Jordanians hail unity as Muslim cleric receives condolences for Christian priest

AMMAN — Jordanians praised the spirit of religious harmony in the Kingdom after a Muslim cleric received condolences at the funeral of a well-loved Christian priest on Saturday.   

Father Yaacoub Hijazeen passed away at the age of 78 after a battle with a terminal illness.

In a sign of his legacy, Sheikh Mostafa Abu Rumman was seen accepting condolences next to Hijazeen’s family members and friends, leading to an outpouring of public support on social media.

Jordanian Hanna Numan wrote on Facebook that the image of the sheikh at the Christian burial “speaks for the real brotherhood we have in Jordan”.

For Nasr Al Majali, the sheikh’s presence with the family showed the real Jordan. 

He wrote on Facebook: “The Imam of Sahb bin Sinan Mosque taking part in the [funeral] of the man of God and church at Our Lady of Peace, Yaacoub Hijazeen, one of the members of a well-rooted Jordanian family from Karak — this is the united, pure Jordan.”

Shatha Jreisat said the funeral silences those who seek to divide Jordanians. 

Asem Rahalhel offered his condolences to Jordan for its loss, adding: “We are all under one umbrella in this country.”

 “We thank God for this blessing of conviviality,” Fayez Zawaher wrote on Facebook.

Amjad Darabka commented that Jordan benefited from its diverse religious communities. “This is the extent of inter-religious tolerance, love and shared respect between communities. A healthy fabric is created with the multiplicity of religions present in the country.”

For Yousef Sawalha, Sheikh Mostafa Abu Rumman “showed the genuineness of Jordanians who displayed an image of mutual love”.

Facebook user Emel Khbeis commented that unity and coexistence were essential to the Kingdom’s security. 

“We have to be one spirit [as] a nation so we do not give way for [extremists] to control us,” Khbeis wrote.