If early mosques did point to Petra, it suggests that the Islamic narrative may have evolved over time. This contrasts with the Christian faith, which is rooted in consistent testimony from the first century without geographic or doctrinal shifts.
The Petra theory may challenge Islamic tradition, but for Christians, it highlights the need for a faith grounded in historical evidence and divine revelation. Christianity offers that in the person of Jesus Christ, whose resurrection is the cornerstone of hope and salvation.
Bottom Line: There is NO verifiable evidence of Islam before the 7th century CE. All historical and archaeological data place its emergence firmly in that century.