Cradle of Islam.

Muhammad became "the prophet of Allah", a belief in one God, a revolutionary doctrine in a pagan
society.

According to the classic statement of faith of Muslims, there was only One God, his name is Allah ang
Muhammad is his prophet. Islam meant " salaam," (peace) or "submission to the will of Allah."

Its holy book is the Quran.

The "five Pillars" of faith of Islam are:

1. The profession of faith- " there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his Prophet."

2. Prayer five times a day facing Mecca- day break, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and early part of the
night.

3. Giving alms to the poor.

4. Fasting during the month of Ramadan( the ninth month of the Muslim calendar).

5. Pilgrimage(hadj) to Mecca at least once. Pilgrims are privileged to use the title hadji (pilgrim).

Other teachings of Islam are the following:

1. Polygamy is permitted, up to four wives, but the husband must treat all kindly;

2. Eating of pork, drinking of alcoholic drinks, gambling, and religious images are prohibited;

3. Respect for parents and old folks;

4. Protection of widows and children; and

5. Kindness to slaves and animals.

Unlike other prophets who led only spiritually, Muhammad became a political and military leader of a
new community, conquering Mecca eight years later. Thus, the muslims calendar is dated Year One from
the hegira to form a new community in Medina. The holy war( jihad) which accompanied the founding
of Islam still concerns its rabid believers who engage in terror today.

Arab Nationalism Arises.

In 1744, an Arab ruler near Riyadh, Muhammad ibn Saud, joined forces with a cleric named Muhammad
ibn Abd-al-Wahhab, to create a political alliance that became the basis of Saudi Arabian dynastic rule
today.
The third amd present Saudi state was founded by Abdul Aziz ibn Saud (al-Saud) who became a local
king in 1902.

During WW1, King Abdul Aziz and Arab nationalist fought on the side of the British to oust their Ottoman
Turk overlords because of British assurance of independence in a secret correspondence between Sir
Henry Mc.Mahon, British High Commissioner in Egypt, and Sheriff Hussein Ali of Mecca between 1915
and 1916. Colonel T.E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia"), a young British scholar and linguist, united the
feuding Arab tribes and led them as an army to many victories against the Turk-German forces.

Their Kingdom Came.

A desecendant of the ancient and strict Wahhabi sect, he seized Riyadh, the capital of Nejd, in 1902 and
made himself leader of the Arab nationalist movement.

Abdul Aziz waged a civil war against Shariff Hussein, who had founded the kingdom Hejaz in 1901, calling
himself "king of the Arabs."

The Oil Factor.

The wealth of modern Arabia comes from oil, since it is the World's largest oil reserve and producer. Oil
in Saudi is easy to extract, because it practically floats to the top.

Strange as it may seem, oil was discovered by accident in the Middle East. They were drilling for water,
for in this desert environment, water was like gold.

In 1936 the Texas Oil Company (Texaco) acquired a 50% interest in Socal, and their joint venture became
the California Texas Oil Company (later Caltex). Two years later the first commercial oil field was
discovered at Dhahran, near Damman, and were exported by barge to Bahrain.

Saudi Government.

There is no democracy, and no dissent is tolerated. Saudi Arabia has an absolute monarchy.

Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by the sons and grandsons of the first king, Abdul Aziz al-Saud. Hence,
the government is controlled by one family- the Sauds.

There is no elections and no politica parties. There is no legislature.

According to the Economist Democracy Index, the KSA is the 9th most authoritative regime in the world.
Some local elections were held, but open only for male citizens.

Saudi law is very strict and is based on shaira (Muslim) law, which follows the Quran's religious
commandments.

Foreign Policy.
Saudi Arabia, being the cradle of Islam, is committed to spreading Sunni Islam by funding the
construction of mosques and Muslim schools around the world.

They hate and fear Iran, the center of Shiite Islam (rival sect), and the rival Islamic missionary country.

In 1973 the Saudis led the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the cartel of oil-
producing states, in using oil as a weapon in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Saudi Today.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, like other oil-rich countries of the Middle East, has acquired much materi
and military wealth.

