How did the Jews know of the coming of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) despite their religion being distorted and superseded by Christianity, and why is their knowledge of his prophethood mentioned more often in the Prophetic biography than the knowledge of the Christians?

The prophecy of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel. The People of the Book know of his prophethood, as indicated by the Quranic verses: "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in the Torah and the Gospel with them" and "Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know."

This knowledge does not contradict the distortion of their scriptures, for not everything in them has been subjected to alteration. Scholars have extracted numerous glad tidings of his prophethood from the books of the People of the Book that exist today, and they have authored works on this topic. Furthermore, there are continuous reports from those who have examined these books, both Muslim and non-Muslim, about the mention of him therein, including the reports of Heraclius, Muqawqis, and Najashi.

The Jews used to seek victory through the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, before his advent. But when he was sent, they disbelieved in him, while some Christians believed upon hearing the truth. The reason for the frequent mention of Jews in the biography (Sirah) and reminding them of their knowledge of the Prophet's prophethood, more so than Christians, is the presence of Jewish communities in Medina at that time.