

The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, enclosing the place from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven, completes the trio of venerated shrines in the Islamic world.

Saudi Arabia is the home of two of Islam's holy sanctuaries: Makkah the Blessed and Madinah the Radiant. Is Islamic Marriage Like Christian Marriage?.Why Is The Family So Important To Muslims?.How Did The Spread Of Islam Affect The World?.How Did He Become A Prophet And A Messenger Of God?.Do Islam And Christianity Have Different Origins?.An appreciation of Islamic history and culture is therefore essential for a genuine understanding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its Islamic heritage and its leading role in the Arab and Muslim worlds. Historically, Saudi Arabia has occupied a special place in the Islamic world, for it is towards Makkah and Islam's most sacred shrine, the Ka'abah, located in the Holy Mosque there, that Muslims throughout the world turn devoutly in prayer five times a day. Today, the worldwide community of Muslims, which embraces the people of many races and cultures, numbers well over one billion. The followers of Islam, called Muslims, believe in God - in Arabic, Allah - and that Muhammad is His Prophet. Islam, one of the world's great monotheistic religions, has Saudi Arabia as its heartland. Saudi Arabia is a modern nation that adheres to Islam, honors its Arab heritage and tradition, and presses vigorously forward in the service of Islam while securing the welfare of its people. For centuries the people of the Arabian Peninsula have possessed a strong identity based upon the tenets of Islam.
