—by Allah’s permission.

The Jew replied, “You have spoken the truth; indeed you are a prophet,” and then he departed. The Prophet ﷺ said, “He questioned me about something of which I knew nothing until Allah informed me of it.”(1)

Muslim likewise transmitted this report(2) through al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī al-Ḥalawānī, from Abū Tūbah al-Rabīʿ ibn Nāfiʿ, with the same chain. The man in question may have been ʿAbdullāh ibn Salām, or he may have been someone else; Allah knows best.

Another ḥadīth:

Abū Dāwūd al-Ṭayālisī said: ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd ibn Bahrām narrated to us, from Shahr ibn Ḥawshab, who said: Ibn ʿAbbās told me:

A group of Jews once came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, “O Messenger of Allah, speak to us about certain matters we wish to ask you—matters known only to a prophet.” He replied, “Ask whatever you like, but first pledge to me by Allah’s covenant and by what Jacob exacted from his sons that, if I tell you something you recognize as true, you will certainly follow me in Islam.” They said, “You have that pledge.”

He said, “Ask whatever you wish.”

They said, “Tell us four things, and then we will ask further: (1) What food did Israel forbid himself before the Torah was revealed? (2) Tell us about the man’s fluid—how does a male child come to be until he is male, and how does a female child come to be until she is female? (3) Tell us about this Prophet’s sleep. (4) And who is your ally among the angels?”

He said, “Do you give me Allah’s covenant that if I inform you, you will follow me?” They offered him whatever pledges and oaths he wished.

He said, “I adjure you by Allah, Who sent down the Torah to Moses: do you know that Israel—Jacob—once fell gravely ill, and when his sickness was prolonged he vowed to Allah that if Allah healed him he would forbid himself the drink he loved most and the food he loved most? His favorite drink was camel milk, and his favorite food was camel meat.” They answered, “Yes, by Allah.”

The Messenger of Allah said, “O Allah, bear witness against them.”

He went on: “I adjure you by Allah, besides Whom there is no deity, Who sent down the Torah to Moses: do you know that the man’s fluid is thick and white, while the woman’s fluid is thin and yellow, and that whichever of them prevails determines—by Allah’s permission—the child and its resemblance? If the man’s fluid prevails over the woman’s, the child is male—by Allah’s permission; and if the woman’s fluid prevails over the man’s, the child is female—by Allah’s permission.” They said, “Yes, by Allah.”

The Messenger of Allah said, “O Allah, bear witness against them.”

He then said, “I adjure you by Allah, besides Whom there is no deity, Who sent down the Torah to Moses: do you know that this Prophet’s eyes sleep while his heart does not?” They replied, “Yes, by Allah.” He said, “O Allah, bear witness against them.”

They said, “Now tell us about your angelic ally; on that basis we will either join you or leave you.” He said, “My ally is Gabriel—"