if ishmael and isaac are the sons of the same father abraham, then they are brothers. and so the children of the one are the brethren of the children of the other. the children of isaac are the jews and the children of ishmael are the arabs— so they are brethren to one another. the bible affirms, 'and he (ishmaelj shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.' (genesis 16:12). 'and he (ishmael) died in the presence of all his brethren.' (genesis 25:189. the children of isaac are the brethren of the ishmaelites. in like manner muhummed is from among the brethren of the israelites because he was a descendant of ishmael the son of abraham. this is exactly as the prophecy has it—'from among their brethren'. (deut. 18:18). there the prophecy distinctly mentions that the coming prophet who would be like moses, must arise not from the 'children of israel' or from 'among themselves', but from among their brethren. muhummed therefore was from among their brethren!