Likewise, in the first book of the Torah it is written: “God said to Abraham, ‘I shall make your son Ishmael into a great nation, for he is of your offspring.’” (1)

This is a glad tiding concerning a descendant whom God would raise into a great nation. No one fulfills it except Muhammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh, who is a direct descendant of Ishmael; for he alone was made the head of a vast nation. Whoever reflects on this promise will be certain that it refers to the Messenger of God—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—because Ishmael’s hand was never above Isaac’s, while Isaac’s hand (2) was held out toward him in submission. How could it have been otherwise when both prophethood and sovereignty belonged to Israel and Esau, the two sons of Isaac? Only when the Messenger of God—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was sent did prophethood pass to the children of Ishmael: nations acknowledged his authority, kings humbled themselves before him, and supreme rule was conferred upon the members of his Household until the end of time, so that their hands were above all other hands, with everyone stretching theirs toward them in deference.

The Torah (4)—again in its first book—also states: “God the Exalted said to Abraham, ‘Within this year a child will be born to you whose name shall be Isaac.’ Abraham said, ‘Would that this Ishmael might live before You and glorify You!’ God the Exalted replied, ‘I have answered you regarding Ishmael: I shall bless him, favor him (5), and magnify him exceedingly in the very matter for which you have prayed. I shall make of him a populous nation and grant him a noble people.’” (6)