Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.

ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ الْمُخَيَّرَ فِيمَا وَصَفْنَا كَانَ صَفِيَّ اللَّهِ جَلَّ وَعَلَا ﷺ

ibnhibban:6594Abū Khalīfah > ʿAlī b. al-Madīnī > Abū Dāwud > Fulayḥ b. Sulaymān > Sālim Abū al-Naḍr > Busr b. Saʿīd And ʿUbayd b. Ḥunayn > Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ delivered a sermon and said, "Verily, Allah has given the choice to His servant between what He pleases of the flowers of this worldly life and his meeting with Him, so he chose to meet his Lord." Abu Bakr wept and said, "Rather! I would ransom you with my father and mother." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Be silent, O Abu Bakr." Then he said, "If anyone is to be trusted with the wealth and life of the people, it is Abu Bakr. If I were to take an intimate friend from among mankind, I would have taken Abu Bakr as my intimate friend. However, the bond of Islam and mutual love remains in this mosque. There is no thicket except it has been removed, except the thicket of Abu Bakr." Abu Sa'eed said, "So I said, 'It is amazing for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to inform us that Allah has given the choice to a servant between the worldly life and the Hereafter, and this person is weeping. And when there is someone who is given the choice, it is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , and when there is someone who is weeping, it is Abu Bakr. And when there is Abu Bakr, he knows the Messenger of Allah ﷺ better than us."  

ابن حبّان:٦٥٩٤أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو خَلِيفَةَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْمَدِينِيِّ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ حَدَّثَنَا سَالِمُ أَبُو النَّضْرِ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ وَعُبَيْدِ بْنِ حُنَيْنٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَطَبَ فَقَالَ «إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَيَّرَ عَبْدًا بَيْنَ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا مَا شَاءَ وَبَيْنَ لِقَائِهِ فَاخْتَارَ لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ» فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَقَالَ بَلْ نَفْدِيكَ بِآبَائِنَا وَأَبْنَائِنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «اسْكُتْ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «إِنَّ أَمَنَّ النَّاسِ عَلَيَّ فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَمَالِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلًا مِنَ النَّاسِ لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَلَكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَمَوَدَّتُهُ أَلَا لَا يَبْقِيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ خَوْخَةٌ إِلَّا سُدَّتْ إِلَّا خَوْخَةَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ» قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَقُلْتُ «الْعَجَبُ يُخْبِرُنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّ عَبْدًا خَيَّرَهُ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَهَذَا يَبْكِي وَإِذَا الْمُخَيَّرُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَإِذَا الْبَاكِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَإِذَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَعْلَمُنَا بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ»  


See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Tirmidhī, Aḥmad, Ibn Ḥibbān, Ṭabarānī, Suyūṭī
bukhari:466Muḥammad b. Sinān > Fulayḥ > Abū al-Naḍr > ʿUbayd b. Ḥunayn > Busr b. Saʿīd > Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī > Khaṭab

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.  

البخاري:٤٦٦حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النَّضْرِ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ حُنَيْنٍ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ

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  

bukhari:3654ʿAbdullāh b. Muḥammad > Abū ʿĀmir > Fulayḥ > Sālim Abū al-Naḍr > Busr b. Saʿīd > Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī

Messenger of Allah ﷺ addressed the people saying, "Allah has given option to a slave to choose this world or what is with Him. The slave has chosen what is with Allah." Abu Bakr wept, and we were astonished at his weeping caused by what the Prophet ﷺ mentioned as to a Slave ( of Allah) who had been offered a choice, (we learned later on) that Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself was the person who was given the choice, and that Abu Bakr knew best of all of us. Messenger of Allah ﷺ added, "The person who has favored me most of all both with his company and wealth, is Abu Bakr. If I were to take a Khalil other than my Lord, I would have taken Abu Bakr as such, but (what relates us) is the Islamic brotherhood and friendliness. All the gates of the Mosque should be closed except the gate of Abu Bakr."  

البخاري:٣٦٥٤حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَالِمٌ أَبُو النَّضْرِ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ؓ قَالَ

خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ النَّاسَ وَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَيَّرَ عَبْدًا بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَاخْتَارَ ذَلِكَ الْعَبْدُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَعَجِبْنَا لِبُكَائِهِ أَنْ يُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ عَبْدٍ خُيِّرَ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هُوَ الْمُخَيَّرُ

وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَعْلَمَنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ مِنْ أَمَنِّ النَّاسِ عَلَىَّ فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَمَالِهِ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً غَيْرَ رَبِّي لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَلَكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَمَوَدَّتُهُ لاَ يَبْقَيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِد ِباب إِلاَّ سُدَّ إِلاَّ باب أَبِي بَكْرٍ  

bukhari:3904Ismāʿīl b. ʿAbdullāh > Mālik > Abū al-Naḍr a freed slave of ʿUmar b. ʿUbaydullāh > ʿUbayd / Ibn Ḥunayn > Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī

Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat on the pulpit and said, "Allah has given one of His Slaves the choice of receiving the splendor and luxury of the worldly life whatever he likes or to accept the good (of the Hereafter) which is with Allah. So he has chosen that good which is with Allah." On that Abu Bakr wept and said, "Our fathers and mothers be sacrificed for you." We became astonished at this. The people said, "Look at this old man! Messenger of Allah ﷺ talks about a Slave of Allah to whom He has given the option to choose either the splendor of this worldly life or the good which is with Him, while he says. 'our fathers and mothers be sacrifice(i for you." But it was Messenger of Allah ﷺ who had been given option, and Abu Bakr knew it better than we. Messenger of Allah ﷺ added, "No doubt, I am indebted to Abu Bakr more than to anybody else regarding both his companionship and his wealth. And if I had to take a Khalil from my followers, I would certainly have taken Abu Bakr, but the fraternity of Islam is. sufficient. Let no door (i.e. Khoukha) of the Mosque remain open, except the door of Abu Bakr."  

البخاري:٣٩٠٤حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ عُبَيْدٍ يَعْنِي ابْنَ حُنَيْنٍ

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ؓ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَلَسَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ عَبْدًا خَيَّرَهُ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا مَا شَاءَ وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَقَالَ فَدَيْنَاكَ بِآبَائِنَا وَأُمَّهَاتِنَا فَعَجِبْنَا لَهُ وَقَالَ النَّاسُ انْظُرُوا إِلَى هَذَا الشَّيْخِ يُخْبِرُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ عَبْدٍ خَيَّرَهُ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ وَهْوَ يَقُولُ فَدَيْنَاكَ بِآبَائِنَا وَأُمَّهَاتِنَا فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هُوَ الْمُخَيَّرَ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ هُوَ أَعْلَمَنَا بِهِ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ مِنْ أَمَنِّ النَّاسِ عَلَىَّ فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَمَالِهِ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً مِنْ أُمَّتِي لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِلاَّ خُلَّةَ الإِسْلاَمِ لاَ يَبْقَيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ خَوْخَةٌ إِلاَّ خَوْخَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ  

muslim:2382aʿAbdullāh b. Jaʿfar b. Yaḥyá b. Khālid > Maʿn > Mālik > Abū al-Naḍr > ʿUbayd b. Ḥunayn > Abū Saʿīd

that Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat on the pulpit and said, "Allah gave a choice to a servant that he may opt for the beauties of the world or that which is with Him. And the servant chose that which was with Him." Thereupon Abū Bakr wept and he wept a lot and said: "Let our fathers and our mothers be taken as ransom for you." It was Messenger of Allah ﷺ who had been given the choice, and Abū Bakr knew it better than us.

Messenger of Allah ﷺ is reported to have said, "Behold, of all people the most generous toward me in regard to his companionship and his property was Abū Bakr. Were I to choose anyone as my khalīl (close friend), I would have chosen Abū Bakr as my khalīl, but ˹for him I cherish˺ Islamic brotherhood. There shall be left open no window ˹facing˺ Masjid ˹al-Nabawī˺ except Abū Bakr's window."  

مسلم:٢٣٨٢aحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ خَالِدٍ؛ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنٌ؛ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ؛ عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ؛ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ حُنَيْنٍ؛ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَلَسَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ «عَبْدٌ خَيَّرَهُ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ زَهْرَةَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ۔ فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَهُ۔» فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَبَكَى، فَقَالَ: فَدَيْنَاكَ بِآبَائِنَا وَأُمَّهَاتِنَا۔ قَالَ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هُوَ الْمُخَيَّرُ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَعْلَمَنَا بِهِ۔

وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «إِنَّ أَمَنَّ النَّاسِ عَلَىَّ فِي مَالِهِ وَصُحْبَتِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ۔ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً، لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلاً، وَلَكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ۔ لاَ تُبْقَيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ خَوْخَةٌ إِلاَّ خَوْخَةَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ۔»  

