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I. The Prophecy of the Departing Scepter
Before his passing, Prophet Jacob (peace be upon him) gathered his twelve sons and foretold the future trajectory of their lineage (Genesis 49). This prophetic utterance, which forms a nucleus of subsequent scriptural warnings, is recorded in the Book of Genesis:
"The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he (Shiloh) comes to whom it belongs; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples." (Genesis 49:10)
The phrase "Scepter and ruler's staff" symbolizes the dual authority of temporal sovereignty and prophetic lawgiving. This passage explicitly foretells the termination of this spiritual and temporal authority within the tribe of Judah (the Israelites) upon the arrival of a successor known as Shiloh—a figure to whom the universal "obedience of the peoples" belongs.
While Shiloh may refer to a place, its meaning of "peace" or "tranquility" is linguistically associated with the religion of Islam, suggesting that the figure would usher in a universal dispensation of peace. The core message is clear: the Israelite prophetic cycle would cease upon the arrival of this final authority. This warning was reinforced by earlier pronouncements of God's threat to cease dealing with the Israelites as a nation due to their transgression (Deuteronomy 32:21; Jeremiah 31:36).
II. The Question of Lineage: Ishmael, Isaac, and Scriptural Integrity
The eventual transfer of the scepter is rooted in the lineage of Prophet Abraham (PBUH). Islamic tradition affirms that the final prophetic authority was to be transferred from the line of Prophet Isaac to the line of Prophet Ishmael.
The history of the Israelite nation, as acknowledged in the Qur'an, notes that the Children of Israel were chosen and preferred over their contemporaneous nations, but this status was strictly conditional upon them maintaining their covenant with God. They were repeatedly described as "stiff-necked, arrogant and rebellious" (Deuteronomy 31:27).
This history of spiritual failure is linked to their perceived prejudice and jealousy toward Prophet Ishmael, the firstborn son of Prophet Abraham. The integrity of the scriptures was impacted by this rivalry, as scribes and doctors of law are accused of having intentionally corrupted the meanings of the divine messages (Tahrīf al-ma'nā), sometimes by favoring Isaac where the original prophecy referred to Ishmael. The claim that Ishmael was the intended sacrificial victim is supported by the phrase "thy only son" (Genesis 22:2), as Ishmael was Abraham’s only son for fourteen years before Isaac’s birth.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) traces his lineage through the Kedar tribe, the most prominent of the Ishmaelites, thereby fulfilling the Divine Legacy bestowed upon the line of Ishmael.
III. The Kingdom Taken and Given to "Another Nation"
The divine wisdom and justice of transferring authority were explicitly confirmed by Prophet Jesus (PBUH). Recognizing the spiritual failure and arrogance of the Israelite leadership, Jesus prophesied the definitive end of their religious custodianship:
"Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruit thereof; And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." (Matthew 21:43–44)
This "nation bringing forth the fruit thereof" is interpreted by Muslims as the Ummah (universal community) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Israelite leaders had become like the builders who "rejected the very stone which has become the head of the corner" (Matthew 21:42), leading to the consequence that the spiritual "Kingdom of God" would be transferred to a people who would produce its intended fruits—faith, justice, and obedience to God. Before Islam, the Arabs were often hostilely described as a "foolish nation", making their subsequent elevation as the bearers of the final message a demonstration of God's wisdom and sovereign justice.
IV. The Fulfillment of Sovereignty in Islam
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the final messenger of God (Khatam an-Nabiyyīn) , brought the universal religion of Islam (total submission and obedience to the Only True God). He fulfilled the prophecies by replacing the adulterated, burdensome royal authority and corrupt priesthood of the Israelites.
The phrases "to whom it belongs" and "to him shall be the obedience of the peoples" (Genesis 49:10) were fulfilled by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who possessed both the prophetic authority and the sovereign power to establish the Kingdom of God on Earth. He removed all forms of idol worship and established the purest monotheistic religion.
The fruits of this transfer were evident in the phenomenal expansion of the Ummah: in less than a century, Islam spread throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe, establishing a vast spiritual and political civilization. This Divine Favor was declared in the Qur'an:
"…This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…" (Qur'an, chapter 5, verse 3)
The monumental service rendered by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the successful establishment of this universal, perfected faith confirms his status as the greatest prophet, the fulfillment of the everlasting covenant, and the true and rightful inheritor of the Divine Legacy.
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