Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "

The Shaykh : The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said, in what he quoted from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) in the chapter on moderation in obedience: meaning: upon Aisha. meaning: that she prays a lot. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Mah' means: he commanded her to stop. It is, according to the grammarians, a noun of action meaning 'stop,' just as 'Sah' means 'be silent.' So the meaning is that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded this woman to stop the excessive work that might be difficult for her and that she would be unable to sustain in the future, so she should not persist in it. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to take on from work what we can manage, and he said: meaning: do not burden yourselves or exhaust yourselves. For if a person exhausts himself and burdens himself, he will get tired and weary, then he will withdraw and stop. And Aisha mentioned meaning: that even if the work is little, if you persist in it, that is better for you, because you do the work with ease and leave it off while you still desire it, not leaving it off because you are tired of it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning: that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) gives you reward according to your work. Whatever work you persist in, Allah the Exalted will reward you for it. And this 'tiredness' which is understood from the apparent meaning of the hadith is that Allah is described with it, but it is not like our tiredness. For our tiredness is tiredness of fatigue and laziness, whereas the tiredness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is an attribute by which He (Exalted and Majestic is He) is distinguished, and Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is not affected by fatigue or laziness. He said: These great heavens and the earth and what is between them, Allah the Exalted created them in six days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. He said: meaning: we were not fatigued by their creation in this short period, despite its greatness. So in this hadith there are benefits: among them is that a person should, if he sees someone with his family, ask who they are, because the one who enters upon the family might be someone whose entry is not desired. For some women come to the household and tell them stories for which they sin, such as backbiting and others. And perhaps a woman enters with good intention or without good intention, asking about the house, 'What is your husband doing? What is your son doing? What is your brother doing?' Then when she mentions what he does, she says, 'This is trivial. Why does he not give you this? Why does he not give you but clothes? This is only food?' And he is one whom Allah has made wealthy, and he does and leaves off, until the woman spoils things for her husband. Therefore, a person should inquire if he finds someone with his family, asking who these people are, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Aisha about the woman who was with her. And in it is also that a person should not exhaust himself with obedience and much work, for if he does this, he will get tired and then leave it off. And it is better for him to remain with the work, even if it is little, as long as he is consistent with it. And it reached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: He said that out of desire for good. He said: every night. forever, meaning. So that reached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he said to him: Abdullah ibn Amr grew old and it became difficult for him to fast and to leave a day, so he said: So in this is proof that a person should perform worship in a moderate manner, without excess or negligence, so that he is able to persist in it. And the most beloved of work to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is what is done consistently, even if it is little. And Allah is the One who grants success.