Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:139-143)
By: Mohammad Sobhanie
Healing and Divine Wisdom
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٣٩﴾ إِن يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ فَقَدْ مَسَّ الْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِّثْلُهُ ۚ وَتِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنكُمْ شُهَدَاءَ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١٤٠﴾لِيُمَحِّصَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَيَمْحَقَ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿١٤١﴾ أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا مِنكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ الصَّابِرِينَ ﴿١٤٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ كُنتُمْ تَمَنَّوْنَ الْمَوْتَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَلْقَوْهُ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ ﴿١٤٣﴾
Phrase-by-Phrase Translation
3:139 And do not weaken [وَلَا تَهِنُوا] and do not grieve [وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا], and you will be superior [وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ] if you are believers [إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ].
3:140 If a wound should touch you [إِن يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ], a similar wound has already touched the [opposing] people [فَقَدْ مَسَّ الْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِّثْلُهُ]. And these days [وَتِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ] [of victory and defeat] We alternate among the people [نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ] so that Allah may make evident those who believe [وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا] and [may] take from among you witnesses [وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنكُمْ شُهَدَاءَ] [i.e., martyrs], and Allah does not love the wrongdoers [وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ].
3:141 And that Allah may purify the believers [through trials] [لِيُمَحِّصَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا] and destroy the disbelievers [وَيَمْحَقَ الْكَافِرِينَ].
3:142 Or do you think that you will enter Paradise [أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ] while Allah has not yet made evident those among you who fight in the way of Allah [وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا مِنكُمْ] and made evident those who are steadfast [وَيَعْلَمَ الصَّابِرِينَ]?
3:143 And you had certainly wished for martyrdom [وَلَقَدْ كُنتُمْ تَمَنَّوْنَ الْمَوْتَ] before you encountered it [مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَلْقَوْهُ], and you have [now] seen it [before you] [فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُمُوهُ] while you were looking on [وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ].
Literal Translation
3:139 And do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are believers.
3:140 If a wound should touch you, a similar wound has already touched the [opposing] people. And these days [of victory and defeat] We alternate among the people so that Allah may make evident those who believe and [may] take from among you witnesses [i.e., martyrs]—and Allah does not like the wrongdoers.
3:141 And that Allah may purify the believers [through trials] and destroy the disbelievers.
3:142 Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while Allah has not yet made evident those among you who fight in the way of Allah and made evident those who are steadfast?
3:143 And you had certainly wished for martyrdom before you encountered it, and you have [now] seen it [before you] while you were looking on.
Notes on Key Vocabulary:
The Arabic root word wahan [وَهَنَ] refers to weakness, slackness, or frailty—whether physical or mental. It is equivalent to “lose heart,” meaning to lose hope, enthusiasm, or confidence in one’s ability to succeed.
The word al-ayyām [الْأَيَّامُ] literally means “days,” but in Arabic, it can also refer to periods, eras, or historical phases marked by significant events or conditions. For example, “the days of the Imamate of Imam ʿAlī (a.s.)” denotes a distinct historical era.
In this verse, al-ayyām refers to periods in which nations experience victory or defeat. The phrase wa-tilka al-ayyāmu nudāwiluhā bayna al-nās [وَتِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ] means that periods of triumph and loss alternate among people.
The Arabic particle lām [لِـ] in wa-liyaʿlama [وَلِيَعْلَمَ] is called Lām al-Taʿlīl [لَامُ التَّعْلِيل], meaning “lām of purpose” or “lām of causation.” It is commonly translated as “so that,” “in order to,” or “for the purpose of.”
Literally, the expression wa-liyaʿlama Allāhu [وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ] means “and in order that Allah may know.” In natural English, this can be rendered as “and so that Allah may know.”
However, in context, this expression does not mean that Allah acquires new knowledge. Instead, it refers to the manifestation of what He already knows—bringing into actuality what was previously hidden. For this reason, we render the phrase as “so that Allah may make evident.”
The word shuhadāʾ [شُهَدَاءَ] literally means “witnesses,” but in verse 3:140, it can also mean “martyrs.”
The phrase wa-yattakhidha minkum shuhadāʾ [وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنكُمْ شُهَدَاءَ], literally “take to Himself from among you witnesses [martyrs],” is rendered as “He may choose from among you witnesses [i.e., martyrs] for Himself.”
