Past & Present

The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought was established in 1980 under the name "The Royal Academy for Islamic Civilization Research (Aal al-Bayt Institute)" by His Majesty the late King Hussein Bin Talal (God rest his soul) and commenced its activities in 1981. His Majesty defined its objectives as: it serves Jordan, Arabs, Muslims, and humanity at large. Thus it maintained its principles in its march forward and achieved important gains. Those who carried the burden of its work and accomplishments deserve gratitude and praise, foremost among them H.R.H. Prince al-Hassan bin Talal.

On 16 July 2000, the Institute was entrusted to H.R.H. Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad—previously Advisor to H.M. the King for Tribal Affairs, and currently the Personal Envoy and Special Advisor to H.M the King—owing to the wisdom, knowledge, and good qualities of His Highness, which render him both trustworthy as well as an object of respect and appreciation, while considering the Institute's administrative, financial, and organizational affairs. The goal is of improving its performance and rendering it at the level of the current age while in harmony with its aims.

Likewise, the former Academy’s council decided during its meeting no. 171, on the same date, to appoint H.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad a full member of the Academy.

On 19 July 2000, H.R.H. Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad was unanimously elected President of the Academy.

The committee, entrusted with reconsidering the Institute’s administrative, financial, and organizational affairs, submitted its report to H.R.H. the Higher Chairman. Consequently the Academy’s Council decided in its meeting No. 173, on 23 August 2000, to amend the charter of the Academy, in which the name of the was altered to "The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought".

Thus the leadership structure of the Institute became as follows:

• The Board of Trustees
• H.R.H. Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute; His Majesty’s Personal Envoy and Special Advisor

This Charter was amended to a temporal law of the Institute. Having passed through all its constitutional stages, it was published in volume no. 4508 of the Official Gazette and superseded the Institute's previous charter under the title, "Temporal Law no. 53 for the year 2001 – the Law of Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought", and became effective from the 1 October 2001.

The Temporal Law was amended to a permanent law of the Institute. Having passed through all its constitutional stages, it was published in volume no. 4823 of The Official Gazette and superseded the Institute's previous Law under the title "Law no. 32 for the year 2007- the Law of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought" and became effective from 1 May 2007.

Thus the leadership structure of the Institute became as follows:

The Board of Trustees

Managment of the Institute

The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought
P.O.Box 950361, Amman, Jordan 11195
Tel. No.: +962 (06) 534 4570
Fax No.: +962 (06) 534 4981
E-Mail: [email protected]