Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad

Last updated

Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad
H.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad with Shmagh Smiling 13.12.11.jpg
Born (1966-10-15) 15 October 1966 (age 57)
Amman, Jordan
Spouse
Areej Zawawi
(m. 1997;div. 2020)
[1]
Issue
  • Princess Tasneem
  • Prince Abdullah
  • Princess Jennah
  • Princess Salsabeel
House Hashemite
Father Prince Muhammad bin Talal
Mother Firyal Irshaid

Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad [2] (born 15 October 1966) is a Jordanian prince and a professor of philosophy. [3] [4] [5] He is the son of Prince Muhammad bin Talal of Jordan and his first wife, Princess Firyal. He is a grandson of King Talal of Jordan and thus a first cousin of King Abdullah II and sixteenth in the line of succession to the Jordanian throne. He is well known for his religious initiatives, about which a book was published in 2013. [6]

Contents

Education

He attended Harrow School (1979–1984) for his 'O' and 'A' Levels. [7]

He graduated with highest honors and an A.B. in comparative literature from Princeton University in 1988 after completing a 59-page senior thesis titled "Le Jeu de Trois Contes". [8] [9]

He received his PhD (Cantab.) in Modern and Medieval Languages and Literatures (July 1993) [10] with a thesis titled, "What is Falling in Love?: A Study of the Literary Archetype of Love."

University of Cambridge (Trinity College): (1988–1989; 1990–1993)

He attended Al-Azhar University, College of Usul al-Din, Cairo (2007–2010) receiving his PhD ('Alimmayah) in Islamic Philosophy, awarded highest honors on January 16, 2010, with thesis title: Love in the Holy Qur'an. [11]

Marriage and family

In 1997, Prince Ghazi married Areej bint Omar Al Zawawi, and the couple had four children:

Prince Ghazi and Princess Areej divorced in 2021. In September 2022, Prince Ghazi married Princess Miriam, widow of the late Prince of Tarnovo. [12]

Activities

Official work

Promoted to First Lieutenant (November 14, 1992). Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (November 1989).

Other official activities

In religious affairs

Chairman of the Board of Trustees (June 16, 2007 to present),
Chairman of the Committee (May 2005 to present)
Chairman of Board of Trustees (August 2000 to present). [21]
Founder and Chairman of the Board Ex Officio of the World Islamic Sciences and Education University (W.I.S.E.), Amman, Jordan, (March 2008).
Founder and Director of The Great Tafsir Project(November 2000 to present).
Founder and Chairman of the Board for the National Park (August 2001 to present).
Founder and Chairman of the Royal Committee (1999–2001).
Founder and Deputy Chairman of the Royal Committee (1997–1999).
  • National Committee for Religious Endowments (Awqaf): [23]
Member of Committee (1996 to present).
Member of the Committee (1994 to present).

In education and cultural affairs

Founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees (1996 – May 2010). [25]
  • The Royal Commission to Investigate the Conditions and Treatment of Foreign Students in Jordan:
Chairman (September 2004 – January 2005).
  • National Examination Council:
Member of Council (1997–2000).
  • National Committee for Higher Education:
Chairman of Finance Sub-Committee (1999–2003).
Member of Committee (1994–2003).
  • National Committee for Lower Education:
Member of Committee (1994–2003).

In tribal affairs and social development

  • Royal Committee for the Preservation and Development of Camel Livestock:
Founding Chairman of the Committee (2000–2003).
  • Committee for Tribal Lands and Claims:
Head of Ministerial Committee (1998–2003).
  • Royal Institute for Development and Charitable Works:
Founder and Executive Director and Member of Board of Trustees (1997–2000).
  • Royal Committee for the Endowment of Underprivileged Schools and Tribal Areas:
Founding Chairman of Committee (1995–2003).

In sports

  • Jordan Amateur Boxing Association:
President (April–July 1998).
  • Jordan Basketball Federation:
Honorary President (1991–1993).
President (1988–1991).

Part-time work (in academia)

Appointed as Full Professor on December 12, 2005.
Appointed as Associate Professor (May 13, 2002).
Appointed as Research Professor (May 29, 2000).

