Interacting and mixing with people entails that one should be careful and cautious, lest he should fall into what Allah, Exalted is He, has forbidden. As for the one who cannot do so regarding his interactions with others, solitude is better for him. Aboo Sa’eed Al-Khudree(may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ about the best among all people in terms of reward and status in the Sight of Allah, Exalted is He, He ﷺ replied, "A believer who strives his utmost in Allah's Cause with his life and property,” meaning that he was martyred, and the reference to spending his property means that he spends on his needs or on those partaking in Jihaad. It is noteworthy that the hadeeth does not mean that such person is the best and most virtuous among all people in general, because this description fits those who attain the ranks of the steadfast affirmers of truth, ensure that people should follow the laws of Allah, Exalted is He, and the Sunnah of His Prophet ﷺ, guide them to perform good deeds, and help them with regard to their religious or worldly affairs. However, the Prophet ﷺ meant that such a person was the best among lay Muslims in general, because there may be some devout Muslims who are endowed with (greater shares of) righteousness, knowledge, virtue, and adherence to the Sunnah, who may be better than such person. People asked, "Who is next?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "A believer who stays in one of the mountain paths worshipping Allah, Exalted is He, and leaving people safe from his mischief." The hadeeth means that such a believer stays in isolation without quarrelling and disputing with others regarding anything, and this takes place in a time of Fitnah (i.e., dissension and civil strife) or for someone who cannot endure people's harm. His saying ‘in one of the mountain paths,’ is intended as a mere example since such mountain paths are often deserted and therefore would be perfect places of retreat, yet any distant place away from people fits the profile and the hadeeth applies to it. The hadeeth underlines that the becoming etiquette of the one who seeks solitude entails that he should aim to keep his evil and harm away from Muslims, not to escape theirs, even though it is also entailed, and this aims to discipline his ‘self’ (i.e., humble himself) so that he does not see himself as superior to others, in compliance with the command of Allah, Exalted is He, to display humbleness. It is also inferred from the hadeeth that good deeds vary in terms of virtue and reward..