What is the meaning of the Hadith, "O Allah, bless us in our Sham and our Yemen," and what was mentioned about Najd and what was said concerning it?

The hadith is authentic and well-established, indicating the virtues of Sham (Syria) and Yemen, and praying for blessings upon them. It also states that tribulations emerge from the direction of Najd (the East). Scholars have differed regarding the exact meaning of Najd, but the most preponderant view is that it refers to the desert regions of Iraq and its environs, which lie to the east of the people of Medina. This interpretation is supported by historical reality. This does not, however, imply any absolute condemnation of Iraq or its people, as many luminaries of the Ummah have come from there.