—a bull from Paradise that used to graze along its outskirts.”

He asked, “And what will their drink be to wash that down?” The Prophet replied, “From a spring therein called Salsabīl.” The man said, “You have spoken the truth.”

He then added, “I have come to ask you about something that no one on earth knows except a prophet—or one man, or two at most.” The Prophet said, “Will it benefit you if I tell you?” He answered, “I will listen with my own ears.” The Prophet said, “Ask.” He said, “I have come to ask you about offspring.” The Prophet replied, “The man’s fluid is white and the woman’s fluid is yellow. When they meet and the man’s discharge prevails over the woman’s, the child—by Allah’s permission—is a boy; and when the woman’s discharge prevails over the man’s, the child—by Allah’s permission—is a girl.” The Jew said, “You have spoken the truth, and you are indeed a prophet.” Then he departed, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “He asked me about matters of which I had no knowledge until Allah informed me.” Recorded by Muslim.

ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd ibn Bahrām narrated—from Shaḥr—who said: Ibn ʿAbbās told me that a group of Jews once came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “Tell us about certain traits we wish to ask you concerning; none knows them save a prophet.” He said, “Ask whatever you like, but first pledge to me—by the covenant of Allah and what Jacob took from his sons—that if I inform you of something you recognize, you will give me your pledge of allegiance to Islam.” They said, “That is binding upon us.” He said, “Then ask me whatever you please.”

They said, “Inform us about four matters: Tell us about the food that Israel forbade himself before the Torah was revealed; tell us how the male comes from the man’s fluid so that the child is male, and how the female comes from it so that the child is female; and tell us who your guardian among the angels is.” He said, “You are now under Allah’s covenant that if I answer you, you will pledge allegiance to me.” They granted him whatever pledges and covenants Allah willed.

He then said, “I adjure you by Allah who sent down the Torah to Moses: do you know that Israel—Jacob—once suffered a severe, prolonged illness, and he vowed to Allah that if He cured him he would forbid himself his favorite drink—camel milk—and his favorite food—camel meat?” They replied, “Indeed, yes.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “O Allah, bear witness against them.”

He continued, “I adjure you by Allah—there is no god but He—who sent down the Torah to Moses: do you know that the man’s fluid is thick and white, and the woman’s fluid is thin and yellow; whichever of the two predominates gives the child its sex and resemblance by Allah’s permission? If the man’s fluid prevails over the woman’s, the child is a boy by Allah’s permission; and if the woman’s fluid prevails over the man’s, the child is a girl by Allah’s permission?” They said, “Indeed, yes.” He said, “O Allah, bear witness.” He then said, “I implore you by Allah…"