Editing Abdullah II of Jordan (section)

==Religious affairs==
{{See also|Hashemite custodianship of Jerusalem holy sites}}
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| quote  = Our faith, like yours, commands mercy, peace and tolerance. It upholds, as yours does, the equal human dignity of every person – men and women, neighbours and strangers. Those outlaws of Islam who deny these truths are vastly outnumbered by the ocean of believers – 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide. In fact, these terrorists have made the world's Muslims their greatest target. We will not allow them to hijack our faith.
| source = Abdullah's 15 March 2015 speech before the [[European Parliament]] in [[Strasbourg]], France<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kingabdullah.jo/en/speeches/european-parliament-1|title=Before the European Parliament|access-date=17 February 2017|date=15 March 2015|work=kingabdullah.jo|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217225231/http://kingabdullah.jo/en/speeches/european-parliament-1|archive-date=17 February 2017}}</ref>
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In response to [[Islamophobic]] rhetoric after the 11 September attacks, Abdullah issued the [[Amman Message]] in November 2004.<ref name="tm500" /> The Message is a detailed statement which encouraged Muslim scholars of all sects from around the world to denounce terrorism, practice religious tolerance and represent the true nature of the Muslim faith.<ref name="tam" /> The statement was adopted unanimously in a conference hosted by Abdullah in Amman in 2005 by 200 leading Islamic scholars.<ref name="tam" /> The Message stressed three points: the validity of all eight schools of Islam, the forbidding of [[takfir]] (declaration of [[apostasy]]) and standards for the issuance of [[fatwa]]s.<ref name="tam">{{cite web|url=http://ammanmessage.com/|title=Amman Message|work=ammanmessage.com|access-date=13 February 2017|date=1 January 2005|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210153309/http://ammanmessage.com/|archive-date=10 February 2017}}</ref> The Islamic religious consensus was unprecedented in contemporary times.<ref name="tm500" /> Abdullah presented the Message in 2010 to the [[United Nations General Assembly]], where he proposed a [[World Interfaith Harmony Week]].<ref name="rafbhka" /> The initiative was adopted, and is an annual celebration during the first week of February to promote peace and harmony among people of different faiths.<ref name="rafbhka">{{cite web|url=http://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/|title=World Faith Harmony Week|access-date=13 February 2017|date=1 January 2017|work=worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214060113/http://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/|archive-date=14 February 2017}}</ref> Abdullah also established an award, based on this initiative, for interfaith dialogue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kingabdullah.jo/en/news/king-honours-winners-world-interfaith-harmony-week-award-0|title=King honours winners of World Interfaith Harmony Week award|access-date=22 February 2017|date=17 April 2016|work=abdullah.jo|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223132000/http://www.kingabdullah.jo/en/news/king-honours-winners-world-interfaith-harmony-week-award-0|archive-date=23 February 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Israel-2013(2)-Jerusalem-Temple Mount-Dome of the Rock (SE exposure).jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|alt=Islamic shrine with a gold dome|left|The [[Dome of the Rock]] and other Muslim and Christian religious sites in [[Jerusalem]] are in the custody of Abdullah, a position held by his dynasty since 1924.]]
The [[Al-Aqsa|Al-Aqsa Mosque compound]] in [[Jerusalem]] was under Jordanian rule from 1948 to 1967; it was under Hashemite custodianship since 1924, during the reign of Abdullah's great-great-grandfather [[Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca|Sharif Hussein bin Ali]].<ref name="ttoi" /> The legacy began when the [[Supreme Muslim Council]], the highest body in charge of Muslim community affairs in [[Mandatory Palestine]], accepted the [[Sharif of Mecca|sharif]] as custodian of the site.<ref name="ttoi" /> He restored the Jami’ Al-Aqsa and other mosques in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]].<ref name="hgoam">{{cite web|url=http://www.kingabdullah.jo/en/page/the-hashemites/custodianship-over-holy-sites|title=Custodianship over Holy Sites|access-date=17 February 2017|date=1 January 2017|work=kingabdullah.jo|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219140338/http://www.kingabdullah.jo/en/page/the-hashemites/custodianship-over-holy-sites|archive-date=19 February 2017}}</ref> The sharif's son, [[Abdullah I of Jordan|King Abdullah I]], is said to have personally taken charge of efforts to extinguish a fire which engulfed the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in 1949.<ref name="ox08">{{cite book|last1=Cohen|first1=Raymond|title=Saving the Holy Sepulchre: How Rival Christians Came Together to Rescue Their Holiest Shrine|date=2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=84|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T7KmnQ65XooC&pg=PA84|access-date=16 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206071126/https://books.google.com/books?id=T7KmnQ65XooC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA84|archive-date=6 February 2018|isbn=9780199719907}}</ref> Jami’ Al-Aqsa and the [[Dome of the Rock]] were restored four times by the Hashemites during the 20th century, and the custodianship became a Hashemite legacy given by Jordanian kings.<ref name="hgoam" /> In 2013, an agreement was signed between the Palestinian Authority and Abdullah, replacing the decades-old verbal agreement which was reinforced by the 1994 Israel–Jordan peace treaty.<ref name="dskaojc">{{cite journal|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Article.aspx?id=212248|title=Jerusalem deal boosts Jordan in Holy City: analysts|journal=The Daily Star|access-date=22 February 2017|date=2 April 2013|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222194432/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Article.aspx?id=212248|archive-date=22 February 2017}}</ref> Jordan recalled its ambassador to Israel in 2014 following tensions at Al-Aqsa Mosque between Israelis and Palestinians concerned about Jordan's role in safeguarding Muslim and Christian sacred sites in Jerusalem.<ref name="toifbj" /> Abdullah met Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] in Amman in late 2014, and the Jordanian ambassador returned when Israeli authorities eased restrictions and revoked a decision that prevented men of all ages from praying at Al-Aqsa—for the first time in months.<ref name="toifbj">{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/fearing-backlash-jordan-asserts-al-aqsa-custodianship/|title=Fearing backlash, Jordan asserts Al-Aqsa custodianship|access-date=18 February 2017|date=16 November 2014|first=Mussa|last=Hattar|work=The Times of Israel|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219141206/http://www.timesofisrael.com/fearing-backlash-jordan-asserts-al-aqsa-custodianship/|archive-date=19 February 2017}}</ref>

