The Importance of the Silsilah - King Abdullah II of Jordan, Caliph of Islam, Commander of the Believers, Shadow of God on Earth

Friend or foe? Friend or foe?

In the olden days, two strangers in the desert would bump into each other and exchange friendly greetings.They would shoot the breeze about the weather, discuss the football league results, complain about their camels... Before getting to the important bit of their impromptu conversation - their personal silsilah, which is basically a summary of their personal background - Who's your father? Grandfather? Where did you say your village was? What's your clan? All this is quite important because in the ancient times, blood feuds and family vendettas were something handed down generation to generation. Suckled in the black milk of vengeance and overbearing pride. So trust in God and be friendly, but keep your swords close by. 

Traditional Malay martial art - The Silat.  Now a great show
for weddings and national festivals.

Here in the Peninsular Malaysia we were less martial even in the olden days. I think it's not because our ancestors were not up for a good brawl, I am sure that with enough motivation they would be okay to spend the afternoon sparing. But ordinarily, the weather is so hot and humid, and really food is kinda aplenty in the jungle and the streams, so it would need a spectacular sort of provocation to rile them up enough for a fight. Otherwise it is generally a live-and-let-live sort of bonhomie and everyone just trying to get on with their daily lives; farming, hunting, foraging, praying and playing.

In recent weeks the Caliph of Islam, Amirul Muqminin (Commander of the Believers), the Shadow of God on Earth was unexpectedly revealed to be His Majesty King Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. A rather unlikely candidate for some Muslims. But our bias and prejudices aside, we should examine his silsilah, just like two old Arabs bumping into each other in the middle of a barren and lonely desert. So I know you, sunshine and you know me but who is this King and what is his lineage? (Please click and zoom to read the family tree.)

I have no knowledge to debate with my educated and informed brethren, be them laypeople or clerics and theologians with a queue of PHDs after their names. I am after all just a sinner and the mere contemplation of my own belly-button puts a great strain on my mind. So in this regards I am only following the compass of my heart, an old man who lives in the tiny village of Lefke, Cyprus. This non-news event has not captured much of the world's imagination. But the number of websites covering this once-in-an-epoch tale has grown a bit on the internet. In any event I am not worried about publicity, because, as another great soul once said...

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

I am awfully fond of Mahatma Gandhi. How I feel about His Majesty is a history yet to be written. But I am thinking that it will be a beautiful tale... May I live long enough to report it to you, my friends.

God bless you, sunshine. Thank you for dropping by.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Earlier Postings on the New Caliph:
Islam's Caliph on the Throne of Jordan - Click Here
In the Struggle in the Meaning of Words the Lion of God is not Sleeping - Click Here
King Abdullah of Jordan, the Caliph of Islam, Emir of all the Believers - Click Here

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way