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The Text of the Good Tidings:
The Book of Genesis includes the following about the story of Hajar's flight from Sarah (Sara):
16/6 And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
16/7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness.
16/10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
16/11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
16/12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man ‘s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

In the same Book (Genesis) there is the following invocation by Ibrahim for his children:
17/16 And I will bless her [i.e. Sara ], and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
17/20 And for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

Genesis also includes the following about the story of the departure of Hajar and Isma'il to Paran:
21/12 for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
21/13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
21/17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called Hagar.
21/18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

The Good Tidings Explained:
Hajar fled from the harm her mistress Sarah inflicted on her (This contradicts with the Islamic belief that Hajar's immigration was a Divine order from God to Ibrahim, peace be upon him). Allah heard her invocation and sent His angel to her to give her the good tidings that she was pregnant, and will give birth to a blessed boy whose offspring will be too numerous to count, and whose hand will be above the hands of all, and the hands of all will be under his hand, and who will dwell around all his brothers.

Allah Almighty also heard the supplication of Ibrahim and therefore blessed both his sons Isma'il and Ishaq and promised him to make nations and kings from their offspring.

He also gave Hajar this good tidings after she and her son departed to the wilderness of Paran and dwelled in an uncultivated valley amidst the mountains of Paran.

The Promise to Ishaq was fulfilled, and therefore his offspring were numerous, and Allah chose Musa, peace be upon him, from among his descendants to make him Prophet and to talk to him. After his death, there appeared many prophets, scholars, and kings who called Bani Isra'il to the way of Allah. This is the blessing given to Ishaq. What, then, is the blessing given to Isma'il?

Jewish and Christian scholars say that it means the appearance of nations and kings from among his offspring, but short of prophet hood or the Divine Law. This is obviously an aberration. For how can this be while the blessing is to both of them and occurring in one and the same text? Allah Almighty does not choose nations and kings then leaves them without guidance from Him. How does He choose kings without providing them with legislation by which they lead their people?

It is well known that the hands of Bani Isma'il were not above the hands of anyone before the mission of Muhammad, God's blessing and peace be upon him. But prophet hood, the scripture, and monarchy were in Bani Isra'il and ‘Al'is ,the sons of Ishaq. When the mission of Muhammad, God's blessing and peace be upon him, started, prophet hood moved to Bani Isma'il to whom nations and kings were subjected, thus fulfilling the prophecies in the Torah.

It is undoubtedly certain that there was no one among the offspring of Isma'il who was blessed and glorified and had a large nation following him except Muhammad, God's blessing and peace be upon him. Monarchy amongst the descendants of Isma'il did not start except after his mission. He had the upper hand over most of the Arabian Peninsula with all its population of polytheists, Jews, and Christians. After he passed away, his nation had the upper hand over all other nations. The Caliphate was in the tribe of Quraysh, the tribe of Muhammad, God's blessing and peace be upon him, and descendants of Isma'il. Thus was the hand of Isma'il above the hands of all people.

If Muhammad were not a prophet, then he would be a king. The elite as well as the commoners knew that he said about himself that he was the Messenger of Allah to all people. If he were a just, truthful king, belief in him would be incumbent. But if he were not truthful, then he would be an unfair man and an impostor; because there is no worse injustice than lying to Allah. But how can the good tidings, be given to Hajar and the blessing be given to Isma'il of an unfair king who falsely claims prophet hood and subjects people with his sword? In holding him a liar, he is also held to be unjust; and injustice negates the blessing. How can good tidings or blessings be in telling a person that his most distinguished descendant would be a tyrant who inflicts injustice on people and is outrageous in telling lies? And can a disbelieving nation be called a great nation?

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