In 2016, it was announced that Abdullah would fund the restoration of the Tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. [[The Royal Hashemite Court]] informed Orthodox [[Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem]] of the ''makruma'' (royal benefaction) in a 10 April 2016 letter. The tomb had been untouched since 1947, when the British installed steel support beams as part of a restoration project which never took place.<ref name="ngkaa">{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/jesus-tomb-opened-church-holy-sepulchre/|work=National Geographic|title=Exclusive: Christ's Burial Place Exposed for First Time in Centuries|first=Kristin|last=Romey|access-date=30 October 2016|date=26 October 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030001608/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/jesus-tomb-opened-church-holy-sepulchre/ |archive-date=30 October 2016}}</ref> It was reopened to the public on 22 March 2017 after the renovation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/22/world/middleeast/tomb-of-jesus-reopens-jerusalem.html|title=Tomb of Jesus Reopens to Public After $3 Million Restoration|work=The New York Times|access-date=22 March 2017|date=22 March 2017|first=Russell|last=Goldman|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323024031/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/22/world/middleeast/tomb-of-jesus-reopens-jerusalem.html|archive-date=23 March 2017}}</ref> On 2 August 2017, Abdullah donated $1.4 million to the [[Jerusalem Islamic Waqf]], the body that belongs to Jordan and is responsible for administering the Al-Aqsa mosque compound.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/jordanian-king-donates-1-4-million-to-waqf-after-temple-mount-fight/|title=Jordanian king donates $1.4 million to Waqf after Temple Mount fight|access-date=2 August 2017|date=2 August 2017|work=The Times of Israel|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802193813/http://www.timesofisrael.com/jordanian-king-donates-1-4-million-to-waqf-after-temple-mount-fight/|archive-date=2 August 2017}}</ref> An independent report estimates the total amount that the Hashemites have spent since 1924 on administering and renovating Jami’ Al Aqsa as over $1 billion.<ref name="ttoi">{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-temple-mount-tumult-the-who-what-and-why-of-its-waqf-rulers/|title=Amid Temple Mount tumult, the who, what and why of its Waqf rulers|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=14 January 2018|date=20 July 2017|author=Dov Lieber|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917172211/http://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-temple-mount-tumult-the-who-what-and-why-of-its-waqf-rulers/|archive-date=17 September 2017}}</ref>

In 2014, Abdullah received [[Pope Francis]] in Jordan, the third papal visit of his reign.<ref name="tm500" /> The king, Queen Rania and [[Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad|Prince Ghazi]] accompanied the pope to [[Al-Maghtas]], the site of Jesus' baptism, on the east bank of the [[Jordan River]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.petra.gov.jo/Public_News/Nws_NewsDetails.aspx?Site_Id=1&lang=2&NewsID=152559&CatID=13|title=King, Queen accompany Pope Francis to Baptism Site|access-date=22 February 2017|date=24 May 2014|agency=Petra News Agency|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223043157/http://www.petra.gov.jo/Public_News/Nws_NewsDetails.aspx?Site_Id=1&lang=2&NewsID=152559&CatID=13|archive-date=23 February 2017}}</ref>

Abdullah led ''[[The 500 Most Influential Muslims]]''{{'}} 2016 list, published by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center, and was third on its 2018 list.<ref name="wmafmjik" /> Queen Rania was 35th on the 2016 list.<ref name="wmafmjik">{{cite web|title=Latest news about the 500 Most Influential Muslims|publisher=The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center|date=6 October 2016|access-date=13 February 2017|url=http://themuslim500.com/downloads/TheMuslim500-2017-lowres.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927233013/http://themuslim500.com/downloads/TheMuslim500-2017-lowres.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Leaders of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre sent out a letter of support to Abdullah on 1 March 2018 after Israel shelved a proposed bill that aimed to propose new tax measures to churches in the West Bank. "Your defence of religious freedom and Your leadership, in ensuring that the Status Quo is respected and maintained, has been crucial in our ongoing attempts to guard and protect the Christian presence especially in the Holy City of Jerusalem", the letter read.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/jerusalem-church-leaders-thank-jordan-s-king-abdullah-for-support-during-israel-tax-protest-1.709421|title=Jerusalem Church leaders thank Jordan's King Abdullah for support during Israel tax protest|access-date=5 March 2018|date=1 March 2018|work=The National}}</ref>