Takhrij Hadith 328: "Quraysh sent al-Nadr ibn al-Harith…"

Quraysh sent al-Nadr ibn al-Harith and ʿUqbah ibn Abi Muʿayt to the Jewish rabbis in Madinah. They said to them: “Ask them about Muhammad, describe him to them, and tell them what he says. They are the people of the former Scripture, and they possess knowledge about the prophets that we do not have.” So they set out and arrived in Madinah. They asked the Jewish rabbis about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, described his situation to them, and mentioned some of his statements. They said: “You are the people of the Torah, and we have come to you so that you may inform us about this man of ours.” The Jewish rabbis replied: “Ask him about three matters which we command you to ask him. If he informs you about them, then he is a prophet sent by God; but if he does not, then he is a man who fabricates claims, and you may form your own judgment about him. Ask him about some young men who disappeared in ancient times—what was their story? For they have a remarkable account. Ask him about a great traveler who reached the eastern and western extremities of the earth—what was his story? And ask him about the spirit —what is it? If he informs you about these matters, then he is a prophet, so follow him. But if he does not inform you, then he is a man who fabricates claims, and do with him as you see fit.” Al-Nadr and ʿUqbah returned to Makkah and said to Quraysh: “O people of Quraysh, we have brought you a decisive means of settling the matter between you and Muhammad. The Jewish rabbis instructed us to ask him about certain matters.” They informed them of those questions. Then they came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: “O Muhammad, tell us.” They asked him about the matters they had been instructed to ask. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: “I will tell you tomorrow about what you have asked me.” But he did not say, “if Allah wills (in shaʾ Allah).”They departed, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ remained for fifteen nights without any revelation from Allah concerning those questions, and Jibrīl (Gabriel), peace be upon him, did not come to him. The people of Makkah began spreading rumors and saying: “Muhammad promised us an answer tomorrow, and now fifteen days have passed and he has not told us anything about what we asked him.” The delay of revelation grieved the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and what the people of Makkah were saying weighed heavily upon him. Then Jibril, peace be upon him, came to him from Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, with Surat al-Kahf, which contained a gentle reproach regarding his distress over them, and the answers to their questions concerning the young men, the great traveler, and the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: {They ask you [O Prophet] about the spirit. Say, “Its nature is known only to my Lord, and you [O humanity] have been given but little knowledge}.