(Encyclopedia) Abadi, Haidar Jawad Kadhim al-, 1952–, Iraqi political leader. A Shiite, Abadi received a doctorate in electrical engineering from the Univ. of Manchester (1981), then lived and worked…
(Encyclopedia) Hallaj, Hussein ibn Mansur al-Hallaj, Hussein ibn Mansur al-h&oomacr;sānˈ ĭbn mäns&oobreve;rˈ [key], 857–922, Arabic-speaking Persian Muslim mystic and poet popularly known…
(Encyclopedia) Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, 1952–, emir of Qatar (1995–2013). The son of Emir Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, Hamad is credited with having turned a country of desert nomads into a modern…
(Encyclopedia) Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said, 1954–, sultan of Oman (2020–). A member of the ruling family of Oman, he held various positions in the Omani foreign ministry (1986–2002) and served as…
(Encyclopedia) Abu al-Abbas as-SaffahAbu al-Abbas as-Saffahäˈb&oomacr; äl-äbäsˈ äs-säfäˈ [key], d. 754, 1st Abbasid caliph (749–54). Raised to the caliphate by the armed might of Abu Muslim, he…
(Encyclopedia) Saadia ben Joseph al-FayumiSaadia ben Joseph al-Fayumisäˈdēä, äl-fīy&oomacr;ˈmē [key], 882–942, Jewish scholar, b. Egypt. He was known as Saadia Gaon. He was the head of the great…
(Encyclopedia) Qaboos bin Said Al-Said, 1940–2020, sultan of Oman (1970–2020). The only son of Sultan Said bin Taimur Al-Said, he served a year in the British army after graduating from Sandhurst.…
(Encyclopedia) Bashir, Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir, Omar Hassan Ahmed al-ōˈmär häˈsän äˈmĕd äl-bäshērˈ [key], 1944–, Sudanese military and political leader, president of Sudan (1994–2019). He…
(Encyclopedia) Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, 1980–, emir of Qatar (2013–). The fourth son of Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, he became heir apparent when his older brother Jasmin renounced his claim to…
