Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 103
? 96 PROPHECIES RELATING TO ISHMAEL The question, how some of the preceding generations were saved, and how it was that there had been pious people in the past, is sometime met by the Christian clergy with the answer that they had become righteous and worthy of salvation through faith in the vicarious atonement offered by the Messiah. This answer is on the very face of it a clear stunt. They base their argument on the premises that the advent of the Messiah (peace be on him) had been foretold by Abram, David and some other prophets (peace be on them), but there is no trace of a reference to Messiah in the prophecies made by Abram (peace be on him). This stand is totally fictitious. All that Abram (peace be on him) said was that his progeny will be blessed and that through them God, the Almighty would manifest His holiness. Evidently this prophecy relates to Abram's (peace be on him) progeny and is not specifically related to one person. The prophecy holds true in the case of Ishmael (peace be on him), an exalted prophet of God. It holds good also in the case of Isaac (peace be on him), another exalted prophet of God. It equally applies to Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David and Zacharias (peace be on them). Prophecies of some other prophets no doubt speak of a Messiah but there is a world of difference between a prophecy about the advent of a person and a prophecy about the appearance of a Son of God who would atone for the sins of others