Most Arabic hagiologies are in agreement when it comes to the alleged lineage of Sheikh Ishaaq, tracing his lineage to Ali bin Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.[25] However, according to I.M Lewis, the long genealogy which members of the Isaaq clan trace their lineage through, given the preponderance of names belonging to early Islamic Arabia (i.e., the time of the prophet Muhammad) rather than to medieval Somali-Arab culture, is very unlikely to be genuine.[2] I.M Lewis further elaborates that the genealogy is apparently 'Arabicized' with the goal of enhancing the prestige of the Isaaq among the many ethnic groups in modern and contemporary Somalia.[10]