Christians have been praying for Saudi Arabia for years and as a result, some openness has been recorded. For example, in October 2005, King and Prime Minister Abdullah, in his first TV appearance, publicly stated “people are free to practice their faith in the privacy of their homes”.
During this time Bahrain used its income to develop the state. Its education has one of the highest standards in the region and has claimed the highest literacy level in the Arab world.
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.
It is generally thought that the Alawites (formerly called Nusairians) trace their origins to the religious teacher Muhammad Ibn Nusair (died around 883). His teaching led to a new sect and a consequent splitting from Ismailism, a Shiite cult of Islam.
Outside of Turkey, Mugla province is known for its popular seaside resorts such as Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye, but other coastal towns are drawing more and more tourists every year. Of all Turkish provinces, Mugla has the most beaches.
The UAE is one of the most politically stable countries in the region and since the establishment of the federation; the emirates have ironed out inter-emirate squabbles and tensions, cementing that stability. The UAE is a complex and diverse place.
When Islam came to Yemen it was readily embraced as a refreshing change for most of the population. Yemen or el Yemin, was the name given by Muslims which means "the right hand side when facing East from Mecca".
Since we last prayed for Qatar through "30 Days" in 1998 much has happened in the country for which we can give thanks. Qatar is highly influenced by the Wahhabi Islamic reform movement's interpretations of Islamic law on a political and social level.
The Mazandarani speakers of Iran number between 3 and 4.5 million people who live mainly in the Mazandaran province and neighbouring provinces bordering the Caspian Sea, in northern Iran. This people is almost 100% Shi’a Muslim.
Bakhtiari women enjoy a high degree of freedom in this patrilineal culture. They traditionally wear beautiful bright coloured long full skirts, blouses and headscarves. They live in southwestern Iran in the clean and beautiful highlands of the Zagros Mountains.
