You have beheaded your friend (saying it three times). He then said : One who cannot help expressing praise of his companion, should say : I consider him such and such (as he intends to say), but I do not declare him pure with Allah.
أَنَّ رَجُلاً أَثْنَى عَلَى رَجُلٍ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِذَا مَدَحَ أَحَدُكُمْ صَاحِبَهُ لاَ مَحَالَةَ فَلْيَقُلْ إِنِّي أَحْسِبُهُ كَمَا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَقُولَ وَلاَ أُزَكِّيهِ عَلَى اللَّهِ