A life dedicated to goodness

April 13, 2017, marked 15 years since the death of Abdullah Hasanat, may God rest his soul.

Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania visited Abdullah during his illness at his residence, and His Majesty issued directives for him to receive treatment at the expense of the Royal Court. 

All love for Their Majesties for that precious Royal benefaction.

Abdullah was three years old when his father was martyred in Bab Al Wad Battle, in 1948. Being the son of a martyr, he studied at military schools until he finished high school in 1965.

He assumed many jobs, such as trainer and head trainer at Civil Aviation Training College before moving to journalism with his best friend George Hawatmeh, who at the time was editor-in-chief at The Jordan Times.

Abdullah trained Marwan Muasher, Ayman Safadi, Yasser Abu Hilaleh and other people who made it big in media, journalism and politics.

He married Gerda, an Austrian doctor, and adopted a daughter he named Majda from an orphanage.

He was an admirer of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, which calls for the unity of the greater Syria; he eventually joined it.

He believed in democracy and freedom of speech and opinion. He also believed that Jordan is a strong country due to its social fabric that is made up of many ethnicities and believed in the country’s wise leadership.

Abdullah was a strong defender of personal freedom, but not one that creates chaos or arouses the public; he believed that freedom started from the family and that it can be achieved through patience and cooperation, as well as by listening to all opinions, without resorting to violence.

Abdullah never owned a car or a house; he used to spend his salary on his friends and the poor. He refused many gifts, including gifts former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein gave to Jordanian journalists.

He died in debt that was later paid entirely. 

Abdullah was a humble person satisfied with very few possessions, but when it came to Jordan and its leadership and people, he had great ambitions, a trait that characterised him during his entire life. 

Abdullah and I lived as twins, with no other brothers or sisters; we lived together at dorms of military schools. 

We have shown great loyalty to the Hashemite leadership and to the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army for the care we received; I served there as a major general with all devotion and dedication.

The Supreme Commander inspired Jordanians with his motto “Ala Qadr Ahl Al Azm”.

Abdullah, who lived his life without a father, managed to achieve a lot thanks to the Hashemite leadership’s policy of providing education to all Jordanians.

May God have mercy on Abdullah, guide the Hashemite leadership and preserve Jordan’s soil, people and leadership.