The Prophet ﷺ delivered a sermon and said, "Allah gave a choice to one of (His) slaves either to choose this world or what is with Him in the Hereafter. He chose the latter." Abu Bakr wept. I said to myself, "Why is this Sheikh weeping, if Allah gave choice to one (of His) slaves either to choose this world or what is with Him in the Here after and he chose the latter?" And that slave was Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself. Abu Bakr knew more than us. The Prophet ﷺ said, "O Abu Bakr! Don't weep. The Prophet ﷺ added: Abu- Bakr has favored me much with his property and company. If I were to take a Khalil from mankind I would certainly have taken Abu Bakr but the Islamic brotherhood and friendship is sufficient. Close all the gates in the mosque except that of Abu Bakr.  

خَطَبَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَيَّرَ عَبْدًا بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي مَا يُبْكِي هَذَا الشَّيْخَ إِنْ يَكُنِ اللَّهُ خَيَّرَ عَبْدًا بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هُوَ الْعَبْدَ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَعْلَمَنَا قَالَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ لاَ تَبْكِ إِنَّ أَمَنَّ النَّاسِ عَلَىَّ فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَمَالِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً مِنْ أُمَّتِي لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَلَكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَمَوَدَّتُهُ لاَ يَبْقَيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ باب إِلاَّ سُدَّ إِلاَّ باب أَبِي بَكْرٍ  

"Messenger of Allah ﷺ in his fatal illness came out with a piece of cloth tied round his head and sat on the pulpit. After thanking and praising Allah he said, "There is no one who had done more favor to me with life and property than Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafa. If I were to take a Khalil, I would certainly have taken Abu- Bakr but the Islamic brotherhood is superior. Close all the small doors in this mosque except that of Abu Bakr."  

خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ عَاصِبٌ رَأْسَهُ بِخِرْقَةٍ فَقَعَدَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَحَدٌ أَمَنَّ عَلَىَّ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ مِنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنَ النَّاسِ خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلاً وَلَكِنْ خُلَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ أَفْضَلُ سُدُّوا عَنِّي كُلَّ خَوْخَةٍ فِي هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ غَيْرَ خَوْخَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