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H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan

Her Majesty Queen Noor was born Lisa Najeeb Halaby on 23 August 1951, to a distinguished Arab-American family. She attended schools in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., New York City and Concord Academy in Massachusetts, before entering Princeton University in its first co-educational freshman class, where she received a B.A in Architecture and Urban Planning. She eventually went to work in the aviation field in Jordan .

 Lisa Halaby married the king of Jordan, Hussein I, on June 15, 1978. They have four children, Hamzah (born 1980), Hashim (born 1981), Iman (born 1983), and Raiyah (born 1986).  Her Arab name, ‘Noor’ means ‘light’. She became a Muslim upon her marriage and set out to make her mark in Jordan , despite it being an Islamic society.

Since her marriage to the King, Queen Noor has played a mediating role and promoted international exchange and understanding of Middle Eastern politics and Arab-Western relations.  

In Jordan , Queen Noor initiates, directs and sponsors projects and activities which respond to specific national needs in the areas of mother and child health care, education, women’s development, environmental protection, culture, and public architecture and planning. She is actively involved with several international organizations that address global challenges in these fields.

His Majesty the late King Hussein entrusted Queen Noor with the establishment and chairmanship of a National Task Force for Children in July 1995 to sustain and consolidate Jordan ’s achievements for its children and to address emerging challenges.

Queen Noor has assumed a role in the international fight to ban antipersonnel mines.  As Patron of Landmine Survivors Network (LSN), she patronized the first “International Conference on Landmine Injury & Rehabilitation in the Middle East” in Amman in 1998. 

She promoted Jordanian culture by founding the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts to promote Jordanian, Arab and international cultural and artistic expression.  The National Music Conservatory was initiated by Queen Noor in 1985 to develop accomplished musicians in classical Arabic and Western music, to foster music appreciation and to promote teacher training and public school music curricula in Jordan .

She has also been active in environmental issues and is Patron of The World Conservation Union (IUCN), an international organization.  On June 5, 1995, she received the United Nations Environment Program Global 500 Award for her activism in environmental protection, in promoting awareness and in initiating community action for the preservation of Jordan ’s natural heritage.

Despite being King Hussein’s’ fourth wife, she has been the most prominent, controversial and active of all the royal wives.  Her commitment to Islam and to Jordan has made her a vital part of King Hussein’s legacy.

Queen Noor – A Person of Faith

Islam

Question

1. Who was Queen Noor before she married King Hussein of Jordan ?
2. List the ways in which she has promoted Jordanian/ Arab culture.
3. How has she promoted women’s issues in Jordan ?
4. What international tasks has she been involved in?
5. There is often a perception that women in Islam are treated badly. How does Queen Noor combat this idea?
6. Queen Noor became a Muslim after she married the King.  In what ways do you think she has improved the image of Islam by the work she has been involved in?

Exercises

1. Imagine you are a Jordanian national. The King has just married another foreign woman (Noor was not his first foreign wife) but this one (Noor) is American.  Write a letter to your cousin, describing how you feel about this event. Your letter should include:

• How you feel about the King himself (he was generally well liked)
• How you feel about Americans (generally NOT liked)
• Your opinion of the marriage and of Queen Noor.

2. Now it is ten years later and Queen Noor has accomplished a lot. Write another letter to your cousin describing your feelings about Noor and the marriage now.  Has your opinion of Queen Noor changed? Do you think she is a good Muslim wife? Do you think she is a good representative of Muslim women to the rest of the world? Is there anything about her you don’t like?

For more information go to Queen Noor’s website on

http://www.go.com.jo/QNoorjo/