1333 – On the authority of Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated, “A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak believer, though there is good in each of them. Be eager for whatever benefits you, seek Allah’s help, and do not lose heart. If something happens to you, do not say, ‘If only I had done such-and-such, then such-and-such would have occurred;’ rather say, ‘(This is) the decree of Allah, and whatever He wills, He does,’ for the word ‘if’ opens the way for Satan’s work.” Muslim transmitted it.⦗1⦘

Vocabulary of the ḥadīth
• “if”: the conjunction uttered after an event has unfolded contrary to one’s wish.
• “opens the way for Satan’s work”: because it dampens one’s resolve, fills him with regret over what is past, prevents his acceptance of the decree, and makes him imagine that destiny can be reversed.
• “the decree of Allah” (qadar Allāh): with two fathahs; the judgment Allah ordains for His servants.

Lessons derived from the ḥadīth
1 – The ḥadīth recommends strength in one’s undertakings, for strength yields benefits and fruits that weakness cannot. The weak person produces only frailty and scarcity. Allah, Exalted is He, said: “Indeed, the best man you can hire is the strong and trustworthy one” (al-Qaṣaṣ 28:26); and He said: “Hold firmly to what We have given you with strength” (al-Baqarah 2:63); and He said: “O John, hold fast to the Scripture with strength” (Maryam 19:12).
2 – Shaykh al-Islām stated in al-Siyāsah al-Sharʿiyyah: “Strength in every position of authority is according to the nature of that office; strength…"