The King Abdullah Mosque in Amman – A Spectacular Jordanian Gem

No visit to Jordan is complete without a stop at the King Abdullah Mosque in Amman. By all accounts, the mosque is a prime example of Islamic architecture. While it does not feature in all our Egypt and Jordan combined tours, it certainly does feature in many of them.

Most people who visit Jordan do so because they have a fascination with history. They want to explore sites and places which have helped shape the world we live in today, and Jordan fits the bill perfectly, regardless of one’s age, gender, race or creed.

Whether you want to visit areas mentioned in biblical scriptures, or whether you simply want to experience what it feels like to travel back in time, Jordan is a fantastic destination. Many people who have visited say that there is only one thing better in Jordan than the historical sites it has to offer, and that is the almost unimaginable hospitality of the locals.

The Blue Domed King Abdullah Mosque

The King Abdullah Mosque in Amman is one of the top Jordan tourist attractions, and is instantly recognizable by it beautiful blue dome, under which as many as 3,000 devotees can gather for prayer. Anyone who spends even a minimal amount of time in the city will almost certainly see the mosque since it’s one of the most distinguishable buildings in the city.

The mosque itself is no longer the city’s primary place of worship. The exact reason for this seems unclear, but nonetheless, thousands upon thousands of people continue to visit the mosque each year, both locals and tourists alike.

At Egypt Tours Plus, all of our Egypt and Jordan combined tours are fully customizable. Even tour itineraries that don’t feature this site can be amended to allow for a visit to beautiful mosque.

King Abdullah Mosque in Amman – A Royal Tribute

Construction of the King Abdullah Mosque in Amman began in 1982 on the orders of the late King Hussein of Jordan. The mosque, which was to be a tribute to King Hussein’s grandfather, King Abdullah I of Jordan, was finally completed in 1986.

Upon its completion, the mosque became Jordan’s “national place of worship” and it held that status until 2006, at which point the much newer “King Hussein Ben Talal Mosque’ became the country’s national mosque.

Today, the King Abdullah Mosque in Amman is primarily an art gallery which is home to an interesting collection of pottery artifacts and pictures of King Abdullah I of Jordan. Despite the mosque no longer being a “place of worship”, there is little doubt that it remains a fitting tribute.

King Abdullah I of Jordan

King Abdullah I of Jordan successfully led Jordan through one of the country’s most volatile periods, with wars taking place on an almost global scale. While the leaders of most Arab countries distrusted King Abdullah I of Jordan because of his ties with Western governments and his secret meeting with the Israelis, one can’t help but admire his foresight.

Unfortunately, his reign was about to come to an end. On the 20th of July 1951, King Abdullah I of Jordan and his grandson, Prince Hussein were in a mosque in Jerusalem for Friday prayers, when an assassin opened fire on them. King Abdullah was shot three times in the head and chest and died instantly.

Prince Hussein was also hit, but a medal which his grandfather had pinned to his chest earlier deflected the bullet, thereby saving his life. Those involved in the assassination were all executed apart from the mastermind of the plot, who instead was sent to prison.

As an act of goodwill, the late King Hussein granted Abdullah el Tell, the imprisoned mastermind, a full pardon in 1967, and later went on to build the King Abdullah Mosque in Amman as a tribute to his grandfather who had died at his side.

Other Notable Places Of Worship In The Vicinity

Jordan, being a predominantly Islamic country, quite understandably has no shortage of mosques, and Amman is certainly no exception. Apart from the country’s famous King Abdullah Mosque in Amman, visitors can also visit several others, although not all of them are open to tourists.

Jordan has always placed a great deal of emphasis on being a very moderate state, and a prime example of this can be seen in the fact that just a short distance from the King Abdullah Mosque lies the Coptic Church.

The King Abdullah Mosque in Amman is just one of many interesting attractions frequented by visitors to the country’s capital. To visit the mosque, and to discover just how much this incredible country has to offer, please explore our Egypt and Jordan Tours where you’ll find a range of tours offering the adventure of a lifetime.

 

 

Last Updated on July 12, 2020