The Prophet ﷺ said, "If I were to take a Khalil, I would have taken Abu Bakr, but he is my brother and my companion (in Islam).

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَلَكِنْ أَخِي وَصَاحِبِي

The people of Kufa sent a letter to Ibn Az-Zubair, asking about (the inheritance of) (paternal) grandfather. He replied that the right of the inheritance of (paternal) grandfather is the same as that of father if the father is dead) and added, "Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ' If I were to take a Khalil from this nation, I would have taken him (i.e. Abu Bakr).

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُهُ أَنْزَلَهُ أَبًا يَعْنِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ

If I were to choose from my Umma anyone as my bosom friend, I would have chosen Abu Bakr.

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَحَدًا خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ

If I were to choose as my bosom friend I would have chosen the son of Abu Quhafa (Abu Bakr) as my bosom friend. (Using translation from Muslim 2383c)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًاخَلِيلًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلًا

If I were to choose from my Umma anyone as my bosom friend, I would have chosen Abu Bakr. (Using translation from Muslim 2383b)

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَحَدًا خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ

[Machine] The translation of the given Arabic phrase into English is: The messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "If I were to take a close friend from this nation, I would have chosen Abu Bakr, as he is like a father to me."

لَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُهُ فَإِنَّهُ قَضَاهُ أَبًا يَعْنِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ

اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُهُ خَلِيلًا يَعْنِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَضَى أَنَّ الْجَدَّ أَبٌ وَهَذَا الْكَلَامُ قَدْ رُوِيَ عَنِ ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