Is there virtue in hunger and a harsh life, as mentioned in the book "Riyad al-Salihin"?

The word "hunger" has several meanings, and it is necessary to elaborate on them; for generalization causes dispute. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned that most disagreements arise from the ambiguity of shared terms, and that the intended meaning of words not found in the Qur'an and Sunnah must be clarified.

The possible meanings are: 1. Famine: which causes diseases and death. There is no virtue in this meaning; rather, it may be a punishment, as in His (Allah's) saying: (So Allah made it taste the garment of hunger and fear because of what they used to do) [An-Nahl/112]. And the removal of hunger is a blessing, as in His (Allah's) saying: (Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear) [Quraish/4].

2. The opposite of gluttony and a full stomach: This is asceticism in this world, and eating without extravagance or satiety that removes energy. This meaning contains virtue, because it leads to turning away from worldly desires and invigorating the body. This is what Al-Nawawi intended in "The Virtue of Hunger, Austerity of Life, and Contentment with Little Food and Drink"; that is, avoiding exaggeration in food, drink, and clothing.

3. What the extremist Sufis intend: by abstaining from food for days and weeks, claiming that it brings divine lights. This is an innovated matter that harms religion, the soul, and the mind. There is no virtue in it; rather, it is corruption and innovation.