Iraq's population represents a wide spectrum of religious and ethnic groupings. Most Iraqis are Arabs and live along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, or on the fertile plain between the rivers. Bedouins roam vast deserts in the west and south.
In 1948, the State of Israel was established and during the Israeli War of Independence, East Jerusalem became part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and West Jerusalem was declared the capitol of the State of Israel.
Salalah is situated about 1,000 km southwest of Muscat — about 11 hours by bus through barren wastes. Salalah, the only area in Oman where the monsoon rain falls, is fruitful. At its greenest time in the autumn, thousands of visitors come for the Khareef festival.
Pray with us for these African countries. Muslims represent 41.3% of the population in Africa, growing at a rate of 2.5% per year (mainly as a result of having large families). Islam first spread from the Middle East to North Africa and then eventually towards the south.
The seven countries of the Arabian Peninsula are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen. The two holiest cities in the Muslim world, Mecca and Medina, are in Saudi Arabia, the largest nation on the Peninsula.
The Bedouin of the Arabian Desert uses a black tent known as the beit al-sha’r, or ‘house of hair’. They are woven from the hair of domesticated sheep and goats. The natural colour of the animal is retained, mainly black goat’s hair.
