Jordanian Islam: The Nationalisation of Higher Islamic Education Within State Religious Policies

Abstract

Contrary to states such as Egypt or Morocco, the Jordanian state could not rely on long-lasting Islamic tradition and institutions at its creation and was exposed to the religious influence of its neighbours. The regime had to “invent” a Jordanian religious tradition, making Jordan a particularly interesting case for the study of the development of Islamic policies—central to a regime that significantly relies on religious legitimacy. This contribution based on fieldwork in Amman dives into the nationalisation of the Islamic education of Jordanian imams and preachers as a component of official Islam. It argues that the nationalisation of higher Islamic education is a crucial element of state control over religion and is inscribed in the regional competition over religious influence as much as in international considerations. It contributes to improving our understanding of the entanglement of the domestic promotion of official Islam and regional fight for religious influence.