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Abu Hurayrah, radiyallahu anhu, reported that Rasulullah, sallallaahu alayhi wa salaam, said:
“A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, while there is good in both.
Guard over that which benefits you, seek Allah’s Assistance, and don’t lend yourself to things devoid of benefit, and if something befalls you, then don’t say ‘If I only would have done such and such,’ rather say ‘Allah ordained this and He does what He wills’ for verily the phrase ‘If I would have’ makes way for the work of the Devil.”
(Muslim)
“The intended meaning of strength here is a firm will and a desire to work for the Hereafter. So the one being described as a strong believer is more bold and stern against the enemy in Jihâd, quicker to go out (to fight) and searching for it (Jihâd), more firm in the way he enjoins the good and forbids the evil, (more firm) in his patience with the harms he faces throughout all of that, and stronger in the way he carries out difficult tasks for Allâh’s Sake. He loves to pray, fast, make, and perform the rest of the acts of worship, and he is more active in seeking after these affairs, and he keeps a closer watch over his performance of them.”
[Sharh Muslim (9/341)]
“The administration and the work from such a Mu'min can never be delivered by a weak Mu'min. A weak Mu'min is powerless to carry out such actions, neither for himself, that is on a personal level, and nor is he qualified to serve the community. He is neither successful in his personal endeavours of supervision and performance and nor are his administrative and active ventures for the people successful, as he is weak.
The need is for resolute, absolute and indefatigable performance and supervision on a personal level and for the community in dealing with opponents and adversaries. The Alif Laam in Al-Mu'min is for totality. In other words, all Believers as one single body are required to maintain their power. Thus, the Mu'min has to be powerful and strong. The enemy should not infiltrate the borders. The Mu'min should be strong in his community, group and association.”
“There are different types of people. The first is one who is already a mushrik. He rejects the absolute Tenets of Faith and becomes a kaafir. Together with this he becomes hell-bent on committing zulm (oppression/tyranny). As a zaalim (oppressor) he joins the ranks of the kafarah fajarah (obscene infidels).
Some are believers who in response to the demand of Imaan are fully obedient. They are unshakable in external noble actions and internal praiseworthy character. These believers are the Perfect Believers.
Some again do not dabble in kufr and shirk and absolute fujooriyyat (vile deeds), but they are tainted with some bad deeds. They have not embraced vile deeds; vile deeds are not continuously emanating from them; they are not perennially involved in vile deeds; they are not steeped in vile deeds. Such a person possesses the nafs-e-lawwaamah (the lamenting nafs; the self which becomes remorseful over any wrong which it commits).
One is a person who is continuously occupied in vile deeds. He shows no remorse. He is an ingrate, yet he is a Believer subscribing to dogmatic beliefs. The power of his Imaan is exceptionally low on account of his transgression. He is a defective believer. On a whole he is an ingrate. He does not reflect over the favours of Allah Ta’ala for his evil to go away and be replaced with good; for ill fortune to disappear and good fortune to appear. This person is on the whole an ingrate; on the whole.”