Tafsir of Al Imran 3:139

Al Imran: (139) And do not lose heart, nor be grieved...

It should be noted that what preceded, from His saying: {Indeed, precedents have passed on before you} (Al Imran: 137) and His saying, this serves as an explanation leading up to His saying: {And do not lose heart, nor be grieved} (Al Imran: 139). It is as if He is saying: If you investigate the conditions of past generations, you will know that although the people of falsehood achieved temporary dominance, the ultimate outcome was weakness and decline, while the state of the people of truth became elevated, and the dominance of falsehood faded away. Therefore, the ascendancy of the disbelievers over you on the day of Uhud should not become a cause for the weakness of your hearts, your cowardice, or your inability. Rather, your hearts must be strengthened, for the ultimate supremacy will be yours, and strength and dominion will return to you.

Then we say regarding His statement: {And do not lose heart} (Wala tahinu), meaning, do not become weak in striving (Jihad). Wahn (weakness) is defined as weakness. The Almighty said, recounting the words of Zakariyya (peace be upon him): {Indeed, my bones have grown feeble} (Maryam: 4).

And His statement: {nor be grieved} (Wala tahzanu), meaning, do not grieve over those among you who were killed or wounded.

And His statement: {and you shall be the uppermost} (Wa antum al-a'lawna), has several interpretations:

1. The First View: That your condition is higher than theirs in terms of casualties, because you inflicted more losses upon them on the Day of Badr than they inflicted upon you on the Day of Uhud. This is like His saying: {Or when a disaster struck you, although you had inflicted twice the like upon them, you said, "Whence is this?"} (Al Imran: 165). Or because your fighting is for Allah, while their fighting is for Satan. Or because their fighting is for false religion, while your fighting is for the true religion. All of these necessitate that your status is higher than theirs.
2. The Second View: That what is meant is that you are the uppermost in terms of argument, adherence to the religion, and the good outcome (Al-'Aqibah).
3. The Third View: That the meaning is that you are the uppermost in the sense that you will ultimately triumph over them and gain dominion over them. This is highly consistent with what preceded, because the people's hearts were broken due to that weakness, so they were in need of something that would bring strength to their hearts and joy to their souls. Thus, Allah the Almighty gave them this good tidings.

As for His statement: {if you are believers} (In kuntum mu'mineen), this also has several interpretations:

1. The First View: And you shall be the uppermost if you remain steadfast upon your faith. The purpose is to clarify that Allah the Almighty has only guaranteed the elevation of their rank because of their adherence to the religion of Islam.
2. The Second View: And you shall be the uppermost, so believe this good news if you truly believe what Allah promises and assures you regarding victory.
3. The Third View: The implied meaning is: Do not lose heart, nor be grieved, while you are the uppermost, if you are believers. For Allah the Almighty has promised victory for this religion. If you are among the believers, you know that this event will not remain as it is, and that dominion will belong to the Muslims, and they will gain mastery over the enemy.

{If a wound should touch you - for a similar wound has touched the disbelieving people. And these days We circulate among mankind so that Allah may make evident those who believe and [may] take from among you martyrs. And Allah does not love the wrongdoers. *And so that Allah may purify those who believe and may destroy the disbelievers.}