The Islam religion was founded by Prophet Mohammed in the seventh century. In 622 he founded the first Islamic state, a theocracy in Medina, a city in western Saudi Arabia located north of Mecca. This is the place where muslims go to pilgrimage (hadj)

Today there are nearly 65 states or countries with significant or majority populations who are Muslim. They include some of the largest nations in the world in terms of population, such as Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Others are small countries like Qatar, Bahrain. Many are secular republics such as Indonesia, or monarchies such as Saudi Arabia, or so-called “Islamic states” such as Iran. Some are democracies, such as Malaysia and Turkey. No majority Muslim state exists in Europe or the Americas. In almost all of those states where a majority of the population is Muslim, a belief in Islam serves as a common bonding among diverse inhabitants in politics and life. It is a source of faith and a significant foundation of social identity and community relations. Almost all of these Muslim states are also developing nations that have only recently emerged from European colonialism.

At this moment Muslim population stands at 1.7 billion Indonesia 203 million Pakistan 174 million India 161 million Bangladesh 145 million Egypt 79 million Nigeria 78 million Iran 74 million Turkey 74 million Algeria 34 million Morocco 32 million Iraq 30 million Sudan 30 million Afghanistan 28 million Ethiopia 28 million Uzbekistan 26 million Saudi Arabia25 million Yemen 23 million China 22 million Syria 20 million Russia 16 million

. The majority of the world’s billion Muslims are Sunnis. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of all Muslims follow the Shiite branch (pronounced Shi‘ite, Shi‘a or Shia). Beyond that, it gets slightly complicated: Who lives where, and why the differences and conflicts between them? The answer is less daunting than it seems. Sunnis form the overwhelming majority in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. Shiites form the majority only in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan, but they constitute sizable minorities in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen.

Question: What's the Difference Between Shia and Sunni Muslims? Answer: Both Sunni and Shia Muslims share the most fundamental Islamic beliefs and articles of faith. The differences between these two main sub-groups within Islam initially stemmed not from spiritual differences, but political ones. Over the centuries, however, these political differences have spawned a number of varying practices and positions which have come to carry a spiritual significance. At heart, Sunnis and Shiites are like Catholics and Protestants in the commonality of some fundamental beliefs.Islamic beliefs and articles of faith

Where is middle east? Where is middle east? The countries in the middle east. The countries in the middle east. What is the problem in the middle east? What is the problem in the middle east? Secret players in the middle east. Secret players in the middle east.

The Middle East is today home to numerous long established Ethnic groups.

Ethnic Groups Turkish Araps Kurdish Jewish Armenian Christian Greek Sunni Shia

Collectively, the Middle East is best known for producing and exporting oil and natural gas.

Saudi Arabia holds 20% of the world’s oil reserves, Iraq comes in second with 18%. Qatar holds 14% of the world’s natural gas reserves.

The Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan The Foreing Minester Ahmet Davutoglu

The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923)

Istanbul The only city in the world sitting on two continents, Europe and Asia

Brief Facts about Turkey 75 Million Population, 98% Muslims Parliamentary Form of Government. 2 nd Biggest Standing Armed Force in NATO after the U.S. Biggest Armed Forces in the Middle East. 15 th Largest Economy in the World. Biggest Economy In the Middle East. Biggest Manufacturer of Electronics in Europe. 4th Biggest Shipbuilder in the World. The 2 ND fastest growing economy in the World after China. The world's largest producer of hazelnut, cherry, fig, apricot, and pomegranate. The World’s 2 nd Largest Construction Industry after China.

Iran Population: 70,049,262 in 2006 the Census 89% Shia; 10% Sunnis The economy of Iran is the 17 th largest in the world. Most of the Iran’s exports are Oil and Gas Main Industries: Petroleum, Petrochemical. Fertilizers, Caustic Soda, Car Manufacture, Home Appliances, Electronics, Telecom, Energy, Power, Textiles, Construction, cement, food processing, metal Fabrication armaments

Iraq Government: Federal Parliamentary Republic Population: 31,129,225 as of 2011 Kurt, Arap, Turkmen 60-65% Shia and 32-37% Sunnie The Iraqi economy is highly dependent on oil. Iraq was one of the founding members of OPEC.

Syria Population: 22,530,746 as of July 2012 Government: Unitary Semi-Presidential Constitutional Republic 74% Sunni (Arabs, Kurds, Circassians and Turkomans; 13% Alawi and Shia; 10% Christians; 3% Druze Main Industries: Petroleum, Textiles, Food Processing, Beverages, Tobacco, Phosphate Rock mining, Cement, Oil Seeds Crushing, Car Assembly

Egypt Government: Semi-Presidential Republic Population: 90 million as of % Muslim (Mostly Sunni); 105 Christians; <0.003% Bahá‘í; <200 Judaism members Main Industries: Textiles, Food Processing, Tourism, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Hydrocarbons, Construction, Cement, Metals, Light Manufactures

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Population: 28,376,355 as of 2010 Government: Unitary Islamic Absolute Monarchy 16% Shia (Alawites); 74% Sunni Economy: Has the world’s 2 nd largest oil reserve; oil accounts for more than 95% of exports and 70% of Government Revenue; Has the world’s 6 th largest natural gas reserves.

Israel Government: Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional Republic Population: 7,900,600 as of 2012 Main Industries: High-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufacturing, medical electronics, fiber optics, wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, construction, metals, products, chemical products, plastics, diamond cutting, textiles, footwear

What is going on there? War To Become Super Power Rebellion and Conflict The Threat of Nuclear Energy Transition to Freedom and Democracy Normalization and Democratization Giving Struggle for human right Supervision to Gas and Petrol

Problems in the Middle East Given the vast energy resources that form the backbone of western economies, influence and involvement in the Middle East has been of paramount importance for the former and current imperial and super powers, including France, Britain, USA and the former Soviet Union.

US interest on Iraq U.S. oil reserves (at current production levels) would only last only a decade if the U.S. was cut off from all other oil sources. Iraqi oil reserves (at their current use levels) would last about 526 years. Iraq has a reserve of about 112 billion barrels of oil.

Chinese Interest with regard to Iran China’s drive to establish itself as an alternative to American power. Iran’s importance to China’s energy security. China’s desire to have positive relations with all major actors in the Middle East. China’s desire to weaken the United States’ military dominance in the region

Chinese Interest with regard to Syria China ranked as Syria's third-largest importer in China sees Syria as an important trading hub GAS AND PETROL Syria recently finalized 1 billion oil refinery project with China’s major oil player the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). Supporters of Syria's president wave Russian, Chinese and Syrian flags during a pro-regime rally in central Damascus.

Russia’s interest to Syria Russia is one of Syria's biggest arms suppliers. Russia supplies the following to Syria: 1.surface to air missiles 2.armoured rocket systems 3.Mig fighter jets.

What is the biggiest problem in the middle east? There is only one problem in the middle east that is approaching or thinking of the israil government…

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