What events and figures have shaped the development of islam in the united states? Islam, like christianity began with abraham. Abraham and his son isma'il built the ka'bah (a holy sanctuary). This sanctuary dates back to the time of adam and eve. According to the qur'an (islamic scripture), god told abraham that the sanctuary should be a holy place for arabic tribes. (axia, 2008). Because the people eventually turned away from the belief of abraham (one god), the area became somewhat isolated from the rest of the world. That is until the birth of muhammad. Muhammad was born in 570ce. Muhammad was thought to be a prophet because of markings on his body. According to islamic scripture, gabriel the angel came to muhammad in human form and asked him to recite verbiage that is now the...