Jordan is a young country full of natural wonders - graced with sites, shrines and tombs of prophets and companions from the dawn of faith. We in Jordan invite you to explore our unique heritage as a welcomed and respected guest.

Geographically Jordan has always been a critical land bridge between Africa, Asia and Europe. Its neighbours, the great civilisations of the ancient world, have sought throughout time the control of this territory. Due to its strategic location and mild climate, Jordan has been constantly settled throughout every single period of history since 9500 B.C. The multitude of civilisations in Jordan left distinct marks behind, turning the country into an open museum, evidence for the rich heritage that Jordan enjoys today.

For Muslims, Jordan is a blessed landscape marked with many holy shrines and tombs. Visiting these sites is approved behaviour in Islam for both men and women. Here the faithful will learn, better understand and enhance their faith.

Jordan has been graced with a rich religious history. Located between Mecca, the holiest place on earth for Muslims, and Jerusalem, which is sacred to each of the three great monotheistic religions; Jordan has played a central role in the history of Ahl-ul-Kitab (People of the Book). Many early Abrahamic prophets mentioned in the Old Testament, Bible and Holy Quran are associated with Jordan; they lived in or at least travelled through its land.

It is generally agreed that the land of modern Jordan forms part of the blessed "neighbourhood" mentioned in the Holy Quran [Sura 17, verse 1]: "Glorified be he who carried His servant by night from the Inviolable Place of Worship (Mecca) to the far Distant Place of Worship (Jerusalem) the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, that We might show him of Our token. Lo! He, only He, is the Hearer, the Seeth.." Furthermore, the night before the plot to assassinate Prophet Mohammad in Mecca before the Hijra, Abu Jahl is known to have said: "Mohammad promises you gardens like the gardens of Al-Urdun (Jordan). "The Prophet mentioned Amman in comparison to heaven, when he said: "My Pool (in Heaven) stretches for the distance (like that) which is between Aden and Amman of Al-Balqa". To this day Al-Balqa remains one of the twelve governorates of Jordan.

Twice the land of Jordan played a part in the life of Prophet Mohammad .First around the time of his birth, at Umm ar-Rasas, which lies southeast of Madaba, the Hanif Zeid bin 'Amr bin Nufayl from Mecca is said to have heard a prediction that a Prophet would arise among his people with the 'religion of Abraham'. Then during Prophet Mohammad's and his uncle Abu Talib's caravan journeys, between Mecca and Damascus, at the caravan stop 'Bosra of Al-Sham', the famous childhood encounter with the Monk Bahira occurred. It is also here that the Prophet , with his venerable companion Maysarah , encountered the Monk Nestor. In addition, on his journey to Syria, he is said to have taken shelter underneath a tree, which is to this day located near Safawi in the Mafraq governorate.

Islam's first expansion beyond the Arabian Peninsula was northwards into Jordan. Here the first contact between Islam and the non-Arab/Byzantine world occurred. Consequently, several strategic 7th century battles took place: the Battles of Mutah, Yarmouk and Fahl (Pella). Many of Prophet Mohammad's companions and military leaders were martyred and buried in Jordan (peace and blessings be upon them all), and their tombs and shrines today are important destinations for pious Muslims.

Since its establishment as a modern state in 1921, the Hashemite family has ruled Jordan. The Hashemites, or Bani Hashem, are descendants of the prominent Arab chieftain Quraysh, who is a descendant of Prophet Abraham's son, the Prophet Ismail . In addition, the Hashemites are direct descendants of Prophet Mohammad through his daughter Fatima al-Zahra'a and her husband Imam Ali bin Abi Talib, the Prophet's paternal first cousin and the fourth caliph of Islam, (may God be pleased with both of them), and thus are part of Aahl al-Bayt, the Prophet's family.

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