Islam in Jordan

Islam in Jordan

Islam in Jordan encompasses the historical, cultural, and political aspects of Islam in the country. After the Ottoman Empire’s defeat by the Allied powers in 1918, the Middle East was divided into spheres of influence, with Transjordan (modern-day Jordan) and Palestine falling under British mandate. In 1946, Transjordan achieved independence to become the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Demographics and Religious Composition

Ninety-six percent of Jordan’s population is Sunni Muslim, while the remaining four percent are primarily Christian. Jordan’s religious landscape is marked by a predominantly Sunni demographic, with a minority presence of Sufi orders, Jamaat al-Tabligh, and Jamaat al-Sulufiyyah playing nonpolitical roles in society.

Etymology

• Islam (الإسلام): Derived from the Arabic root ’s-l-m’ which means “submission” or “peace.”
• Jordan (الأردن): Possibly named after the River Jordan, ‘Yarden’ in Hebrew, meaning “to descend” or “to flow down.”

Islamic Movements in Jordan

Two main types of organized Islamic movements exist:

Political Movements

1. Legal Movements:
   • Muslim Brotherhood (الاخوان المسلمون): Registered as a socioreligious philanthropic organization, it functions freely and openly supports the ruling family.
2. Illegal Movements:
   • Islamic Liberation Party (حزب التحرير)
   • Islamic Holy War Party (الجهاد الإسلامي)
   • Hamas (حماس)
   • Muslim Youth Movement (الحركة الشبابية المسلمة)

Religious Revival Movements

• Sufi Orders: Focus on mystical Islamic practices and personal spiritual revival.
• Jamaat al-Tabligh (جماعة التبليغ): Focuses on missionary work and personal reformation.
• Jamaat al-Sulufiyyah (جماعة السلفية): Emphasizes the return to what they consider the pure practices of Islam as followed by the early generations.

Further Reading

• A History of Jordan by Philip Robins
• Islamic Politics in Jordan by Quintan Wiktorowicz
• Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan Complex Reality under AI-Aqsa Intifada Crisis by Nagham Tabet Kira

Takeaways

• Political Diversity: Jordan showcases a spectrum of Islamic movements, from those with political ambitions to purely spiritual groups.
• Dominant Sunni Tradition: The overwhelming majority of Sunni Muslims shapes the religious and cultural tone of the country.
• Sizeable Christian Minority: Despite being a Muslim-majority country, Jordan’s small Christian community signifies its historical and ongoing religious diversity.

Conclusion

Understanding Islam in Jordan requires a nuanced appreciation of its political history, demographic distribution, and the diverse spectrum of Islamic movements. The balance between legal political movements like the Muslim Brotherhood and nonpolitical groups such as various Sufi orders provides a complex but coherent picture of Islam’s role in Jordanian society.