It was a misty morning in a slave market in Rome. As the extremely busy merchants and shoppers went about their daily work, a fetid stench filled the air. Pope Gregory III, who was bewildered, saw some peculiar boys. The Pope said, “Where are these boys from? I’ve never seen anyone like them.” The slave trader responded, “They’re from the island of Britain.” Generously, the humble Pope bought them to take home with him. 

Unfortunately, these slaves didn’t know about the Bible. The Pope was sad and decided to convert England to Christianity. The Pope called on a devout monk named Augustine, who was accompanied by 40 other monkres. 

Resolved to preach the Bible, they intrepidly sailed to England and lived in Canterbury. Augustine fervently taught the Gospel and on Christmas of 597 AD, he baptized 1,000 people. Churches and monasteries, which  were built all over the country, helped Britain become a Christain nation. Triumphantly, Augustine was extolled by being crowned Archbishop of Canterbury.  

Mohammed, who didn’t like the busy city of Mecca where camels spit, people argued, and hot air burned his shoulders, often journeyed alone to the desert. On one of these peaceful trips, he wandered into a cool, dark cave. The melancholy man heard soothing music, so Mohammed looked up and spotted and felt the warm glow of what he thought was an angel. He also noticed a scroll with fiery letters. Although Mohammed was illiterate, he somehow directly read it and the instructions clearly stated that he was to be Allah’s messenger. He traveled home and told his bewildered wife about the strange event, and she encouraged him.

The “angel” visited Mohammed more and advised him to preach to the people of Mecca. Some listened and believed, whereas others didn’t and he made extensive enemies. The prophet and his friend and follower, Abu Bakr, who were eating dinner heard irate soldiers banging violently on his door. “We should find a hiding place before those soldiers get inside,” screamed Abu Bakr. Abruptly, they fled to the nearest cave for refuge. 

Evidently, there was an unbroken spider web across the entrance of the quiet cave, so the soldiers thought that if they had gone in there they would have broken it. Mohammed and his friend who were miraculously saved, were relieved. This event marked the beginning of Islam.