Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Quraysh said to the Jews: Tell us something about which we can ask this man (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) (and leave him unable to answer). They said: Ask him about the soul. So when they asked, this verse was revealed: {وَیَسْأَ لُونَکَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَ مْرِ رَبِّی وَمَا أُوتِیتُمْ مِنْ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِیلًا} … They ask you concerning the soul. Say: The soul is by the command of my Lord, and you have been given only a little knowledge. They said: We have been given a lot of knowledge; we have been given the Torah, and whoever is given the Torah has been given much goodness. In response to their statement, Allah Almighty revealed this verse: {قُلْ لَّوْ کَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّکَلِمٰتِ رَبِّیْ لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ اَنْ تَنْفَدَ کَلِمٰتُ رَبِّیْ وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِہٖ مَدَدًا} … Say: If the sea were ink for (writing) the words of my Lord, surely the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We brought the like of it to add to it.