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Zein al-Sharaf Talal

1916 – 1994

Queen consort of Jordan

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About Zein al-Sharaf Talal

Lived 1916 – 1994 (aged 77). Zein al-Sharaf Talal was a Jordanian consort.

Zein al-Sharaf bint Jamil (; 2 August 1916 – 26 April 1994) was Queen of Jordan as the wife of King Talal. She was the mother of King Hussein.

Family She was born in Alexandria, Egypt, into a family of Hejazi and Turkish Cypriot origin. Her mother was Wijdan Hanim, the daughter of Shakir Pasha, who was the grandnephew of the Ottoman-Turkish Cypriot Governor of Cyprus Kâmil Pasha. Her father, Sharif Jamil bin Nasser, was the governor of Hauran; he was the nephew of Sharif Hussein bin Ali of Mecca.

King Hussein (14 November 1935 – 7 February 1999) Prince Muhammad (2 October 1940 – 29 April 2021) Prince Hassan (born 20 March 1947) Princess Basma (born 11 May 1951)

Career Zein al-Sharaf played a major role in the political development of the Jordanian Kingdom in the early 1950s, by supporting efforts in charitable works and women's rights.

She took part in the writing of the 1952 Constitution that gave certain rights to women and enhanced the social development of the country. She also created the first women's union of Jordan in 1944. Zein al-Sharaf further filled a constitutional vacuum after the assassination of the late King Abdullah I in 1951, while the newly proclaimed King Talal was being treated outside the Kingdom. The Queen again performed this role during the period between August 1952, when her son, King Hussein, was proclaimed monarch, and May 1953, when he assumed constitutional duties at the age of eighteen.

Following the arrival of Palestinian refugees into Jordan after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, she led national relief efforts to help the tens of thousands of refugees. She was also instrumental in establishing the women's branch of the Jordan National Red Crescent Society in 1948. Throughout her life, Queen Zein al-Sharaf dedicated time and energy to the Um Al Hussein orphanage in Amman.

Honours National honours Jordan: 50px Dame Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali.

Foreign honours Malaysia:

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
Consort of Jordan
Awards
Order of the Crown of Malaysia; Order of the Defender of the Realm
Also known as
Zein al-Sharaf bint Jamil

Family & relationships

Spouse
Talal of Jordan
Child
Hussein of Jordan
Child
Prince Hassan bin Talal
Child
Prince Muhammad bin Talal
Child
Princess Basma bint Talal
Parent
Sharif

People in Zein al-Sharaf Talal's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Zein al-Sharaf Talal's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Zein al-Sharaf Talal?

Queen consort of Jordan (1916–1994)

When was Zein al-Sharaf Talal born?

Zein al-Sharaf Talal was born on 2 August 1916 in Alexandria.

When did Zein al-Sharaf Talal die?

Zein al-Sharaf Talal died on 26 April 1994 in Lausanne.

What was Zein al-Sharaf Talal's occupation?

Zein al-Sharaf Talal was a consort.

What nationality was Zein al-Sharaf Talal?

Zein al-Sharaf Talal was Jordanian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Zein al-Sharaf Talal

· Wikidata: Q4116074

· DBpedia: Zein al-Sharaf bint Jamil

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Zein al-Sharaf Talal. https://biography.guide/zein-al-sharaf-talal/

MLA: "Zein al-Sharaf Talal." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/zein-al-sharaf-talal/.

Chicago: "Zein al-Sharaf Talal." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/zein-al-sharaf-talal/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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