Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 13902

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: Some Jews presented themselves before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Abu al-Qasim! We want to ask you about five things. If you tell us about these things, we will know that you are a prophet, and we will follow you." So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) took from them the covenant that Sayyiduna Isra'il (that is, Sayyiduna Ya'qub (peace be upon him)) had taken from his sons, when they said: "Allah is witness over what we say." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Present your questions!" They said: "Tell us about the sign of a prophet." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "His eyes sleep but his heart does not sleep." They said: "Tell us how a female is produced and how a male is produced." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The fluids of the two meet; when the man's fluid prevails over the woman's fluid, a son is born, and when the woman's fluid prevails over the man's fluid, a daughter is born." They said: "Tell us what Sayyiduna Isra'il (peace be upon him) (that is, Sayyiduna Ya'qub (peace be upon him)) made unlawful for himself." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He developed sciatica, and for it only the milk of such-and-such suited him." The narrator says: that is, the milk of she-camels. "So he made their meat unlawful (for himself)." They said: "You have spoken correctly." Then they said: "Tell us about thunder." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is one of the angels of Allah Almighty, who is appointed over the clouds. In his hand is a whip made of fire, with which he drives the clouds and with which he takes them to wherever Allah Almighty has commanded." They said: "Then what is the sound that we hear?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is the voice of that angel." They said: "You have spoken correctly. Now one thing remains; we will accept Islam at your hand if you tell us about it as well. Every prophet has some angel who brings him news, so tell us about the angel assigned to you." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He is Jibril." Those people said: "Jibril! He comes down with punishment, war and fighting; he is our enemy. Had you said Mika'il, who comes down with mercy, vegetation and rain, it would have been fine." So Allah Almighty revealed this verse: "Say: Whoever is an enemy to Jibril" (to the end of the verse).