MUSIC in Saudi Arabia

Mohammed Abdu Othman Al A'aseere, also known as Mohammed Abdu is a very famous composer, he was born June 12th, 1949. Native to Saudi Arabia and one of the "most popular musicians." He sings in Arabic and is commonly referred to as the "Artist of Arabs."

Citation: AMERICAN BEDU. "Who is Mohammed Abdu." http://americanbedu.com/2008/09/12/1987/ (accessed June 6th, 2009)

picture- http://chadazik.com/mp3zik/images/Mohamed%20abdo.jpg

Saudi Arabia's Local Elections Delayed for 2-years

Saudi Arabia has experimented with the idea of an electoral democracy, yet is has experienced another setback. The Royal Family has decided to push back the local council elections for another two years. King Abdullah, leader of the council of ministers made this decision in a positive way, stating that the two years in needed to establish new law and “expand the participation of citizens in the management of local affairs.”
In 2003 when the government announced the permission of council elections, they were billed in hopes to dilute this conservative nation and make it more "open system." Prince Abdullah, the current king, included the bills in another agenda where they were discussed in conferences in which they discussed national issues.
The general public thinks the whole process and postponement of an electoral democracy is a failure. "King Abdullah is popular and has taken what are considered bold moves to try to speed reconciliation between modernity and his ultra-religious, traditional nation. He has ousted from power some major conservative figures, and he appointed the first female deputy minister. While he has absolute authority, he still must rule by consensus within the family, and there are forces that oppose his actions."
The decisions the King has made have also secured the family's "grip on power."

Citation: THE NEW YORK TIMES. "Middle East: Saudi's Local Elections Delayed for Two Years."http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/world/middleeast/20saudi.html?_r=1 (accessed June 5th, 2009)

Saudi Arabia: Past to Present...

5th Century AD: Mecca develops into the main city of the region.
570: The Prophet Muhammad is born, assumed to be the Prophet of Islam.
630: Mecca is taken over by the prophet and his followers, expansion into the Arabian Peninsula begins.
1269: The region is defeated by the Mamelukes of Egypt.
15th Century: Saud dynasty emerges in the region near modern Riyadh.
Mid 18th Century: Religious leader, Muhammad ibnu Bdi l-Wahhab creates a Saudi supported sect, this movement eventually establishes a national state in the center of Arabia (Najd).
1802: Mecca is overpowered by the Wahhabis.
1812: Wahhabis are pushed out by the general population.
1818: Saudis and Wahhabis make Riyadh their capital, reconquering begins again.
1865: Dynasty crumbles due to civil war causing a dissection, Arabia and Ottoman clans exist.
1902: Riyadh is recaptured by Abdul Aziz ibn Saud.
1906: Saudis seize control of Najd again.
1913: Conquering of Hasa, which is east of Najd.
1921: Conquering of Jabal Shammar, which is northwest of Najd.
1923: Britain puts a halt on funding Abdul Aziz and the Sharif, this causes a shift in power in favor of Abdul Aziz.
1924: The Sharif officially makes himself Caliph. Abdul Aziz identifies himself as guardian of the Holy Place.
1925: Conquering of Medina.
1926: Abdul Aziz declares himself the king of Hijaz.
1932: Defeated territories become unified and called SAUDI ARABIA. Abdul Aziz declares himself King of Saudi Arabia.
1938: Discovery of oil.
1940-1945: Saudi Arabia and the U.S. are allies during WWII.
1951: Agreement with Aramco, an Arabian-American Oil Company, gives Saudi Arabia 50% of the earnings for oil. Aramco begins paying taxes to Saudi Arabia rather than that of the U.S. government.
1953: Death of the King, Abdul Aziz, succeeded by his son, Saud.
1956: Saudi Arabia lessens their economic and political ties with Britain, France, Israel, and Egypt.
1957: Relationship with the U.S. heightens with King Saud's visit to the U.S.
1958: King's power was balanced out with the introduction of legislative and executive powers, which were given to the Prime Minister.
1963: Army is mobilized after severing the ties with Egypt.
1964: Prince Feisal takes power over King Saud, the political system implemented by the Prince is still in use today.
1967: Saudi Arabia offers aid to Egypt, pre-six day war.
1973: Saudi Arabia is key player in boycotting oil to Western countries that were in favor of Israel, this cause oil prices to be four times higher.
1975: King Feisal is murdered, Khalid rises to King.
1979: Saudi Arabia denies financial assistance to Egypt after signing the Camp David Agreement.
1980: Saudi Arabia fully controls Aramco.
1982: Death of King Khalid and succession of King Fahd.
1987: Relations with Egypt are re-established.
1990: US intervenes in the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait because Saudi Arabia requested intervention.
1991: Saudi Arabia attacks Iraq to help liberate Kuwait.
1992: King Fahd propose the consultative council, majlis al-shura.
1993: Consultative council is inaugurated, 60 men are installed by the King.
1994: Osama Bin-Ladin is stripped of his Saudi identity/nationality.
2002: Iraq border crossing reopens, first time since Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990.

