The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula and is home to the world’s largest oil reserves, as well as gas and other minerals. The land present-day Saudi Arabia occupies once served as a major crossroads to the ancient civilizations of Babylonia, the Nile Valley kingdoms of Ancient Egypt and Kush, and the early states of Yemen. The religion of Islam developed in the 7th century in what is now Saudi Arabia, and the majority of the population – Arab descendents from ancient tribes in the area – adhere to the Islamic legal school of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (Wahhabism). A combination of Bedouin society and Islam have come to influence nearly all aspects of Arabian culture—one that embodies the virtues of honor, valor, chivalry, and hospitality. Modern-day Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 by Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, and it has been ruled by his descendants ever since. The government employs the Sharia as a guiding principle of rule, therefore enabling Islam to not only govern religious practice, but also to influence law, business, taxation, and government. As the host country for the Haj, the annual pilgrimage of Muslims from all over the world to the most holy sites of Islam, Saudi Arabia has a key role in the lives of approximately 1.3 billion Muslims.