Ash-Shura • EN-ASBAB-AL-NUZUL-BY-AL-WAHIDI
﴿ ۞ وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَآئِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًۭا فَيُوحِىَ بِإِذْنِهِۦ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌۭ ﴾
“And it is not given to mortal man that God should speak unto him otherwise than through sudden inspiration, or [by a voice, as it were,] from behind a veil, or by sending an apostle to reveal, by His leave, whatever He wills [to reveal]: for, verily, He is exalted, wise.”
(And it was not (vouchsafed) to any mortal that Allah should speak to him unless (it be) by revelation or from behind a veil...) [42:51]. The Jews said to the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace: �Do you not speak [directly] with Allah and look at Him as did Moses? This is if you are really a Prophet. We will never believe in you until you do that�. He said: �Moses did not look at Allah, exalted is He�. Then, Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse.