By Zayed Alzyoud
The University of Jordan (UJ) hosted the launch of Jordanian writer and journalist Ahmad Salama’s new novel Al-Hafir, published by Dar Al-Jenan for Publishing and Distribution, in a ceremony attended by UJ president Prof. Nathir Obeidat, along with prominent academics, writers, and media figures.
In his address, Obeidat praised Salama as one of UJ’s distinguished alumni who “gave language and literature an exceptional value,” emphasizing that true success lies in “the knowledge, skill, and impact one leaves behind, not in wealth but in the value one brings to people’s lives.”
He described Salama as “a writer whose words transcend the ordinary, whose thought and language captivate, and who says what others do not dare to say.” Obeidat recalled the royal gesture of appreciation extended by the late King Hussein bin Talal nearly fifty years ago, recognizing Salama’s early journalistic promise.
Obeidat noted that Salama, born in a village near Nablus, holds his Jordanian identity with pride while remaining deeply connected to his Palestinian roots. “He is a son of the University of Jordan, marked by dignity and pride,” he said, adding that through Al-Hafir, Salama celebrates his Arab identity, revives the memory of Jabal Al-Luweibdeh, and portrays the beauty of place and humanity, all in service of the nation and humankind.
He concluded by affirming that Salama’s journey stands as “a model of the committed intellectual who dedicates his pen to his homeland and his nation,” stressing that UJ will remain “the first cradle of creativity and the guardian of national and cultural memory.”
The ceremony featured a short documentary tracing Salama’s literary and journalistic career, followed by a panel discussion that brought together Her Excellency Basma Nsour, Dr. Ahmad Y. Majdoubeh, and Raghad Al-Sarhan, who offered intellectual and aesthetic readings of the novel. They described Al-Hafir as a profound literary work that engages deeply with questions of identity, memory, and moral values.
The speakers agreed that Al-Hafir upholds human and ethical values in a time of illusion and distraction, inviting reflection on the meaning of belonging and the bond between person, memory, and homeland.
The 220-page novel transcends narrative into the realm of thought and reflection. It comprises two main chapters, “Betrayal” and “The Silence of Palaces,” each divided into three sections. Al-Hafir stands as a philosophical and artistic work that re-examines Arab history and reality through the lens of consciousness, dignity, and freedom.
UJ’s hosting of the launch underscored its ongoing commitment to celebrating its alumni and fostering cultural and intellectual dialogue in Jordan and beyond.