Wama arsalna qablaka mina almursaleena illa innahum laya'kuloona attaAAama wayamshoona fee al-aswaqi (surah Furqan: 20)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(25:20) O Muhammad, , all the Messengers whom We sent before you also ate food and moved about in the streets. *29 In fact, We have made you all a means of test for one another. *30 Will you show patience? *31 for your Lord sees everything. *32

Wa maaa arsalnaa qablaka minal mursaleena illaaa innahum la yaakuloonat ta`aama wa yamshoona fil aswaaq; wa ja`alnaa ba`dakum liba`din fitnatan atasbiroon; wa kaana Rabbuka Baseera

*29) This is an answer to the objection of the disbelievers of Makkah that Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) could not be a Messenger of Allah because he ate food and moved about in the streets. They have been told that all the Messengers of Allah who came before Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him)like Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Moses and many others whom they knew and acknowledged as Prophets and Messengers of Allah also ate food and walked about in the streets. Nay, even Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, himself, whom the Christians had made the son of God (and whose image had also been placed in the Ka`bah by the disbelievers of Makkah) ate food and walked about in the streets like a common man even according to the Gospels themselves.
*30) It is obvious that the Messenger and the Believers were a test for the disbelievers as to whether they would believe even after hearing the Divine Message and seeing their pure character. On the other hand, the disbelievers were a test for the Messenger and his followers in the sense that they were a means of proving and trying their true Faith by their persecution. For it is this test alone which helps to discriminate the true Believers from the hypocrites. That is why, at tirst, only the poor arid the helpless but sincere people embraced Islam. Had there been no persecution and hardships but prosperity, wealth and grandeur, the worshippers of the world and the selfish people would have been the first to embrace Islam.
*31) That is, "Now when you have understood the wisdom of the test by persecution, it is hoped that you will endure all kinds of hardships without complaint, and willingly undergo the persecutions that are inevitable."
*32) It probably means two things: First, the way your Lord is conducting your affairs, is according to His will and nothing that happens is without His knowledge. Second, He is fully aware of your sincerity and righteousness in serving His cause under all kinds of hardships. You should therefore rest assured that you will have your full reward. He also sees the persecution and iniquity of the disbelievers; therefore they will not escape the consequences of their wickedness .