on religious authorit2. )mong the most important such classi4ications is that o4 4ather .r. Hanna *ildani& who
s2nopsi9es all the 4oregoing elements.
)s a conse0uence o4 the situation in Ira0& more than one hundred thousand ,hristians ha-e sought as2lum in 8ordan&
most o4 whom are ,haldeans and )ss2rians& which e-ent increased the num+er o4 ,haldena ,hristians. )s 4or
Sa+aeans& some o4 them worship stars and planets& and some consider themsel-es ,hristians.. Hence& 8ordan has
+een in4luenced +2 numerous 4actors which ha-e +e4allen the region& which include worshippers o4 Satan. In 4act& the
securit2 4orces ha-e detained a group o4 2oungsters 4rom amongst the worshippers o4 Satan a4ter some o4 their
parents complained o4 their misconduct. It +ecame e-ident that those 2oungsters ta7e drugs under the prete;t o4
religious rituals& and there continues to +e some who ad-ocate such +eha-ior.
)lso& 8ordanian societ2 has 4allen under the in4luence o4 ,ommunism and Socialism with the concomitant atheism
and denial o4 <od- as a conse0uence o4 the Israeli occupation o4 Palestine. Howe-er& these currents are receding due
to the disintegration o4 the So-iet 1nion and the 5astern +loc.
6his was a modest e44ort through which I tried to in4orm 2ou a+out the realit2 o4 religious li4e in 8ordan& and I
accompanied 2ou on a tour in a garden 4rom which I pic7ed 4or 2ou assorted 4lowers.
.onclusion
3rom this research& we reached to the conclusionB that the 8ordanian societ2 is an ideal model was esta+lished 4rom
the outset& to +e a multi-ethnic& creeds& +elie4s& and religions& dominated +2 consistenc2& coordinating and agreement&
homogeneous and peppered with peace4ul coe;istence& and that made him the 4ocus o4 attention& and a -isitors
destination& and the reason 4or that& securit2 and prosperit2& in which citi9ens li-e& 4rom the -arious o4 assets and
origins.
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2-I+id p.29.
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%ol 2& No.11& 2'12

119

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##-I+id& p.#'.
Research on Humanities and Social Sciences www.iiste.org
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%ol 2& No.11& 2'12

12'

#@- I+id& p.9#.
#A- )rmenian ,atholic /ulletin& Septem+er issue& 2''1& )leppo.
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th
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#7-I+id& p. #7.
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pu+lishing and .istreputing&1
st
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@'-I+id& p. #@.



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