| Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 15 October 1966 Amman, Jordan |
| Spouse | |
| Issue |
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| 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]
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]
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]
Promoted to First Lieutenant (November 14, 1992). Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (November 1989).
| Jordanian royal family |
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| Extended royal family |
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] More information Al-Maghtas can be found at the official website, The Baptism Site of Jesus.
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]
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.
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]
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]
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]
‘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.
Norway: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit in 2020
Awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of Hussein bin Ali (Jordan's highest medal—usually reserved only for heads of state) by H.M. King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein on October 28, 2013
Awarded International Interfaith Harmony Award by the International Islamic University Malaysia in collaboration with Department of National Unity, Prime Minister's Department, Malaysia and Jamia Ma'din, India 2014. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2013[57]
St Augustine Award, 2012, For Interreligious Dialogue in the Mediterranean, Milan, Italy
Awarded Russian Order of Friendship Medal, by President Vladimir Putin of Russia, 26/6/2012.[58][59] Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2012[60]
Awarded Badge of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (3rd Class), by President Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine, June 2011 Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2011[61][62]
Awarded the Sultan Qaboos Medal (of the 1st Order) by Sultan Qaboos bin Said on 30/11/2010. 
Awarded the Special Grand Cordon of the Renaissance Medal (Al-Nahdah Al-Murasa’ ) by King Abdullah II on 29/9/2010.[63] Awarded an Honorary Ph.D. in education from Al-Balqa Applied University, Jordan on 22/9/2010.[64] Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2009 for initiating peaceful dialogue between cultures and religions.[65]
Awarded the Medal of the Holy Sepulcher (of the 1st order) by Patriarch Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Holy Land on 1/10/2009,[5] and: Awarded the Medal of Peace by Patriarch Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Holy Land on 1/10/2009.
Awarded the Eugen Biser Award by the Eugen-Biser-Stiftung (Germany) together with Grand Mufti Mustafa Cerić of Bosnia and Sheikh Habib Ali al-Jifri of Yemen, 2008.[66] Awarded the Education Medal (of the 1st Order) by King Abdullah II on 5/10/2004. Awarded the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (Al-Nahdah) Medal (of the 1st Order) by King Abdullah II on 9/10/2003.
Awarded the Order of Muhammad Medal (of the 2nd Order) by King Mohammed VI of Morocco on 10/3/2000.
Made Grand Officier de la Légion d’Honneur (Legion of Honour) by President Chirac of France in 7/1/2000. Awarded the Al-Hussein Medal for Distinguished Service (of the 1st Order) by King Abdullah II on 24/8/1999. Made Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur by President Chirac of France on 20/11/1997. Made Officier de la Légion d’Honneur by President Chirac of France on 10/3/1997. Awarded the rank of Lt. Col. (hon.) in the Jordanian Arab Army by King Hussein on 2/9/1997. 
Awarded the Order of the Star of Jordan (Wisam al-Kawkab al-Urdani) (of the 1st Order) by King Hussein on 13/11/1995.[citation needed] 
Awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the State Centennial by King Abdullah on 14/11/2021.