Religious tourism in Jordan is known as visiting important and sacred religious sites for the three monotheistic religions, which are Islam, Christianity and Judaism, with the aim of enjoying the spiritual and contemplative atmosphere that enhances faith and increases the religious awareness of the traveler, as Jordan includes a large number of important and sacred religious sites, which include mosques And churches and archaeological sites that are linked to the religious history of the region.
Religious tourism is closely related to cultural tourism in terms of purpose, especially those related to the spiritual aspect of man.
Attractions of religious tourism in Jordan
For centuries, Jordan witnessed notable events in the history of the Islamic, Christian and Jewish religions, and thanks to their religious importance, several sites throughout Jordan have become a destination for tourists from different countries, given that Jordan is a country that seeks to preserve religious coexistence, it works hard to preserve these sites Religious sites should be protected, taken care of, and presented to visitors and pilgrims in the best possible way. The most important of these places are:
First : Islamic holy places in jordan
Muta battle site
Which is considered one of the most important invasions in Islamic history, as it is the first invasion that Muslims waged outside the Arabian Peninsula, as the invasion took place at the site of Al-Mashhad in the city of Mutah in Al-Karak Governorate, in which the Muslims defeated the Romans under the leadership of the great companion Khaled bin Al-Walid, and the shrine that contains the shrines of the three martyrs is about 3 meters away from Mutah km to the south, so that it is located on the road linking Amman, Tafilah, and Ma’an, and it contains a spacious mosque with three green domes and two tall minarets.
Shrine of Prophet Shuaib
The shrine and tomb of the Prophet Shuaib in Jordan is considered among the important archaeological and religious sites for Muslims. This shrine is located in Wadi Shuaib in the Balqa Governorate, and it is believed that the Prophet Shuaib, who was mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, was buried there. The area is about 40 kilometers from the city of Amman, and it is an attraction A tourist destination visited by thousands of visitors every year, including large numbers from Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia. Fridays and the month of Ramadan are marked by crowds of visitors in this region, which attracts visits from inside and outside the country.
Cave of sleepe
It is believed that the Cave of Ar-Raqim is the place where the believing boys who fled from the persecuted King Daqianus fortified themselves because of their religion. Despite the difference of opinion about the location of the cave, historical and archaeological evidence indicates that this cave is located in the village of Al-Rajeeb, east of the Jordanian capital, Amman, at a distance of 7 km. Approximately kilometers, and the cave is about 4 kilometers east of the Jordan Television building, and 1.5 kilometers east of the Abu Alanda area.
Christian holy sites in jordan
Sites of Christian pilgrimage in Jordan
Jordan occupies an important place among Christian religious tourism destinations all over the world, as these sites are important for Christian pilgrims and are a great religious and tourist destination in the region.
Baptism site
The baptism of Christ – upon him be peace – is the place where John the Baptist settled in the Jordan Valley, where it is believed to be the place where Jesus was baptized. The site became famous thanks to its mention in the Bible (John 1:28 and 10:40), in addition to its mention in Byzantine and medieval texts. The site is located on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and it is subject to regular inspection, excavations and restoration operations, in preparation for receiving visitors and pilgrims. Jerusalem.
The baptismal site in the Jordan River is considered one of the oldest religious sites in Jordan, as it is believed that John the Baptist baptized Christ at this site. Between 491-518, the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius built the first church dedicated to St. John the Baptist on the eastern and western banks of the Jordan River, however The church was destroyed by frequent floods and earthquakes, and was rebuilt three times until it collapsed again along with the church built on the docks by a great flood in the sixth or seventh century. Many visitors and pilgrims from all over the world, and it was registered as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2015, which confirms its cultural and historical importance. The baptism site is located in Balqa Governorate, northwest of the Jordanian capital Amman, and visitors can visit it and learn about its history and culture.