Citations: THE SAUDI NETWORK. "Saudi Arabia Old History." http://www.the-saudi.net/saudi-arabia/saudi_history.htm (accessed June 4th, 2009)

BBC. "Timeline: Saudi Arabi (1871-2003)." http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/1017886/posts (accessed June 4th, 2009)

Participation and Impact of WWI

Saudi Arabia was known as the "puppet-state" during WWI because they become supporters of Salafi terrorism. Saudi Arabia was significant due to their valuable abundance in oil. In the year 1915 the British signed a treaty with Ibn Saud, "treatise of friendship and cooperation", which entailed the British would support them financially. "By the year 1917 the Saudi ruler was receiving five thousand pounds per month." With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and British support, Ibn Saud and his "brotherhood" set out to expand and take over the Peninsula. By 1932, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was completely established, "with British sanction."

Brief History: 1258-1922

Saudi Arabia remained the "spiritual focus of Islam" because it was mandatory for Muslims to perform their ritual here, or Haj pilgrimage. The city was without an efficient political or administrative system during the beginning of the Islamic period. "When the Caliphate was powerful, it controlled the Hijaz and ensured the safety of pilgrims in Mecca." Eventually the Hijaz fell and Sharifs of Mecca rose to power around 1201. During this time of change there was an area of modern day Saudi Arabia that was undisturbed by outsiders, it was known as The Najd. Natives to this land were the Bedouin tribes. Their land came to be "the home of the Wahhabi Islamic sect and the house of Saud that was to create modern Saudi Arabia." The Saud family gained establishment and settled around 1500. The tribes native to The Najd remained seperate from Islamic life. Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab was responsible for the creation of "Wahhabis", after studying in foreign countries he came back and preached against Shia and "local paganism", he put emphasis on Muslim monotheism. In 1744 the head of the Saud family and Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab "swore a traditional Muslim oath promising to work together to establish a state based on Islamic principles." After Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab's death in 1765, the Saud family enforced Wahhabism in Najd, Karbala, Iraq, Hijaz, Mecca, and Medina. The Saud family and the Wahhabis settled in Riyadh where they made this their capital in the year 1824. The formation of modern Saudi Arabia began in 1902 when Abdul Aziz ibn Saud regained power in the Najd and Riyadh, he was recognized by the Ottoman's as the Wahhabi imam. Aziz's major advance occurred during WWI, he captured the Jebel Shammer in the year 1921, then Mecca in 1924, and then Medina in 1925, by 1932 he renamed his kingdom Saudi Arabia.

Famous Architecture

THE PROPHET'S MOSQUE (Masjid Nabawi)was built in 622 A.D. "The walls were made of mud bricks and the roofs were supported by trunks of palm trees." This mosque is large enough to withhold 1,000,000 visitors at one time. There are ten minarets within this mosque and most of them are about 99 meters high. Not only is this a magnificent mosque that is added to Saudi Arabia's collection, it is also the burial site of the Prophet Muhammad.
CITATIONS: photo- http://www.zubeyr-kureemun.com/SaudiArabia/MosquesOfMedina.htm (accessed June 1st, 2009)
Zubeyr Kureemun. "The Mosques of Madina."http://www.zubeyr-kureemun.com/SaudiArabia/MosquesOfMedina.htm" (accessed June 1st, 2009)


FLOATING MOSQUE in JEDDAH is one of the most sacred sites in the city of Jeddah and it is located right in the center of the city. Its architecture is a fusion of ancient and modern design. The mosque is known as the floating mosque because it is situated along the coast of the Red Sea which gives it a "floating impression."
CITATIONS: photo- http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/96584/mosque_and__the_sea.jpg (accessed June 1st, 2009)
ASIANROOMS."Floating Mosque in Jeddah." http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/saudi-arabia/jeddah/jeddah-sightseeing/floating-mosque-in-jeddah.html(accessed June 1st, 2009)


MASMAK FORTRESS dates back to the the 19th century, built in 1865. The fortress is actually a mud fortress that is located in Al-Bathaa or "Riyadh's old area". The fortress is dedicated to Abdulaziz in honor of his "unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." This castle is a big part of Saudi Arabia's history, within the castle there is a mosque and a well.
CITATION: photo-
http://www.galenfrysinger.com/saudi_arabia.htm (accessed June 1st, 2009)
KASBAH.COM. "Saudi Arabia- Masmak Fortress".http://www.kasbah.com/highlights/saudi_arabia_masmak_fortress.htm(accessed June 1st, 2009)

Brief History: 661-1258

The Umayyad Dynasty was the first great Muslim dynasty to rule the empire, Saudi Arabia included, during the time period of 661-750. Abu-Sufyan was the leader of the Umayyads, , he and his tribe had iniitally rejected Islam, later converting around 627. He and his family became active administrative members under Muhammad and his successors. After the murder of Uthman who was the third caliph there emerged a struggle for power. Muawiyah gained success over Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali, and named himself the first Umayyad Caliph. This is what ultimately led to the split in Islam between the Sunni and the Shi'ite. The Umayyad Dynasty went on to conquer other countries, but eventually fell as most dyanasties do, around 750. With their collapse, the Abbasid dynasty went on to continue their religion and maintenance of their Holy City

Citation: ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA. "http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/613719/Umayyad-dynasty" (accessed on June 1st, 2009)