H.M. King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein

Prophetic Lineage

King Abdullah II is a member of the Hashemite family and the 42nd generation direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through the line of the Prophet’s grandson Al Hasan. The Hashemites, or Bani Hashem, link back to the tribe of Quraish; Hashem was the name of the Prophet’s great-grandfather. King Abdullah II is thus a member of the Aal al Bayt (the family of the Prophet Muhammad).

Ruling Dynasty

The Hashemite family ruled Mecca from 1201 CE to 1925 CE and other branches of the family have ruled Mecca from 500 CE, when Qusayy, the grandfather of Hashem, became Mecca’s first king. The Hashemite dynasty is the oldest ruling dynasty in the Islamic world, and the second-oldest in the world, after that of Japan.

Custodian of Holy Sites in Jerusalem

As custodian of the Muslim holy sites in the city of Jerusalem, King Abdullah II maintains a unique prestige in the region. He has gone on record in March 2010 to condemn Israel’s inclusion of West Bank religious sites in its national heritage list.

Islamic Outreach

King Abdullah II has proven influence at the forefront of a global intrafaith movement, through the creation of the Amman Message; a call for greater intra-religious tolerance and unity in Islam that was endorsed by representatives from all major Muslim groups in 2004. King Abdullah II is credited with the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for
Islamic Thought’s most authoritative website on the Qur’an and tafsir or Qur’anic exegesis (see p. 159 and
www.altafsir.com). King Abdullah II is also noted for founding the new World Islamic Sciences and Education University in Jordan (www.wise.edu.jo). In 2012 he launched the Integral Chairs initiative (see p. 179).

Peace Activist

King Abdullah II is the leading player in the dialogue for peace in Israel-Palestine. He has constantly and openly called for discussion in the negotiations toward a two-state solution. He is also lauded as an interfaith leader for his
support of the 2007 initiative, A Common Word— a groundbreaking initiative in Christian-Muslim engagement
(www.acommonword.com). He was also the initiator and driving force behind the recently adopted UN World Interfaith Harmony Week Resolution, marking the first week of February an annual celebration of faiths.

Taking the lead in Jordan, the King opened a national dialogue, changed the constitution and changed the government and the intelligence chief. The King also disarmed his own police to avoid violence and has promised parliamentary democracy by January. 2013.

Nevertheless the King has been under pressure because of the difficult economic situation

His Majesty King Abdullah said the Arab Spring ‘can be an opportunity to institutionalize positive change that is necessary for a strong, secure, prosperous future’.