Religious Sites in Jordan - Jordan News

Jordan News

12-05-2025

In Jordan, the land of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Gilead, and Perea, there are numerous shrines, sacred sites, and monuments for the monotheistic religions. This land attracts believers seeking the sites and relics of the prophets (peace be upon them) and the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Jordan was the gateway for Islamic conquests, and many major historical battles took place on its soil, such as the Battle of Mu'tah and the Battle of Yarmouk. To commemorate the martyrs and companions, mosques, shrines, and tombs were established, keeping the memory of Islamic victories alive in the modern mind. اضافة اعلان In the southern area near the city of Karak, there are the shrines of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, Zayd ibn Harithah, and Abdullah ibn Rawaha. A memorial dedicated to Urwah ibn Amr al-Judhami is located near the Afra hot springs north of the city of Tafila, while the shrine of Harith ibn Amr al-Azdi is found to the south of Tafila near the city of Busaira. All of them are honored by the grace of Allah. The Jordan Valley holds several significant shrines of esteemed companions, including the shrine of Dhirar ibn al-Azwar near the town of Deir Alla, the shrine of Abu Ubayda Amir ibn al-Jarrah, located in the valley that bears his name, the shrine of Sharhabil ibn Hasnah in the town of al-Mashareh, and the shrines of Muadh ibn Jabal and Amer ibn Abi Waqas in the northern Jordan Valley. All are revered by Allah. In central Jordan, near the city of Salt, lies the shrine of Prophet Job (Ayyub) in the village of Batan. The shrine of Prophet Shuayb (Jethro) is also located in the Wadi Shuayb area near Salt. Perhaps the Cave of the Seven Sleepers, located southeast of Amman, is one of the most significant attractions for visitors, as the story of the Seven Sleepers is mentioned in the Qur'an and is also well-known in Christian history. To the east of the Jordan River lies the Baptism Site (al-Maghtas) in the Wadi Kharrar area, formerly known as Bethany. It is at this site that Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), at the age of thirty, stood before Prophet John the Baptist (peace be upon him) to be baptized with water, marking the beginning of his mission to humanity. Excavations in the area have uncovered the remains of a Byzantine church built during the reign of Emperor Anastasius. Several wells and pools are believed to have been used by early Christians for communal baptism rituals. The site has been restored by the Department of Antiquities, and it was visited by Pope John Paul II, who declared it a Christian pilgrimage site, along with four other sites in Jordan: Machaerus Castle, Mount Nebo, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Mountain in Anjara, and the Shrine of Prophet Elijah in the area of Khirbet al-Wahadneh. In the city of Madaba, south of Amman, the famous mosaic floor from the Byzantine period can be found in the Church of St. George of the Greek Orthodox Church. Visitors can see a map of the Holy Land. To the south of Madaba lies Machaerus Castle, where Prophet John the Baptist was imprisoned before Herod had him beheaded and presented his head on a platter to the dancer Salome. West of Madaba, Mount Nebo overlooks the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley. It is believed by some that Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) was buried on this mountain, where a church with stunning mosaics from the 4th to 6th centuries was built at its summit.
In the area of Umm al-Rasas, southeast of Madaba, excavations have uncovered a church dating from the Umayyad period, with a breathtaking mosaic floor depicting intricate designs.