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.

Narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: I was walking with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in a field of Madinah, while he (peace and blessings be upon him) was leaning on a twig. Meanwhile, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a group of Jews. They said to one another: Ask him about the soul. Some said: Do not ask him anything. But then they asked and said: O Muhammad! What is the soul? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up leaning on the twig. I thought that revelation was being sent down upon him. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: {وَیَسْأَ لُونَکَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَ مْرِ رَبِّی وَمَا أُوتِیتُمْ مِنَ 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. Then some of them began to say to others: Did we not tell you not to ask him?