When attitudes stem from firm and well-established principles, the values ​​of masculinity are achieved, which are traits of the elderly Jordanian Abd al-Ilah al-Shbul, who chose to express in his own way the depth of the tragedy within the occupied Palestinian territories, which pushes him every day of his life to recall a bleeding Arab wound.

The Shbul era was not temporary, but was motivated by what the Palestinian territories were exposed to during the 1967 war (Anatolia).

Al-Shbul, 88, from the town of Al-Shajara, affiliated with the Ramtha Brigade, in the far north of Jordan, set the truest example of fulfilling the covenant, when he forbade himself from drinking tea except in Jerusalem, after it was liberated from the Israeli occupation.

Tea is an ancient drink that peoples inherited, generation after generation and civilization after another, and its history dates back to many centuries ago.

In Jordan, like other peoples of the world, tea is a basic drink that is taken with the main meals and served to the guests.


Fulfillment of the Covenant

The Shbul era was not fleeting, but was motivated by what the Palestinian territories were subjected to during the 1967 war, after Israel annexed Jerusalem to its borders, and proceeded with settlement projects there.

Since that time, the man's story began with stopping drinking tea, as he revealed to Anatolia the touching details that he will not forget, told by the wrinkles of his hands, face and beard, which caught a gray, and hides deep pain that lives with him.

The elderly Jordanian Abd al-Ilah al-Shbul in his home in the town of al-Shajara in Ramtha, northern Jordan (Anatolia)

It was not easy to get the details, especially with his old age, and the difficulty of remembering them;

Many years have passed since the incident, but the love of Palestine and Jerusalem that were planted in his heart made the task easier, and his spontaneous words uttered the most accurate reasoning.

Al-Shaboul was born in February 1934. He joined the Jordanian army in 1951. He served in the Fifth Infantry Brigade for 24 years. He retired from service with the rank of agent, then served for another 12 years in the UAE army, to return to his country in 1988.

During his speech, Al-Shbul recalls the visit of King Faisal II (the last king of Iraq) to Jordan;

He was tried and imprisoned for a week because he did not salute the English escort at the time.

Pictures from the archives of the Jordanian elderly Abdul Ilah al-Shbul during his military involvement (Anatolia)

Military memories

He continues, "I was placed in the military prison in Zarqa (center), and cell number was 9, and there was a Jew named Musa, who was arrested because he crossed the Jordanian border illegally."

While serving in the Jordanian army, Al-Shbul participated in a military maneuver from Mafraq Governorate (northeast) to the city of Nablus, which lasted for 14 days on foot, in a very cold weather.

Despite this, they were not allowed to put their hands in their pockets, pointing out that it was sewn (closed) to ensure that this is prevented.

In addition to Nablus, the man served in Jenin and Tulkarm, considering that the most beautiful days of his life there were when he prayed at the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, met the Egyptian Sheikh Abdul Basit Abdul Samad, and ate "Kanafa" (sweets for which the Levant is famous) in a famous sweets shop named "" Aker."

Al-Shabul was fond of drinking tea, drinking about 8 cups in one sitting, but for 55 years he has not tasted it (Anatolia)

55 years ago I didn't taste tea

He added, "I was serving in the military police in 1967, when another colleague passed me on his bike, and I was drinking tea, so he told me to drink tea and Jerusalem is gone! (Referring to its occupation by Israel)."

And he adds, "His words affected me a lot, so I threw the cup of tea from my hand, and made a promise to myself that I would never drink tea again except in Jerusalem, after it was liberated from the occupation."

And he continues, "I was fond of drinking tea, and I drank about 8 cups in one assembly, but I have not tasted it for 55 years, knowing that it was not an oath, but rather a vow I made to myself."

When asked about the possibility of him turning away from that covenant if he visited Jerusalem now, he answers with a categorical denial, "My covenant does not end with visiting Jerusalem while it is occupied, but rather when it is liberated."