سُوْرَةُ الْفُرْقَانِ
Surah Al-Furqaan (25) — Ayah 20
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّآ إِنَّهُمْ لَيَأْكُلُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشُونَ فِى ٱلْأَسْوَاقِ ۗ وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ ۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِيرًا ﴿20﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We never sent before you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) any of the Messengers but verily, they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you as a trial for others: will you have patience? And your Lord is Ever All-Seer (of everything).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَآ
wamā
And not
أَرْسَلْنَا
arsalnā
We sent
قَبْلَكَ
qablaka
before you
مِنَ
mina
any
ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
l-mur'salīna
Messengers
إِلَّآ
illā
but
إِنَّهُمْ
innahum
indeed, they
لَيَأْكُلُونَ
layakulūna
[surely] ate
ٱلطَّعَامَ
l-ṭaʿāma
food
وَيَمْشُونَ
wayamshūna
and walked
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَسْوَاقِ ۗ
l-aswāqi
the markets
وَجَعَلْنَا
wajaʿalnā
And We have made
بَعْضَكُمْ
baʿḍakum
some of you
لِبَعْضٍۢ
libaʿḍin
for others
فِتْنَةً
fit'natan
a trial
أَتَصْبِرُونَ ۗ
ataṣbirūna
will you have patience
وَكَانَ
wakāna
And is
رَبُّكَ
rabbuka
your Lord
بَصِيرًۭا
baṣīran
All-Seer
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
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.
20. And (O Prophet), We did not send any messengers before you but they all [25] ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you a trial [26] for others. So (O believers), will you be patient over the taunts of the disbelievers [27]? And your Lord is ever All-Seeing [28].
[25] This is the answer to the objection of the disbelievers, which is mentioned in verse number 7 of this very surah. The objection of the disbelievers of Makkah was merely for the sake of argument, otherwise they knew well that Prophet Nuh, Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Musa, and Prophet Isa (peace be upon them all) were all human beings. Human needs were attached to them, and for the sustenance of their lives, they used to eat and drink. For earning a livelihood or for buying and selling, they also used to walk in the markets. Despite all these things, people accepted them as messengers. Eating food or walking in the markets is not contrary to greatness or prophethood, so on what basis is their objection to this Messenger correct?
[26] How does the entire nation get tested through the Prophet? That is, Allah sends His Messenger and puts all people to trial, thoroughly testing each one. Both those who believe and those who disbelieve. Among the believers, the most severe trial is for the messengers themselves, as you ﷺ have said: "The most severe trial is for the prophets, then for those closest to them, then for those next in rank." At the call of the Prophet, a storm of opposition arises, and initially, those who believe in the Prophet's message are usually the weak and oppressed people of society, who are already weary of the oppression and persecution of society. They are severely tested in this battle between truth and falsehood until it becomes clear to everyone how steadfast a particular believer is in his claim. The hypocrites are also sifted out, and the disbelievers are tested in such a way that among them, a person of lower worldly status and wealth claims prophethood and presents rational and textual proofs for his message. So, do they abandon their arrogance and pride and become willing to accept the truth or not? If someone rejects the Prophet's message, to what extent does he adopt the path of rebellion and defiance? Thus, the battle between truth and falsehood that arises from a Prophet's call is like a furnace, which is exactly according to the will of Allah, and many wisdoms are hidden in it, and through this furnace, every individual of the nation is tested.
[27] This address is only to the Muslims, that is, your test is whether you endure the unjust objections of these disbelievers, their mockery, and the harm they cause you, while there are many kinds of benefits and wisdoms for you in this?
[28] One meaning of this is that your Lord has put everyone to trial after considering its benefits, and the second meaning is that in the battle between truth and falsehood, He is watching those who are supporting the truth and also those who have stood as obstacles in His path, and He is well aware of their deeds.
[25] This is the answer to the objection of the disbelievers, which is mentioned in verse number 7 of this very surah. The objection of the disbelievers of Makkah was merely for the sake of argument, otherwise they knew well that Prophet Nuh, Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Musa, and Prophet Isa (peace be upon them all) were all human beings. Human needs were attached to them, and for the sustenance of their lives, they used to eat and drink. For earning a livelihood or for buying and selling, they also used to walk in the markets. Despite all these things, people accepted them as messengers. Eating food or walking in the markets is not contrary to greatness or prophethood, so on what basis is their objection to this Messenger correct?
[26] How does the entire nation get tested through the Prophet? That is, Allah sends His Messenger and puts all people to trial, thoroughly testing each one. Both those who believe and those who disbelieve. Among the believers, the most severe trial is for the messengers themselves, as you ﷺ have said: "The most severe trial is for the prophets, then for those closest to them, then for those next in rank." At the call of the Prophet, a storm of opposition arises, and initially, those who believe in the Prophet's message are usually the weak and oppressed people of society, who are already weary of the oppression and persecution of society. They are severely tested in this battle between truth and falsehood until it becomes clear to everyone how steadfast a particular believer is in his claim. The hypocrites are also sifted out, and the disbelievers are tested in such a way that among them, a person of lower worldly status and wealth claims prophethood and presents rational and textual proofs for his message. So, do they abandon their arrogance and pride and become willing to accept the truth or not? If someone rejects the Prophet's message, to what extent does he adopt the path of rebellion and defiance? Thus, the battle between truth and falsehood that arises from a Prophet's call is like a furnace, which is exactly according to the will of Allah, and many wisdoms are hidden in it, and through this furnace, every individual of the nation is tested.
[27] This address is only to the Muslims, that is, your test is whether you endure the unjust objections of these disbelievers, their mockery, and the harm they cause you, while there are many kinds of benefits and wisdoms for you in this?
[28] One meaning of this is that your Lord has put everyone to trial after considering its benefits, and the second meaning is that in the battle between truth and falsehood, He is watching those who are supporting the truth and also those who have stood as obstacles in His path, and He is well aware of their deeds.
