فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ: «أَنْتُمُ الَّذِينَ قُلْتُمْ كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ! إِنِّي لَأَخْشَاكُمْ لِلَّهِ وَأَتْقَاكُمْ لَهُ، لَكِنِّي أَصُومُ وَأُفْطِرُ، وَأُصَلِّي وَأَرْقُدُ، وَأَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ».
Translation: The Prophet ﷺ asked whether they had made those statements. He then affirmed that he feared Allah and was mindful of Him more than anyone present; nevertheless, he fasted and broke the fast, prayed and slept, and married.
He first established that his piety was not deficient. He then showed that the highest reverence for Allah can coexist with permissible rest, relationships and the proper fulfillment of worldly responsibilities.