He said, “Those who draw out this prophecy maintain that it is well known that, before the mission of Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—the hand of the children of Ishmael was never above the hand of the children of Isaac. Rather, prophethood and scripture were found among the descendants of Isaac. They entered Egypt in the days of Joseph together with Jacob, and the sons of Ishmael had no authority over them. When Moses was sent, they departed from Egypt, and with Moses they became the most honored people on earth; no one held sway over them. The same remained true under Joshua after him and up to the time of David, and under the kingdom of Solomon—whose like was granted to no one else. Even when Nebuchadnezzar was set over them, the children of Ishmael still had no power against them.

Later the Messiah was sent, and the Temple was ruined for the second time, after they had twice spread corruption in the land. From then on their rule disappeared, and Allah scattered them throughout the earth as separate nations. They lived under the domination of Rome and Persia; the Arabs exercised no more authority over them than any other people. In fact, the offspring of Ishmael had no sovereignty over any nation—neither over the People of the Scripture nor over the pagans. Thus the hand of Ishmael’s descendants was not above all others until Allah sent Muhammad—the very messenger for whom Abraham and Ishmael prayed:

“Our Lord, raise up from among them a messenger of their own who will recite to them Your revelations, teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them. Indeed, You alone are the Almighty, the All-Wise.” (al-Baqarah 2:129).