Hadith: Indeed, I am the most God-fearing among you and the most knowledgeable of Allah

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ المُؤْمِنينَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْها قَالَتْ:
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا أَمَرَهُمْ أَمَرَهُمْ مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ بِمَا يُطِيقُونَ، قَالُوا: إِنَّا لَسْنَا كَهَيْئَتِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ غَفَرَ لَكَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ، فَيَغْضَبُ حَتَّى يُعْرَفَ الغَضَبُ فِي وَجْهِهِ، ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ أَتْقَاكُمْ وَأَعْلَمَكُمْ بِاللَّهِ أَنَا».
[صحيح] - [رواه البخاري] - [صحيح البخاري: 20]

‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), reported:
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) instructed his Companions to do something, he would command them only with what they were able to bear. They said: O Messenger of Allah, we are not like you; Allah has forgiven your past and future sins. He would then become angry until his anger would be visible on his face, and say: "Indeed, I am the most God-fearing among you and the most knowledgeable of Allah."
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Bukhari] - [Sahih Bukhari - 20]

Explanation

The Mother of the Believers ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) informs that the Prophet (ﷺ), when commanding people to perform deeds, would instruct them to do only what was easy for them and not burdensome—out of concern that they might be unable to maintain it consistently. He himself acted upon what he commanded of moderation and ease. However, they requested to be tasked with more difficult acts, believing that they needed to exert greater effort in worship to attain higher ranks and perhaps reach a status close to his. They would say: Our situation is not like yours, O Messenger of Allah, for Allah has forgiven all your past and future sins. He would then become angry—so much so that the anger could be seen on his face—and he would say: I am the most God-fearing and the most knowledgeable among you about Allah. So, do as I command you.

Benefits from the Hadith

1. Ibn Hajar said: He only commanded them with what was easy for them so that they would do it consistently, as he said in another Hadīth: "The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently."
2. A righteous man should not abandon striving in good deeds, relying merely on his righteousness.
3. It is permissible for a person to speak about his own virtue when there is a need to do so, provided he is safe from pride and arrogance.
4. The best approach in worship is moderation and consistency—not exaggeration that leads to abandonment.
5. Ibn Hajar said: When a servant reaches the highest level in worship and its fruits, that should make him even more persistent in maintaining it, in order to preserve the blessing and increase it through gratitude.
6. It is permissible to show anger when a religious command is violated, and to reproach a knowledgeable or intelligent person who fails to understand the intended meaning—in order to urge him to be more attentive.
7. The Prophet (ﷺ) showed gentleness toward his Ummah, demonstrating that the religion is one of ease and that the Shariah is upright and tolerant.
8. The strong desire of the Companions for worship and their eagerness to increase in goodness.
9. Adhering to the limits set by the Legislator—whether in strict obligations or permitted concessions—and believing that choosing the easier option, when it aligns with the Shariah, is better than taking the harder path that goes against it.