Occasion of Revelation [1]
During the Battle of Uḥud, the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) instructed the archers to hold their positions, no matter how the battle unfolded. However, when victory seemed imminent and some Muslim soldiers began collecting spoils, some of the archers left their posts, disobeying the Prophet’s clear command.
This created a critical gap in the Muslim defense, which the Meccan army quickly exploited with a successful counterattack. As a result, the Muslims suffered defeat, and several prominent companions, including the Prophet’s uncle, Hamzah (a.s.), were martyred.
After the battle, the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) sat beside the martyrs, grieving their loss. He mourned, wept, and prayed to Allah for their forgiveness. The martyrs were buried on the slopes of Mount Uḥud amid deep sorrow. At this critical juncture, the verses above were revealed to console the believers, restore their morale, and provide them with much-needed spiritual encouragement.
Commentary
Verse 3:139 states:
Do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are believers. (3:139)
This verse offers two powerful exhortations to restore the morale and confidence of the Muslims following their setback at the Battle of Uḥud. It instructs the believers:
- “Do not weaken” (walā tahinū):[2] Do not lose your resolve, courage, or determination to face the enemy in future battles.
- “Do not grieve” (walā taḥzanū):[3] Do not let sorrow over defeat and loss overwhelm you or weaken your resolve.
The verse then reassures the believers:
“You will be superior if you are believers.”[4]
This statement emphasizes that temporary setbacks do not determine the final outcome. If the believers remain steadfast in faith and obedient to Allah, they will ultimately prevail over their adversaries.
Verse 3:140 consoles the believers following their setback at the Battle of Uḥud by reminding them of their decisive victory at Badr. Just as the Quraysh suffered losses at Badr, the Muslims experienced hardship at Uḥud. Believers are thus encouraged not to consider themselves inferior or to regard their setbacks as lasting defeats. Rather, they should understand that victory and defeat alternate among the people according to Allah’s established laws.
The verse states:
If a wound should touch you, a similar wound has already touched the [opposing] people. (3:140)
The remainder of the verse states that Allah (s.w.t.) causes victory and defeat to alternate among the people. At Badr, the Muslims achieved victory; at Uḥud, the outcome was reversed. This alternation is not random but occurs according to Allah’s wisdom:
And these days [of victory and defeat] We alternate among the people so that Allah may make evident those who believe and [may] take from among you witnesses [i.e., martyrs]—and Allah does not like the wrongdoers (ẓālimīn). (3:140)
This verse states two key wisdoms:
1: To Make Evident Those Who Believe (walīaʿlama Allāhu allaḏīna āmanū)[5]
Qurʾānic verses[6] affirm that believers are tested by hardship to reveal their steadfastness in difficulties, devotion and obedience to Allah and His Messenger, and to make evident the sincerity of their faith. In other words, many claim unwavering belief in times of ease; it is adversity that truly distinguishes the sincere.
For instance, during the Battle of Uḥud, when a rumor spread that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had been killed, many fled to the mountains. Only a few, possessing steadfast faith, remained and continued fighting the Meccan polytheists.[7] Without these moments of trial, those Muslims who stood firm would not have had the opportunity to set themselves apart from the rest. The same is true for the archers stationed by the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) at the mountain pass: those who succumbed to the lure of spoils abandoned their posts, while a handful remained loyal and obedient to the Prophet’s command. Without such tests, the loyalty of these archers would not have been made manifest.
The hardships faced at Uḥud thus provided an opportunity for exemplary figures such as Imam Ali (a.s.), Hamzah, and others to distinguish themselves from those who retreated and took refuge in the mountains.
2: To Take from among You Witnesses [i.e., Martyrs] (wa-yattakhidha minkum shuhadāʾ)[8]
The setback at the Battle of Uḥud allowed devoted servants of Allah (s.w.t.) to manifest their deepest sacrifices. Those who attained martyrdom were granted an exalted rank in the sight of Allah—an honor they would not have achieved without this trial. The opportunity for martyrdom thus becomes a means of spiritual elevation for the most loyal and selfless among the believers.
Verse 3:140 concludes with the statement:
And Allah does not love the wrongdoers (ẓālimīn). (3:140)
The statement Allah does not love the wrongdoers also indicates that the alternation of victory and defeat is not an injustice to the sincere believers. Rather, through such trials, Allah provides the opportunity for believers to demonstrate their sincerity and, for some, to attain the rank of witnesses through martyrdom. By granting them this opportunity, Allah (s.w.t.) allows them to attain the honor associated with sincerity and sacrifice.
In summary, alternating victory and defeat serves to reveal the true sincerity of believers and to grant the honor of martyrdom to those deserving it.
