سُوْرَةُ الْفُرْقَانِ

Surah Al-Furqaan (25) — Ayah 7

The Criterion · Meccan · Juz 18 · Page 360

وَقَالُوا۟ مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشِى فِى ٱلْأَسْوَاقِ ۙ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ فَيَكُونَ مَعَهُۥ نَذِيرًا ﴿7﴾
And they say: "Why does this Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) eat food, and walk about in the markets (as we). Why is not an angel sent down to him to be a warner with him?
وَقَالُوا۟ waqālū And they say
مَالِ māli Why does
هَـٰذَا hādhā this
ٱلرَّسُولِ l-rasūli Messenger
يَأْكُلُ yakulu eat
ٱلطَّعَامَ l-ṭaʿāma [the] food
وَيَمْشِى wayamshī and walk
فِى in
ٱلْأَسْوَاقِ ۙ l-aswāqi the markets
لَوْلَآ lawlā Why not
أُنزِلَ unzila is sent down
إِلَيْهِ ilayhi to him
مَلَكٌۭ malakun an Angel
فَيَكُونَ fayakūna then he be
مَعَهُۥ maʿahu with him
نَذِيرًا nadhīran a warner

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 7) ➊ { وَ قَالُوْا مَالِ هٰذَا الرَّسُوْلِ يَاْكُلُ الطَّعَامَ … :} This is a criticism of the Messenger after criticizing the Qur’an, and it is a very lowly criticism. This ignorant criticism of the disbelievers has been repeated at several places in the Qur’an; in their view, no human can be a Messenger. (See Bani Isra’il: 94, 95) That is why they said, this Messenger (who claims to have been sent to us), what is it with him that he eats food like us and walks in the markets? What difference is there between us and him? He should have been an angel, who is free from human needs, and if, being a human, he had attained this status, then at least his dignity should have been as much as that of any king in the world. (See Zukhruf: 53) Allah Almighty has given its answer ahead in verse (20).

{ لَوْ لَاۤ اُنْزِلَ اِلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ … :} That is, if a human had to be a Messenger, then an angel should have been sent down to him from the sky, who would be visible to everyone, would always remain with him, and would tell people that this is Allah’s Messenger, and threaten those who did not believe in him with Allah's punishment.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

7-1. After criticizing the Qur'an, now the criticism is directed at the Messenger, and this criticism is about the humanity of the Messenger. Because in their view, humanity is not capable of bearing the greatness of messengership. That is why they said that he eats and drinks and walks in the markets and is a human like us. Whereas, according to them, the Messenger should not be a human.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

And they say, "What sort of messenger is this who eats food and walks in the markets [10]? Why has no angel been sent down with him to warn people [11] together with him?"

[10] This ignorant objection of the disbelievers has also been repeated at several places in the Quran, and that objection is that the Messenger should at least be a superhuman being, who is free from human needs, or at the very least, be among those who are detached from worldly affairs and are ascetics. The answer to this objection has also been given at several places before.
[11] That is, the disbeliever who did not accept the word of this Prophet as true, the angel would frighten, threaten, or beat him severely, so that people would not even dare to reject the Prophet’s call, and in this way, he would have his own following.