Isaiah 21:13-17

This prophecy speaks of a person who will emerge in an Arab town called “Dedan” and will emigrate to another town called “Tema.” Then the Lord commands the people of Tema to relieve him, meaning with water, bread, and shelter. This is the meaning of His saying: “Bring water to meet the thirsty... meet the fugitive with his bread”.

“Dedan” approximately corresponds to the location of Mecca, where the Prophet Muḥammad was born. “Tema” corresponds to the location of Al-Madīnah, to which the Prophet Muḥammad fled as a refugee. In fact, to this day, Tema is one of the districts of Al-Madīnah.

So who is intended by the command to the people of Tema (Al- Madīnah) to provide refuge to him after he fled as an emigrant from Dedan (Mecca), other than the Prophet Muḥammad? There is no one except the Prophet Muḥammad, for he is the only prophet to whom this situation applies.

It is amazing that the other prophecy which came after this prophecy, would inform us that the glory of “Kedar” would perish within a year of this emigration.

According to the consensus of the People of the Book, Kedar is from the descendants of Ishmael, as mentioned in the Book of Genesis: “These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, in the order of their birth: Nabāyūt (Nebaioth), the firstborn of Ishmael, then Qaydār, Adbeel, Mibsam.” (Genesis 25:13). The descendants of Ishmael lived in Mecca; they were the Quraysh tribe. Not a year passed after the Prophet Muḥammad’s emigration from Mecca to Al-Madīnah until the great Battle of Badr took place between the Muslim army and the army of the polytheist idol-worshippers. The Muslims were victorious, and the Quraysh tribe Kedar was defeated, and its glory perished. In summary, the glory of Qaydār indeed collapsed within a year of his emigration (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him).

His saying: “And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken” it means that the strength of Quraysh would diminish and vanish. This indeed happened, as mentioned. The “bows” used for shooting arrows symbolize this strength, because the religion spread after the Battle of Badr, and enemies turned into friends and followers of Muḥammad. Furthermore, the Lord revealed the Qur’ān to His Prophet Muḥammad, before and after the emigration. It spread among the people, and gave them guidance. Disbelief weakened, and Islam grew strong.