Discovery of Al-Maghtas

The site of baptism of Jesus had been known to be around the Jordan River, but no one knew exactly where. An abandoned site in Jordan overlooking the river, was heavily mined in 1967 due to an acquired front line position during the Six-Day War. In 1994 after the signing of the Israel–Jordan peace treaty, Prince Ghazi who is deeply interested in religious history, was searching the area after a monk convinced him to take a look around of what was thought to be the baptism site. When they found evidence of ruins, that was enough to encourage de-mining and further development. Soon afterwards, there were several archaeological digs, tourists influx and pilgrimage activity, and several papal and state visits. In July 2015, the site was designated as a UNESCO world heritage site and is now known as the most likely location for the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. [26]

Welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to Amman

Prince Ghazi gave the welcoming address on the occasion of the pilgrimage of Pope Benedict XVI in Jordan, May 9, 2009. His wide-ranging speech, during Benedict's visit to the new King Hussein Mosque in Amman, was carried live on Eternal Word Television Network TV. It gave an account of Muslim-Christian relationships, acknowledged the pope's kindness toward Muslims and made an appeal on behalf of Muslim minorities (as on Mindanao). The speech also noted that crusaders had damaged the Christian tribes in Jordan that had preceded Islam by 600 years. [27]

World Interfaith Harmony Week

On September 23, 2010, King Abdullah II of Jordan proposed a World Interfaith Harmony Week to the UN General Assembly.
On October 20, 2010, Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Personal Envoy and Special Advisor of the King of Jordan, presented the proposal – having conceived and written the draft resolution [28]  – before the UN General Assembly 34th plenary meeting in New York where it was adopted unanimously. His speech called to those who love God and love the neighbour, or the Good and the neighbour, to coordinate and concentrate their activities in a more effective way.

The misuse or abuse of religions can thus be a cause of world strife, whereas religions should be a great foundation for facilitating world peace. The remedy for this problem can only come from the world’s religions themselves. Religions must be part of the solution, not part of the problem. [29]

International Initiative for Islamic Integral Professorial Chairs (IIIPC)

On January 30, 2012, in celebration of King Abdullah II's fiftieth birthday, Prince Ghazi launched the International Initiative for Islamic Integral Professorial Chairs (IIIPC). This started with the Integral Chair for the Study of Imam Al-Ghazali's Work, which was established in Jerusalem at the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Quds University, and King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein Waqf for the Integral Chair for the Study of Imam Fakhr Al-Din Al-Razi's Work, which was established at the King Hussein bin Talal Mosque, the University of Jordan and W.I.S.E. University. Other Islamic integral professorial chairs are to come. [30] [31]

Visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque

On 28 February 2012, during a meeting for the Arab League in Doha, Qatar, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas made a plea for Muslims to visit the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque. On April 18, 2012, Prince Ghazi, accompanied by the Grand Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Ali Goma, broke what had been a 45-year taboo in some parts of the Islamic World (propagated notably by Al-Jazeera-based Sheikh Al-Qaradawi) and visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque in order to pray there and support the beleaguered Muslim community in Jerusalem. The visit was viewed as controversial in Egypt, but set off a change of public opinion in the Islamic World that continues to this day. [32] [33]

During the trip to Jerusalem, the Prince and the Grand Mufti also visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This visit was much appreciated by the Christian community of Jerusalem. [34]

International delegation of Muslims and Christians' visit to Nigeria

Between 22 and 26 May 2012 an international delegation of Muslims and Christians, sponsored jointly by the Royal Jordanian Aal Al Bayt Institute (RABIIT) and the World Council of Churches (WCC), visited Nigeria. Prince Ghazi headed the Muslim delegation and Revd Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit led the Christian delegation.

The visit was proposed in reaction to the numerous incidents of fierce inter-communal strife which have affected the lives of Nigerians during 2000–2012, and the awareness that Nigeria is the country in the world where the most severe inter-communal violence between Christians and Muslims has been experienced. [35]

The delegation sought to understand the reasons behind this violence. To this end they issued a report entitled 'Report on the Inter-Religious Tensions and Crisis In Nigeria’ [36] [37]

Positions at non-governmental organizations

2014 to present.
Founder, 2013.
Founder and Director, 2012 to present.
Chairman of the Board of Directors, [40]
June 2008 to 2010.
January 2008 to present.

Publications

Books

Co-authored books

Articles

‘The appearance of the A Common Word [Open Letter] of 2007 was a landmark in Muslim-Christian relations and it has a unique role in stimulating a discussion at the deepest level across the world.’

— Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, 2010.

2nd expanded edition, republished in newspapers in Denmark in 2008.

Decorations and awards

See also

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Royal titles
Preceded by
Prince Muhammad bin Al Talal
Line of succession to the Jordanian throne
18th position
Succeeded by
Prince Abdullah bin Al Ghazi