Nebu mountain
Mount Nebo is a high mountain overlooking the Dead Sea, the Jordan River Valley, Jericho, and the distant hills of Jerusalem. This site is considered a sacred place for Christians and Jews, as they see in it the site in which the Prophet Moses saw the holy land of Canaan, which he could not enter, until he died and was buried in Moab. Nebo was a sacred place that the first Christian pilgrims from Jerusalem flocked to, and a small church was built there in the fourth century AD to perpetuate the life of Moses – peace be upon him – and the church was later expanded in the fifth and sixth centuries to become the large church we know today, and the church contains amazing collections of paintings Byzantine mosaics that attracted tourists and visitors to enjoy the stunning views and interesting history.
Mar Elias Church
The site assumed special importance for it because it was considered one of the sites of Christian pilgrimage in Jordan, which was approved by the Vatican as the site of the Baptism which is about 11 km to the north from the Dead Sea, and other sites of Christian pilgrimage in Jordan.
Lady of the Mountain Church
The importance of the shrine of Our Lady of the Mount Church is due to the belief that Jesus Christ, his disciples and the Virgin Mary passed through Anjara in the hills of Gilead and settled in a cave there during a journey between the Lake of Galilee and the cities of the Decapolis beyond the Jordan River and Jerusalem. The cave at Anjara has long been a sacred place for pilgrims and has been commemorated with a new shrine. The cave was also designated by the Catholic Churches of the Middle East as one of the five pilgrimage sites for the year 2000.
Makawer Castle
Makawer Castle is the most important landmark in the site, and it is the place where the Prophet Yahya, peace be upon him (John the Baptist), was imprisoned. It was mentioned in the Bible that Makawer Castle witnessed the tragedy of the beheading of John the Baptist in the year 30 AD by King Herod and his head was presented to Herodias, the mother of the dancer Salome. This was during a big celebration held in the castle on the king’s birthday.
As for the village of Makawer itself, it is built on the ruins of the archaeological site, as it contains many Byzantine churches, the most important of which is Malachios Church, which is located within the heritage houses spread in the village.
Cave of Christ
Al-Maasara Cave, or the Cave of Christ, is located to the west of the town of Beit Idis in Irbid Governorate, amidst beautiful natural scenes interspersed with omissions of wheat, barley, and perennial oak trees.
According to what was mentioned in one of the old books, the Prophet of God Jesus hid in the cave for forty days, and near the cave there is an ancient church that is said to be one of the oldest churches in the world, and it has a wonderful mosaic floor that was restored by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
It is recommended to visit the area at the end of winter and during the spring when it is at its most beautiful.
The area is dotted with black iris flowers, and beautiful wild lupine flowers with their distinctive violet color.
Jewish holy sites in Jordan:
Mount Nebo:
According to the Jewish story , the prophet Moses and the Israelites who followed him reached Mount Nebo, located in the hills overlooking the Dead Sea on the Jordanian side. Then Moses was denied entry into the Promised Land, he was able to view it from here in the 13th century BCE.
Muse’s vally and Aaron’s tomb:
Wadi Musa surrounds the Jordanian city of Petra, which is considered one of the most important tourist places in Jordan
The reson behind naming this region by this name is that the Prophet of God, Moses, resided there for some time and was aware of the approaching end of his life, so he took a stone from which 12 springs were flowing and fixed it in the mountains of that region to produce 12 springs again. Then it turned into 12 villages and each of the tribes had a village. Especially for him, and after the death of Moses, the stone remained in place, receiving thousands of visits annually from tourists from all over the world.
And it is near from the place which commonly believed to be the burial place of Aaron.
Jordan is the land of prophets and monotheistic religions. Whatever your religion, you are welcome here.
FAQS:
What are the top 3 religions in Jordan?
Islam is the relegion of 92% of Jordanians and about 8% are Christians. The majority of Christians belong to Orthodox Church; but there are also Catholics thier.
What is the famous temple in Jordan?
The most famous temple of jordan isThe Great Temple Compex , it is one of the principal sites of ancient Petra. The Great Temple was constructed around the first century BC, making it over 2000 years old. It is one of the most important archaeological and architectural sites in Petra.
Is Petra Jordan a religious site?
Yes, it consider as relegious place as it was part of the route that Moses took on his Exodus journey, which is referred to as ‘Moses Valley’ , and it is commonly believed to be the burial place of Aaron.
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