Hasan Dajah

His Majesty King Abdullah's Speech from the Throne is a national text that transcends the confines of formal protocol, transforming it into a profound reading of the meaning of steadfastness and survival. The words the King delivered in Parliament Hall were not only addressed to the Parliament, but also to the conscience of all Jordanians to the collective spirit that, despite crises, has consistently placed the nation at the center of faith and concern.

The speech begins with the familiar phrase, "As always," but in this context, it takes on a renewed symbolic character, indicating continuity as loyalty, not repetition, and the covenant as a national pact renewed annually between the leadership and the people to remain steadfast and determined. Here, the King speaks not only from a position of authority, but also as a witness to the journey of a nation born from challenges and drawing its strength from its ability to rise amidst crises.

The speech is delivered in balanced language that combines human depth with political precision. When the King says, "The King worries, but he fears none but God," he presents a model of leadership that recognizes that true responsibility transcends slogans.

The leader here does not speak from a position of absolute reassurance, but rather from a sense of duty of care and responsibility toward the nation and its people. This anxiety, acknowledged by the King, is not a sign of weakness, but rather a motive for perseverance, reflection, and caution. It represents the image of a father who carries the nation in his heart, not a ruler who looks down on it from his throne. Through this human dimension, anxiety becomes a sign of vigilance, faith in God as a support in the face of the unknown, and reliance on the people as a source of reassurance and determination.

The speech is based on a central idea: Jordan was not created to be subordinate or marginal, but to forge its own path through crises. The phrase "Jordan has grown in spite of them" encapsulates the philosophy of a nation that has turned challenges into a catalyst for growth. Crises, in this context, are not an obstacle but a catalyst for renewal. In this vision, Jordan is not a small country in terms of geography, but a large country in its will and faith. It is a reading that frames Jordanian history as a continuous journey of progress, not periods of interruption, and redefines steadfastness as a deeply rooted value rather than an emergency.

When discourse turns to the path of reform, it speaks in a language that conveys a profound understanding of the nature of national construction. Reform is not an achievement measured by immediate indicators, but rather an ongoing process that requires work, patience, and determination. The phrase "We still have a long way to go" expresses a realistic outlook that avoids both exaggeration and denial, emphasizing that modernization is a cumulative process based on vision and commitment. In this sense, reform transcends the administrative dimension to become a state of national awareness and a continuous practice to consolidate the values ​​of justice, dignity, and improving the lives of citizens.

The discourse in its depth evokes symbols of national military affiliation, from the "Chosen Arab Army" to the "Hussein Factory" and the "Magnificent Shield"-terms that express confidence in the military institution as a pillar of security and stability. However, this presence does not come in the context of a show of force, but rather as a reassurance, reminding Jordanians that the homeland is protected by the determination of its sons and that the military legacy is part of the state's identity, deeply rooted in the people's conscience. In this speech, the army is not an instrument of power, but rather an embodiment of the values ​​that protect Jordan: discipline, sacrifice, and loyalty.

When the King addresses the suffering of our brothers in Gaza, the language takes on a clear emotional and moral dimension. The Jordanian position is presented here not as a political choice, but as a humanitarian duty, and a natural extension of Jordan's historical role in championing just causes. His statement, "We will stand with you as brothers stand with their brothers," conveys a sense of shared pain and destiny, affirming that Jordan's commitment to Palestine is a moral commitment before it is a political one.

His reference to the Hashemite Custodianship of the holy sites in Jerusalem is an affirmation of a historical responsibility exercised with honor and awareness, expressing constants that do not change regardless of changing circumstances. At the end of the speech, the phrase "There is no fear for a strong Jordan with its people and institutions" appears to be a declaration of national confidence, not a slogan.

It summarizes a philosophy of governance based on faith in the Jordanian people and trust in the state's institutions and their ability to confront changes. There are no extraordinary promises or denial of challenges, but rather a call for conscious resilience and active participation. The King does not speak of miracles, but rather of a will to work continuously, and of the certainty that Jordan will remain strong as long as its people remain loyal to him.

The aesthetic and intellectual value of this speech lies in its balance between political realism and the human dimension, between belief in rationality and adherence to hope. It is a text that redefines the relationship between leadership and people based on closeness and mutual trust and transforms patriotism into a renewed act of faith.

At its core, it is a reflection on the Jordanian era and on the ability of this nation to remain cohesive despite the fluctuations of the region and the world. Survival, in this vision, is not merely continuity, but rather an act of civilizational resistance, and an image of a nation that knows how to rise whenever the storms intensify. It is a speech that carries within it a reassuring and confident message: that Jordan will remain steadfast on its path, armed with the will of its people and leadership, and with its belief that dignity is not a slogan, but a way of life.