قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ سُنَنٌ فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ ﴿۱۳۷﴾ هَذَا بَيَانٌ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةٌ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿۱۳۸﴾ وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنْتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿۱۳۹﴾ إِنْ يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ فَقَدْ مَسَّ الْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِثْلُهُ وَتِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنْكُمْ شُهَدَاءَ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿۱۴۰﴾

﴾137﴿ Qad khalat min qablikum sunanum faseeroo fil ardi fanzuroo kaifa kaana 'aaqiba tul mukazzibeen
﴾138﴿ Haazaa bayaanul linnaasi wa hudanw wa maw'izatul lilmuttaqeen
﴾139﴿ Wa laa tahinoo wa laa tahzanoo wa antumul a'lawna in kuntum mu'mineenp
﴾140﴿ Iny-yamsaskum qarhum faqad massal qawma qarhum misluh; wa tilkal ayyaamu nudaawiluhaa bainan naasi wa liya'lamal laahul lazeena aamanoo wa yattakhiza minkum shuhadaaa'; wallaahu laa yuh ibbuz zaalimee

﴾137﴿ Indeed, many events have passed before you, so travel through the land and see (as a lesson) how was the end of those who denied the truth.
﴾138﴿ This (Qur’an) is a clear explanation for the people, and a guidance (with proofs) and an admonition for the benefit of the God-fearing.
﴾139﴿ And do not weaken (in striving) and do not grieve (in hardships), for you are superior (possess honor) if you are true believers.
﴾140﴿ If a wound has afflicted you, then surely a similar wound has afflicted the disbelieving people. And We alternate these days (of victory and defeat) among the people (for wisdom), so that Allah may make evident those who believe and take martyrs from among you—and Allah does not love the wrongdoers.

[137] This is a warning of worldly punishment and describes the condition of the deniers after the description of the God-fearing. (سُنَنٌ) is the plural of sunnah, meaning a way or method, whether good or bad. Here, it refers to the patterns or events that occurred with previous nations, specifically the incidents of punishment upon the rejecters of truth.
[138] This is an encouragement to turn to the Noble Qur’an—meaning, if you cannot travel through the land to take lessons, then take admonition from the Qur’an. Three qualities of it are mentioned: first, (بَيَانٌ) – the clear explanation of divine rulings, whether commands or prohibitions; (هُدًى) – indicating the evidences behind those rulings; and (مَوْعِظَةٌ) – meaning the encouragements, warnings, glad tidings, and similar admonitions.
[139] After mentioning the truthfulness of the Qur’an for its propagation, this verse encourages firmness. (وَلَا تَهِنُوا) – wahn means to become weak due to fear of death or love of the world. (وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا) – ḥuzn is sorrow over loss of wealth, children, or companions. Though inner sorrow is involuntary, the intended meaning here is the kind of outward grief that causes one to lose resolve. (وَأَنْتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ) – this is general: sometimes referring to dominance in worldly matters, sometimes superiority in argument and evidence, and at other times elevated rank in the sight of Allah. (إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ) – this condition applies to all the previous parts: from do not weaken to you are superior. In this verse, two moral qualities are prohibited through negation.
[140] From this verse up to verse (143), the reasons and circumstances behind the defeat at Uhud are mentioned—to console the believers and to respond to the objections of the hypocrites. Their objection was: “If the Companions were upon truth, then why were they defeated at Uhud?” In this verse, six reasons for that defeat are mentioned. (فَقَدْ مَسَّ الْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِثْلُهُ) – The "people" refers to the polytheists of Mecca, who had suffered wounds and casualties at Badr. (مِثْلُهُ) – the likeness here is in terms of being killed and wounded; in verse (165), the likeness is stated in terms of numbers. (وَتِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا) – meaning: sometimes there are days of trial and grief, then come days of happiness; sometimes there is victory, and sometimes defeat. (وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ) – the main clause to which this is connected is omitted (implying “We rotate the days for many wisdoms”), and here ‘ilm (knowledge) refers to manifesting and distinguishing. (شُهَدَاءَ) – refers to Allah making martyrs from among you.