Life’s Failures and Victories Are Not Permanent
The Holy Quran says, “If you get hurt, certainly others have also experienced injuries. We have made people pass through the different turns of history so that God would know the true believers, have some of you bear witness to the people's deeds, God does not love the unjust.” (Verse 140 of Surah Al Imran)
According to Nemuneh Exegesis of the Quran, this verse highlights one of divine Sunnahs (laws) and that is the fact that sweet and bitter events in life are not permanent.
These events are brought to people in turns so that believers are distinguished from those who falsely claim to be believers.
At the end of the verse, it is underlined that God does not like the unjust.
According to the Noor Exegesis of the Quran, this verse refers to a fact, that is, if believers have suffered on the path of defending the truth, so have the enemies. If believers have been defeated today, their enemies have also face defeats elsewhere. So believers should not get upset but should remain patient in difficulties.
The words Shahid, Shahed and Shuhada in the Quran usually refer to “witness” and “witnesses” but here, given the Shaan Nuzul (reason and place of revelation) of the verse, which is the war front (the Battle of Uhud), it is possible that the word Shuhada could mean martyrs here as well.
Based on this verse, Muslims should be steadfast and have a strong and robust mentality in the face of difficulties:
A- You are the upper ones. (Verse 139 of Surah Al Imran)
B- “A similar wound already has touched the nation.” Your enemies have also been injured.
C- “Such days We alternate between the people.” These bitter days will be gone.
D- God distinguishes true believers from hypocrites.
E- God will “have some of you bear witness to the people's deeds.”
F- God does not like the unjust, that is, God does not like the enemies of believers.
Imam Sadiq (AS) said about this verse that since the day God created Adam, divine and satanic rules have been at war but the full divine rule will be established after the advent of Imam Mahdi (AS).
Messages of Verse 140 of Surah Al Imran:
1- Muslims should not be less steadfast and patient than unbelievers. “If you get hurt, certainly others have also experienced injuries.”
2- Sweet and bitter events are not permanent. “We have made people pass through the different turns of history.”
3- In battlers and in ups and downs of life believers are distinguished from hypocrites. “…so that God would know the true believers.”
4- God takes witnesses from among you about the fact that disobeying the leader leads to defeat. (God will) “have some of you bear witness to the people's deeds.”
