At the heart of the Middle East lies a country known to many Westerners for its oil production and, often, the extremist beliefs of groups within the country. The country is Saudi Arabia, and although many consider it to be a rather backward country, Saudi Arabia has a rich history and culture and is a country that revolves around Islam and the worship of Allah as the one true God. For approximately fifteen hundred years, the history of Saudi Arabia has centered on one important theme: Islam. Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was born around 570 AD in the city of Mecca. At the beginning of the 7th century AD, according to Islamic belief, Muhammad, while meditating in a cave on Mount Hira, received a visit from the angel Gabriel. Gabriel called Muhammad to serve as a prophet and proclaim God's message to his people. He began his ministry in his hometown, Mecca. At that time, most inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula worshiped many gods, and since Muhammad's messages taught that there is only one God, he gained many adversaries in Mecca. As a result, he moved to the city of Medina in 622 and was more successful in converting people here than in Mecca. This journey is known to Muslims as hijrah and marks the first year of the Islamic calendar. Muhammad returned to Mecca in 630 AD, with an army, and conquered the city. When Muhammad died in 632, much of the Arabian Peninsula was under Islamic rule. After the death of Muhammad, Muslims were led by cali...