In 570 CE the wealthy caravan city of Mecca acquired a reputation as sacred because it housed idols, statues of many gods in the Kaaba, a cube-like black shrine for prayer. Furthermore, the wealthy merchant class sold idols to pilgrims visiting the holy city. Muhammad, the founder of the Islamic faith, was born in Mecca. As he grew, the inequity he witnessed between the poor and wealthy merchant class troubled him. At the age of forty Muhammad was meditating in a local cave when his life forever changed. The angel Gabriel appeared and told him to recite the word of God. The ability to quote the word of God made him a prophet, or messenger of God. He believed that by worshipping one god, Allah, it would unite his people. Mercy and kindness would be at the center of his new religion that he would call Islam which means “submission." Muhammad would call his followers Muslims which means “followers of Islam." The author described how meditating in a cave changed Muhammad’s life forever to explain to the reader:

a. Mohammad’s need for power
b. that Muhammad liked to be alone
c. the foundation of the religion of Islam
d. Mohammad’s disagreement with other faiths