Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, and his followers were facing severe persecution during their original existence in the city of Mecca. With the prospect of being wiped off the face of the planet (and therefore losing the word of God) staring him in the face, he decided to send his followers to Medina. Eventually he followed, bringing up the tail of the great migration and settling in Medina. Here he rallied his first, solid, large mass of adherents and his ideas became so popular that the city soon asked him to lead them as Head of State. He accepted and lead a harmonious society such had never before been seen in the area. His governance was directly influenced by his religion which was still developing, for God was still delivering him messages. These ideas were expressed through speeches and announcements to the people (as well as recorded in the Qur'an) and documented by memorizers. These statements and are now known as Hadiths and are studied by the Imams (Islamic theology experts/political leaders) as well as Muhammad's political conduct.
Ka'bah, Muezzin, Mihrab:
When the Muezzin makes his call to prayer, all Muslims within earshot join in the praying rituals. They all turn towards Mecca, or more specifically, the Ka'bah, a small black building on the site where Adam supposedly built the first building on earth and where Abraham and Ismail built their first building devoted to God. Subsequently, it is called the "House of God" and all Muslims pray facing this monument. To help them orient themselves, Mosques and prayer rugs have been endowed with a Mihrab, a notch or arrow or marking of some sort aimed at Mecca. Of course in the Mosque it is a fixed piece of the building, but on the rugs it is important for the believers to have a keen sense of direction in relation to Mecca.
Shi'a, Ummah, Sunni:
After Muhammad's passing, Islam lacked a leader. Though still adhering to the tenets of the Qur'an, and using the book for guidance, the religion lacked an earthly figurehead. Thus was the rise of Islam's primary sects, The Shi'a and the Sunni. This subdivided the Islamic Ummah and although they are still united under the same banner, sectarian violence has ensued. The division was based on who would lead the Islamic people after Muhammad's death. Shi'a believed that the direct descendants of Muhammad should take over while the Sunni believed that the people should vote on their leader. And it was so that in an attempt to keep Islam unified, to protect the Ummah, that it suffered its first split.
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