with women, as Allah the Exalted says: “Do not approach them while you are in retreat in the mosques” (al-Baqarah 2:187). Others take it as a figure of speech meaning that he intensified his effort and rolled up his sleeves for worship—and both explanations are sound. In practice, the Messenger ﷺ did not visit his wives during the last ten nights of Ramadan because he was in iʿtikāf, and at the same time he would tighten his waist-wrapper, apply himself vigorously, and press on—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him. This is one of the forms of spiritual striving. A person, therefore, must strive against his own soul in seasons of special virtue so that he fills them with acts of obedience to Allah.

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100 – The sixth hadith:
Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ʿanhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, though each possesses goodness. Be eager for what benefits you, seek help from Allah, and never give up. If something befalls you, do not say, ‘Had I done such-and-such, it would have been this-and-that.’ Instead say, ‘It is the decree of Allah; whatever He wills, He does,’ for ‘if only’ opens the door to Satan’s work.” Narrated by Muslim.

[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—cites the report from Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ʿanhu) in which the Prophet ﷺ said: “A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer.”

The strong believer is the one whose faith is strong; it is not a reference to physical strength, for physical power