The Jews claim that because no one witnessed Allah giving revelation to the Prophet Muhammad, as opposed to the Children of Israel, who heard the voice of Allah on Mount Sinai, the Messengership of Prophet Muhammad cannot be verified. What is the Islamic response to this?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Firstly, it is not necessary to see the revelation when it comes down to Muhammad to prove his Prophethood. His Prophethood was proven by many signs, and many enemies testified to it even before his friends did. Rather, even the wise and honest Jews themselves testified to it and believed in him and followed him, such as ‘Abdullah ibn Salaam, may Allah be pleased with him, who was one of their rabbis and embraced Islam and became a good Muslim. Allah revealed about him (what means): {Say, “Have you considered: if it [i.e. the Quran] was from Allah, and you disbelieved in it while a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to something similar and believed while you were arrogant...” Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.} [Quran 46:10]

His story is classified as Saheeh (sound) in Musnad Ahmad.

For more information on the proofs of Prophethood, please refer to fatwas ">84679 and ">85564.

There were also signs by which the Companions knew the coming down of revelation to the Prophet . ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said, “Verily, I saw the Prophet receiving revelation on a very cold day, and when it was over, sweat was dripping from his forehead.” [Al-Bukhaari]

Also, ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated, “When the Prophet received revelation, a sound like the buzzing of bees would be heard near his face.” [At-Tirmithi]

The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, also used to see Jibreel (Gabriel), may Allah exalt his mention, coming to the Prophet in the form of a man.

'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Once, we were sitting in the company of the Prophet when a man dressed in very white clothes and with extraordinary black hair appeared. There were no signs of fatigue of a journey on him, and he was known to none of us. He sat down facing the Prophet … The Prophet said, ‘That was Jibreel; he came to you to teach you your religion.’” [Muslim]

Often times, Jibreel would to come to the Prophet in the likeness of the Companion Dihyah ibn Khaleefah Al-Kalbi, who was a handsome man.

Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that Jibreel, may Allah exalt his mention, used to come to the Prophet in the image of Dihyah ibn Khaleefah Al-Kalbi, may Allah be pleased with him. [An-Nasaa’i with an authentic chain of narrators]

As regards the saying that the children of Israel used to hear the voice of Allah from Mount Sinai, then where did you get this saying? If this is found in any of their books, then their books are not reliable because they were distorted. Please, refer to fatwa 90449. If what is meant is that Allah spoke to Moosa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention, and Moosa heard Allah’s Words, then Allah also spoke to Prophet Muhammad as is known to have taken place on the night of his ascension to the heaven.

Instead of trying to raise misconceptions about Islam and challenging it, the Jews should rather ponder on their false religion and their distorted book in order to realize that they are upon falsehood, and to read about Islam with a sound mind in order to know that it is the true religion which they must follow and which will lead to their happiness and success in this worldly life and the Hereafter.

Finally, it should be noted that a Muslim must avoid looking at the misconceptions raised by his enemies, unless he has a valid purpose and is firmly grounded in Islamic knowledge in order to refute their misconceptions. He should possess strong faith so that he would be safe from being affected by these misconceptions. For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 310099.

Allah knows best.