The national flag serves as the official symbol of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, representing the nation’s identity and its deep historical ties to the broader Arab world. The design incorporates specific colors and shapes that reflect the country’s heritage and political aspirations. It features a combination of horizontal bands and a distinct triangular element on the hoist side. The flag’s composition is rooted in the history of Arab nationalism, connecting the modern state to the legacy of past Islamic empires and the struggle for independence.
Design Elements and Symbolism
The flag is composed of three equal horizontal bands of black, white, and green, which are known collectively as the Pan-Arab colors. These colors represent the great Arab Caliphates that shaped the region’s history. The black band at the top symbolizes the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled from the 8th century. The middle white band represents the Umayyad Caliphate, which was centered in Damascus and flourished during the 7th and 8th centuries.
The bottom green band stands for the Fatimid Caliphate, which was established in North Africa and later extended its influence to the Levant. These three bands are joined at the hoist by a red isosceles triangle, which symbolizes the Hashemite Dynasty, the current ruling family of Jordan. The red color also represents the Great Arab Revolt of 1916.
Within the red triangle is a small, white seven-pointed star. This star primarily symbolizing the unity of the Arab people across the region. The seven points of the star represent the seven verses of Al-Fatiha, the opening surah of the Quran. The star is centered within the triangle, occupying one-fourteenth of the flag’s total length, according to constitutional specifications.
Historical Roots and Adoption
The design of the Jordanian flag is derived from the banner used during the Arab Revolt (1916 and 1918) against the Ottoman Empire. The original Revolt flag featured the same black, white, green, and red elements, but lacked the seven-pointed star. Arab nationalists adopted the colors in the early 20th century, drawing inspiration from a 13th-century poem that described the colors as representing the deeds, battles, fields, and swords of the Arab people.
Abdullah I, the first Emir of Transjordan, added the white seven-pointed star to distinguish the new entity. This modified flag was officially recognized under the Transjordan constitution on April 16, 1928. The flag’s proportion is set at a width-to-length ratio of 1:2, with the base of the red triangle equal to the flag’s width.
The flag remained unchanged when the country gained full independence in 1946 and was renamed the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Its continued use underscores the nation’s commitment to the Hashemite legacy and its historical role in the Pan-Arab movement.