How did the Companions, such as Al-Qa'qa' ibn Amr al-Tamimi, acquire their physical strength? Was it through seeking forgiveness, or is it a trait some are born with?

The strength that is praiseworthy in Islamic law is the strength of the heart and the resolve of the soul in obedience to Allah. This is the strength with which the Companions were characterized, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer." What is meant by strength here is the resolve of the soul and its ingenuity in matters of the Hereafter, such as Jihad, enjoining good, and enduring harm, and not physical strength for its own sake. Physical strength is not praiseworthy unless it aids in obedience to Allah. Piety, obedience to Allah, and seeking forgiveness are causes for physical strength, as Allah Almighty said through the words of Hud: "And add strength to your strength." And whoever preserves Allah's commands in his youth by guarding his limbs from sins, Allah will preserve them for him in his old age.