Sahih Muslim Book - 50, Hadith - 7059

حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِى حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ حَدَّثَنِى إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ بَيْنَمَا أَنَا أَمْشِى مَعَ النَّبِىِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فِى حَرْثٍ وَهُوَ مُتَّكِئٌ عَلَى عَسِيبٍ إِذْ مَرَّ بِنَفَرٍ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ سَلُوهُ عَنِ الرُّوحِ فَقَالُوا مَا رَابَكُمْ إِلَيْهِ لاَ يَسْتَقْبِلُكُمْ بِشَىْءٍ تَكْرَهُونَهُ. فَقَالُوا سَلُوهُ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ بَعْضُهُمْ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ الرُّوحِ - قَالَ - فَأَسْكَتَ النَّبِىُّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا فَعَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ يُوحَى إِلَيْهِ - قَالَ - فَقُمْتُ مَكَانِى فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ الْوَحْىُ قَالَ (وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّى وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً)

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "While I was walking with the Prophet (s.a.w) in a field, and he was leaning on a palm branch, he passed by a group of Jews. They said to one another: 'Ask him about the soul.' They said: 'Why do you want to ask him about it? He may give an answer that you dislike.' They said: 'Ask him.' So one of them stood up and asked him about the soul. The Prophet (s.a.w) remained silent and did not give any answer, and I knew that Revelation was coming to him. I stayed where I was, and when the Revelation ended, he (s.a.w) said: "And they ask you concerning the Ruh (the spirit). Say: 'The Ruh is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little."'