New Delhi: When folks consider monarchs in Muslim international locations, the thoughts typically conjures photographs of strict conservatism, veiled girls and closed-off lives. However Jordan’s royal palace tells a distinct story. Right here, the ladies are free to comply with their ambitions, from international trend to the cockpit of a fighter jet. That is the world of King Abdullah II, the place modernity and custom coexist in concord.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lately visited Jordan, the place he met King Abdullah II. Whereas discussions focussed on strengthening diplomatic ties, the highlight was additionally on the King’s household, a lineage tracing again to the forty first era of the Prophet Muhammad.
Regardless of being a royal Muslim household, they reside with out the strict confines of hijabs (head scarf) or burqas (veils). Queen Rania, who’s recognised worldwide for her magnificence and elegance, is an emblem of this contemporary strategy.
King Abdullah himself is a educated pilot, a Star Trek fan and thought to be one of the approachable Muslim leaders globally.
Crown Prince Hussein
Born in 1994, Crown Prince Hussein studied Worldwide Historical past on the Georgetown College in the US. Following household custom, he additionally educated at Britain’s Royal Navy Academy Sandhurst.
At present, he serves as a captain within the Jordanian military and infrequently accompanies his father on diplomatic visits. Lately, he married Saudi architect Rajwa Al Saif in a lavish ceremony.
A Reflection Of Her Mom
Born in 1996, Princess Iman is usually described as a mirror of Queen Rania. She studied on the Georgetown College and New York’s Parsons Faculty of Design. Energetic in sports activities and an avid equestrian, she married Venezuelan financier Jamal Alexander Thermiotis in 2023.
Jordan’s First Feminine Jet Pilot
Breaking conventional molds, Princess Salma, who was born in 2000, educated at Sandhurst and have become Jordan’s first feminine fighter jet pilot. Her achievement sends a message worldwide {that a} princess from a Muslim nation can pursue careers as soon as thought-about unconventional.
The Youngest Scholar
The youngest little one, Prince Hashem, who was born in 2005, lately graduated from Jordan’s Kings Academy and is now getting ready for additional research on the Georgetown College in the US.
Modernity At House
Do the ladies of the royal household put on burqas? The reply isn’t any. Queen Rania isn’t seen in hijab or veil, opting as an alternative for designer Western apparel, trousers and skirts. Her hair is usually uncovered, and she or he speaks confidently on international phases.
She has repeatedly emphasised that in Islam, modesty is in regards to the thoughts and behavior, not solely clothes, and carrying a hijab is a private alternative, not a mandate.
King Abdullah has by no means imposed conservative gown codes on his household. Each daughters, Iman and Salma, gown in trendy apparel and take part publicly with out head coverings. This alerts a societal shift in Jordan, demonstrating that Muslim identification and modernity can coexist.
Wealth, Privateness, International Belongings
Although Jordan is a small nation, King Abdullah’s wealth has made headlines. The 2021 Pandora Papers leak revealed that he reportedly bought luxurious properties in the US and the UK value over $100 million (round Rs 800 crore), together with seaside villas and high-value houses in a number of the world’s most costly cities.
The leak additionally revealed that Swiss financial institution accounts with roughly $245 million (round Rs 2,000 crore).
The royal household, nevertheless, dismissed claims of misuse, stating that these are private household property used for official duties and safety, not public funds.
A King Past The Palace
King Abdullah’s life extends far past the palace. He’s a educated pilot able to flying a Cobra assault helicopter, enjoys skydiving and scuba diving and even made a cameo in his favourite TV sequence, ‘Star Trek: Voyager’, earlier than ascending the throne. He has been instrumental in selling Jordan’s movie business, with Hollywood productions like The Martian and Aladdin filmed within the nation.
He typically disguises himself to maneuver amongst residents as a taxi driver or an aged man, observing on a regular basis life firsthand.
Bridging Islam, Modernity
King Abdullah II and his household exemplify how deep cultural roots can coexist with trendy aspirations. Conventional ceremonies and sword dances are carried out together with daughters flying fighter jets and Queen Rania selling girls’s empowerment on international phases.
Their story shouldn’t be solely about wealth and glamour, it delivers a message {that a} Muslim household can embrace modernity whereas staying true to religion and identification. This strategy contributes to Jordan’s status as a secure and peaceable nation in a turbulent area.
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