As of mid-2009, most important threats to Saudi Arabia are as follows:

1. Yemeni tribesmen who cross the desert frontier (as they have for centuries) despite a border treaty in
2000;

2. The Iranian Islamic Republic, whose behavior the Saudis find "introverted," "unpredictable," and
"worrying".

3. Internal subversives and terrorists.

4. Certain groups they call "liberal" and "conservative"

5. Rival Shiite fanatics who may come from the suicide bomb groups in Iraq

6. Declining revenues on oil (limited resource) combined with a population boom;

7. A budget and trade deficit, due to the expensive military budget, public spending, and the global
recession;

8. Widespread corruption;

9. Unhappiness of the people, despite a rich material culture

10. Relations with neighboring Islamic states amd with Israel.

Women are not equal to men and practically have no rights. They are considered the property of their
father or husband. Polygamy is allowed.

In February 2009, King Abdullah surprised many by appointing the first woman cabinet minister, Mrs.
Nora Al-Fayez , in charge of girls' education.

Arab/Islamic Contributions to Civilization.

It is more proper to ascribe these as "Islamic" contributions because they were developed by different
nationals, of course under the religion founded in Arabia.
The Arab/Islamic contributions developed from the 7th to 13th centuries include the following:

In medicine, the greatest scientist-philosopher of the middle ages was Avicenna (Ibn Sina), whose
medical works, the Canon of Medicine (1020 AD) and the Book of Healing were required reading for
many centuries in Europe.

Avicenna was the father of modern medicine.

A Muslim surgeon named al-Zahrawi devised many surgical instruments in the 10th century. He
discovered the use of catgut(which dissolves) in surgery and capsules.

In the 13th century another Muslim doctor named Ibn Nafis discovered blood circulation (before William
Harvey).

In mathematics, the Arab sifr (zero) provided new solutions for complicated math problems. Arabic
numeral (an improvement on the original Hindu concept).

Al-Khwarizmi invented and developed algebra and trigonometry, in order to measure land divisions
according to the Quran's principles. The word "algebra" came from his book Al Jabr.

The Arabs made a calendar, with a margin of error of only one day in 5,000 years.

In astronomy, Arabs astronomers improved the magnetic compass and the zodiac chart. Al-Biruni,
considered one of the greatest scientist of all time, wrote about the earth's rotation on its own axis.

In architecture, the great purpose of Arab buildings was to glorify Islam, in building primarily mosques
and mausoleums.

Al-Idrisi , a scientist living in Sicily, compilde a world atlas for King Roger with seventy maps, some areas
yet uncharted; and presented a globe depicting the world.

They invented making alcohol ( but the Quran forbids drinking it). So it was used for perfumes and
medicine. They knew how to make sugar and soap, a restaurant menu for a three-course meal, and
beautiful crystal glasses.

In engineering and physics, Arabs invented the windmill, cisterns, irrigation, the crank shaft, water wells,
water clock and windtower.

The Arabs developed historiography, using a procedure of comprehensiveness and documenting

sources. Theri foremost historian Ibn Khaldun was praised by Arnold Toynbee, british historian, as "the
greatest".

The fountain pen and the check were discovered for Arab writing and business transactions.

Finally, the greatest contribution of Muslims is, of course, their religion, Islam.
Some Arab Customs that Filipinos Find Different or Difficult

Filipinos who seek employment or a better life abroad had better acquaint themselves with foreign
customs, because their government or families may not be able to help in case of difficulties or tragic
cases of living in Arab states.

1. Arabs are Muslims, and they follow the teachings of Muhammad found in the Quran.

2. They do not eat pork, drink alcoholic drinks, or gamble.

3. They do not allow images, statues.

4. Major crimes are punishable by death, and lesser crimes are punished by loss of fingers or hand,
whipping, and imprisonment.

5. A foreigner has no human rights, and any woman is the property of the father or the husband or the
older brother.

6. A servant or employee is inferior and the property of the master or boss.

7. Upon arrival, workers are usually asked to sign a new contract which pays them less than they had
originally been agreed. There is nothing wrong to them about this.