Verse 3:141 draws attention to the weaknesses of which the Muslims became aware following the setback at Uḥud. Allah (s.w.t.) purified them of these weaknesses so that they could later defeat the disbelievers in the next battle.
The verse states:
And that Allah may purify the believers [from their weaknesses] and [so that, after overcoming these weaknesses, they may] destroy the disbelievers. (3:141)
These weaknesses are understood as follows:
- Some Muslims underestimated the strength and military capabilities of the Meccan army and assumed that faith and worship alone would guarantee divine assistance. The Battle of Uḥud revealed that success requires not only faith and reliance on Allah (s.w.t.), but also obedience, preparation, discipline, and adherence to His established laws (sunan Allāh). Addressing these shortcomings ultimately enabled the Muslims to conquer Mecca and cleanse the Kaʿbah of idols in the 8th year of the Hijrah.[9]
- Many expected Allah (s.w.t.) to always grant them victory through unseen assistance, as at Badr, without recognizing the divine laws (sunan Allāh) governing victory and defeat. Uḥud corrected this misunderstanding, showing that divine help does not remove the need for obedience, preparation, and steadfastness.[10]
- The sacrifices of Ḥamzah and other martyrs remain an enduring example of steadfastness, showing that true believers defend Islam with unwavering commitment—offering both their lives and their wealth when needed.
Verse 3:142 shifts the focus and poses a rhetorical question: Do believers expect to enter Paradise without striving in the cause of Allah and without remaining steadfast in the face of hardship for His sake? Such an expectation is contrary to the divine laws (sunan Allāh).
The Verse states:
Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while Allah has not yet made evident those among you who fight in the way of Allah and made evident those who are steadfast? (3:142)
A similar rhetorical question is asked elsewhere in Sūrah al-ʿAnkabūt (29:2–3):[11]
Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe,” and they will not be tested? We certainly tested those before them, so Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars. (29:2-3)
Verse 3:143 highlights how we are sometimes unaware of the true sincerity of our intentions. We may make bold claims, but when the moment of action arrives, our response may differ dramatically. This was evident in the events of the Battle of Uḥud.
According to various traditions, after the Battle of Badr, some Muslims repeatedly voiced their desire to attain martyrdom in the cause of Allah (s.w.t.). Among them were those who were genuinely sincere, those who merely made claims, and others whose words lacked true intention.
At the Battle of Uḥud, those who were truly devoted (mujāhidūn) demonstrated remarkable courage and, for some, achieved the martyrdom they longed for. In contrast, others, upon witnessing signs of defeat, fled the battlefield out of fear. This reality is captured in verse 3:143:
And you had certainly wished for martyrdom before you encountered it, and you have [now] seen it [before you] while you were looking on. (3:143)
In summary, the trials faced by the early Muslim community—especially at the Battle of Uḥud—reveal profound lessons about sincerity, resilience, and the true nature of faith. These events underscore that genuine commitment to Allah is proven not by words alone, but by steadfastness and courage when tested. Through the alternation of victory and defeat, believers are given the opportunity to examine their intentions, strengthen their resolve, and attain higher ranks of spiritual excellence. By reflecting on these historical experiences, we are reminded that every trial is an invitation to greater sincerity, unity, and reliance on Allah, ultimately guiding us toward lasting success in this world and the Hereafter.
[1] Tafsīr-e Nemūneh, vol. 3, p. 129
[2] Sūrah Āl ʿImrān 3:139, وَلَا تَهِنُوا
[3] Sūrah Āl ʿImrān 3:139, وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا
[4] Sūrah Āl ʿImrān 3:139, وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ
[5] Sūrah Āl ʿImrān 3:140 وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
[6] Sūrah Muḥammad, 47:31,
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَعْلَمَ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ مِنكُمْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَنَبْلُوَ أَخْبَارَكُمْ
And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you [for the cause of Allah] and the patient, and We will test your affairs
[7] Āl ʿImrān, 3:144
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِكُمْ ۚ
[8] Sūrah Āl ʿImrān 3:140 وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنكُمْ شُهَدَاءَ
[9] Tafsīr-e Nemūneh, vol. 3, p. 135
[10] Tafsīr-e Nemūneh, vol. 3, p. 134
[11] Sūrah al-ʿAnkabūt 29:2–3,
أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ ﴿٣﴾
The Prophet’s Mortality and the Divine Decree: Commentary on the Quran (Chapter 3:144-145)