Once he was sent, the hand of Ishmael’s descendants rose above everyone else; no earthly power enjoyed greater prestige than their authority. They subdued Persia, Byzantium, and other nations, and they overcame the Jews, the Christians, the Zoroastrians, the idolaters, and the Sabeans. Thus the statement in the Torah was verified: “His hand shall be over all, and the hand of all shall reach out to him.” This state of affairs will continue until the end of time.

If it is said, “Is this simply a prediction of his dominion and outward ascendancy?” we reply: Kingship is of two kinds. One kind makes no claim to prophethood, and the children of Ishmael never possessed such universal rule. The other kind issues from a claim of prophethood. Should the claimant be lying—“And who is more unjust than one who fabricates a lie against Allah, or says, ‘Revelation has come to me,’ while nothing has been revealed to him” (al-Anʿām 6:93)—then he would be the worst of mankind: the greatest liar, the most unjust, the most debauched. His reign would be more wicked than that of an ordinary tyrant who never claimed prophethood, such as Nebuchadnezzar or Sennacherib. Clearly, foretelling such a rule would not be glad tidings, and neither Sarah nor Abraham would have rejoiced at it.

Suppose someone said, “He will be a ruthless despot who forces people to obey him, kills them, takes their women captive, and seizes their wealth unjustly.” Information of that sort is no good news, nor would it please the one who hears it. True glad tidings bring joy only when the predicted ascendancy is just, praiseworthy, and free of sin; and that, in one who claims prophethood, can occur only if he is truthful, not a liar.