Hasan Dajah

The Day of Loyalty and Allegiance is a profound national occasion that transcends mere commemoration to encompass a deeper meaning, where the past meets the present, and memory embraces responsibility. On this day, Jordanians renew their pledge to a homeland whose history was shaped by leaders who believed in humanity before place, and in the message before the position.

It is a day that evokes in our hearts the image of the late leader who founded and built the nation, and at the same time affirms the continuation of the journey under a leadership that bears the trust and understands its weight, balancing loyalty to the legacy with ambition for the future, in a national scene that embodies unity and genuine belonging.

Loyalty on this day is not merely an emotional sentiment, but a firm moral commitment and an acknowledgment of gratitude to a leader who guided the nation through its most difficult stages and faced challenges with wisdom and courage. His Majesty the late King Hussein was a school of leadership, a symbol of humanity, and a voice of reason in a time of turmoil. During his reign, the features of the modern Jordanian state were shaped, its institutions were strengthened, education expanded, and national awareness was enhanced. Belonging became a deeply rooted value, and work a national behavior, so that Jordan became a model of patience and construction despite limited resources and numerous challenges, a success story told through willpower before capabilities.

The late leader believed that people are the true wealth, so he invested in education and health, opened the doors of hope for future generations, and instilled in their hearts the values ​​of belonging and pride in their identity, believing that building minds is the solid foundation for any true renaissance. His concern for humanity was not a fleeting slogan, but a firmly established approach translated into policies and programs aimed at empowering citizens and enhancing their role in the nation's progress. The achievements at that time were not merely material projects, but an integrated national project, whose essence was human dignity, and whose goal was to build a resilient and sustainable state, relying on the awareness of its people and deriving its strength from their unity and unwavering will in facing challenges and shaping the future.

With the anniversary of loyalty, the pledge of allegiance is renewed, not as a symbolic ritual, but as a contract of mutual trust between the leadership and the people, embodying the awareness of shared responsibility and the belief in a common destiny.

A pledge of allegiance to His Majesty King Abdullah, who bore the trust during a highly complex regional and international period, steering the ship with steadfastness, preserving the nation's stability, and balancing the demands of reform with the necessities of security, and the aspirations of modernization with the authenticity of established principles, with a leadership spirit that understands the nature of the challenges and skillfully deals with them with wisdom and foresight. This leadership was manifested in a realistic approach that combines boldness in decision-making with a commitment to the nation's best interests, so that Jordan remains an oasis of security and stability, and a continuous journey towards a brighter future.

Since His Majesty the King assumed his constitutional powers, Jordan has witnessed a comprehensive reform process, including modernizing the political system, enhancing popular participation, and developing legislation, in line with citizens' aspirations for a state of law and institutions, and strengthening trust between the citizen and the state.

This process has been characterized by gradualism and wisdom, taking into account the specific characteristics of Jordanian society and the challenges of the era. His Majesty also paid special attention to the national economy, working to diversify sources of income, encourage investment, and support entrepreneurial initiatives, believing that sustainable development is the true foundation of stability, and that empowering the national economy is a fundamental pillar for providing job opportunities, improving living standards, and building a more resilient future capable of facing crises.

In the field of education, Jordan witnessed qualitative development, with a focus on the quality of outcomes, linking education to the labor market, and strengthening technical and vocational education, in addition to supporting scientific research and innovation. This was reflected in the preparation of a conscious generation, capable of critical thinking, and qualified to compete in a rapidly changing world. This approach stemmed from the leadership's belief that the school is the primary incubator for shaping good citizens, and that building minds is no less important than building infrastructure.

On the health and social fronts, the Kingdom witnessed an expansion of services, an improvement in infrastructure, and attention to the most vulnerable groups, reflecting a comprehensive humanitarian vision that places the citizen at the heart of public policies. Jordan also maintained its moderate approach, serving as an oasis of security and stability in a turbulent region, and an example of coexistence and mutual respect among the various components of society.

The achievements of this era were not limited to domestic affairs, but extended to an active international presence, where Jordan played a pivotal role in defending just Arab causes, foremost among them the Palestinian cause, and protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, stemming from its historical role and moral responsibility.

Jordan also played a prominent humanitarian role in providing relief to refugees, offering a model of solidarity and burden-sharing despite limited resources. In addition, Jordan has established itself as a voice of reason in international forums, calling for dialogue and rejecting extremism, and affirming that peace based on justice is the only way to guarantee the security of nations, the stability of the region, and the building of a more balanced human future.

The Day of Loyalty and Allegiance is a renewal of the covenant with oneself before it is a renewal of the covenant with the leadership. It is a reminder that nations are built not with slogans, but with work, and are protected not with words, but with sincerity. It is an open invitation to future generations to assume responsibility and continue the journey with a conscious spirit, an open mind, and a heart devoted to this nation.

Jordan, with its Hashemite leadership and loyal people, remains a model of a state that knows how to preserve its history, invest in its present, and build its future. The Day of Loyalty and Allegiance remains a testament to a unique relationship between a leader and a people, whose foundation is trust, whose pillar is sincerity, and whose goal is a strong, secure, and prosperous Jordan.

Hasan Dajah - Professor of Strategic Studies at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University