Norig Neveu

 

 

This documentary, produced in 1988, focuses on Islamic archaeological sites in Jordan and presents the most significant monuments built since the beginning of Islam in the 7^th century. The film typifies the refocusing of the Jordanian Islamic topography after the loss of Jerusalem and its holy sites in 1967.

 

The documentary opens by showing the letter sent by the Prophet Muhammad to the Byzantine emperor Heraclius in 628-629, to persuade him to convert to Islam. This document is a fundamental heritage object, which connects the history of Jordan directly to the person of the Prophet. Jordan is then presented as being the Islamic conquest's gateway into Bilad al-Sham (Syria), thanks to three battles: Mu'ta (629), Fahl (635) and Yarmouk (636). The battles of Yarmouk and Fahl were Muslim victories over the Byzantine Christians. However, a number of the Prophet's Companions died in these battles. Since the 1980's their mausoleums have been part of a major renovation project. This project, over-seen by King Hussein and the Ministry of Waqf, which looks after Islamic religious property, also highlights some of the Companions as exemplary historical figures: 'Abu' Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah and Ja'fari ibn Abi Talib.

 

The documentary gives an important place to the heritage of the Umayyad period, describing a number of sites from that period: the Amman citadel, the desert castles, the Dome of the Rock, Cave of the Seven Sleepers. In this sense it typifies the way the Umayyad Islamic heritage was given greater prominence during the late 1990's, following a formal working out of an official national history. The choice of Umayyad can be explained by a desire to value the people regarded as indigenous (Maffi, 2004).

 

The fortress of Ajloun, Qala'at al-Rabad built at the end of the 12^th century by Izz al-Din, is also mentioned because it links the country to the important historical figure of Saladin. The building served as the base for Saladin's armies in their fight against the Crusaders who had built fortified monuments at Karak, Tafila and Aqaba. This war ended with the capture of Jerusalem by Saladin in 1187. The documentary ends with a brief mention of the Mamluk – including the Aqaba fortress – and Ottoman architectural heritages. Azraq castle and the fort of Aqaba were the headquarters for generals of the Arab Revolt, particularly Sharif Faisal, brother of King Abdullah I. Today this allows the Hashemite dynasty to present itself as heir and defender of Islamic history.

 

Since 2001 these archaeological sites have been valued as part of a campaign to promote Islamic tourism. The aim being to attract regional and international tourists, especially during the major pilgrimages: Hajj and Umra. So these monuments offer the country new heritage sites from a glorious past and show a historical thread linking the early days of Islam to the Jordan of today.

 

 

Ghazi Bin Muhammad, (Prince), (ed.), 1999, The Holy Sites of Jordan, Amman, Turab.

Irene Maffi, Politiques du patrimoine et politiques de la mémoire en Jordanie, entre histoire dynastique et récits communautaires, Dijon-Quetriny, Edition Payot Lausanne, 2004, p.358.

Norig Neveu, «La sacralisation du territoire jordanien, Reconstruction des lieux saints nationaux, 1980-2006», in Archives de Sciences sociales des Religions, no 151, 2010, pp. 107-128.

Norig Neveu, «Islamic Tourism in Jordan, Sacred topography and State Ambitions, 1980-2009 », in Noel Scott and Jafar al-Jafari, Tourism in the Muslim World, Bringing Tourism Theory and Practice, vol.2, Bingley, Emerald,pp.141-157.