tirmidhi:3660Aḥmad b. al-Ḥasan > ʿAbdullāh b. Maslamah > Mālik b. Anas > Abū al-Naḍr > ʿUbayd b. Ḥunayn > Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat upon the Minbar and said: 'Indeed a worshiper has been given a choice by Allah, between Him giving him from the bounty of this life as much as he wishes, and between what is with Him. So he chose what is with Him.' So Abu Bakr said: 'We will ransom our fathers and mothers for you O Messenger of Allah!'" He said: "So we were amazed. Then the people said: 'Look at this old man. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ informs about a worshiper whom Allah gave the choice, between Him giving him from the bounty of this life as much as he wishes, and between that which is with Allah, and he says: 'We will ransom our fathers and mothers for you?' But the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the one given the choice, and Abu Bakr was the most knowledgeable of it among them. So the Prophet ﷺ said: 'From those who were most beneficial to me among the people in their companionship and their wealth was Abu Bakr. And if I were to take a Khalil, I would would have taken Abu Bakr as a Khalil. But rather, the brotherhood of Islam. Let there not remain a door in the Masjid except the door of Abu Bakr.'"  

Abū ʿĪsá said that this Ḥadīth is Ḥasan-Ṣaḥīḥ.
الترمذي:٣٦٦٠حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ حُنَيْنٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَلَسَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ عَبْدًا خَيَّرَهُ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا مَا شَاءَ وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَدَيْنَاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِآبَائِنَا وَأُمَّهَاتِنَا قَالَ فَعَجِبْنَا فَقَالَ النَّاسُ انْظُرُوا إِلَى هَذَا الشَّيْخِ يُخْبِرُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ عَنْ عَبْدٍ خَيَّرَهُ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا مَا شَاءَ وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ فَدَيْنَاكَ بِآبَائِنَا وَأُمَّهَاتِنَا قَالَ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ هُوَ الْمُخَيَّرَ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ هُوَ أَعْلَمَنَا بِهِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّ مِنْ أَمَنِّ النَّاسِ عَلَىَّ فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَمَالِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلاً وَلَكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ لاَ تَبْقَيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ خَوْخَةٌ إِلاَّ خَوْخَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ  

قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ
ahmad:11134Abū ʿĀmir > Fulayḥ > Sālim Abū al-Naḍr > Busr b. Saʿīd > Abū Saʿīd

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ addressed the people and said, "Indeed, Allah ﷻ has chosen a servant between the worldly life and what he possesses." He said, "So, this servant chose what is with Allah." Abu Bakr cried, and we were amazed at his crying, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ informed us about a servant who was chosen, while he was the chosen one. And Abu Bakr was the most knowledgeable among us about him. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Indeed, if I were to take a close friend from the people other than my Lord, I would have taken Abu Bakr. But the brotherhood of Islam and his love for it has no door left open in the masjid, except for the door of Abu Bakr."  

أحمد:١١١٣٤حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ عَنْ سَالِمٍ أَبِي النَّضْرِ عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ

خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ النَّاسَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللهَ ﷻ خَيَّرَ عَبْدًا بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ قَالَ فَاخْتَارَ ذَلِكَ الْعَبْدُ مَا عِنْدَ اللهِ قَالَ فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَعَجِبْنَا لِبُكَائِهِ أَنْ خَبَّرَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ عَبْدٍ خُيِّرَ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺالْمُخَيَّرَ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَعْلَمَنَا بِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّ أَمَنَّ النَّاسِ عَلَيَّ فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَمَالِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنَ النَّاسِ خَلِيلًا غَيْرَ رَبِّي لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَلَكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الْإِسْلَامِ أَوْ مَوَدَّتُهُ لَا يَبْقَى بَابٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ إِلَّا سُدَّ إِلَّا بَابَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ  

ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ ؓ كَانَ مِنْ أَمَنِّ النَّاسِ عَلَى الْمُصْطَفَى ﷺ بِصُحْبَتِهِ

ibnhibban:6861al-Faḍl b. al-Ḥubāb al-Jumaḥī > ʿAlī b. al-Madīnī > Maʿan b. ʿĪsá > Mālik > Abū al-Naḍr a freed slave of ʿUmar b. ʿUbaydullāh > ʿUbayd b. Ḥunayn > Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī

that Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat on the pulpit and said, "Allah gave a choice to a servant that he may opt for the beauties of the world or that which is with Him. And the servant chose that which was with Him." Thereupon Abū Bakr wept and he wept a lot and said: "Let our fathers and our mothers be taken as ransom for you." It was Messenger of Allah ﷺ who had been given the choice, and Abū Bakr knew it better than us.

Messenger of Allah ﷺ is reported to have said, "Behold, of all people the most generous toward me in regard to his companionship and his property was Abū Bakr. Were I to choose anyone as my khalīl (close friend), I would have chosen Abū Bakr as my khalīl, but ˹for him I cherish˺ Islamic brotherhood. There shall be left open no window ˹facing˺ Masjid ˹al-Nabawī˺ except Abū Bakr's window." (Using translation from Muslim 2382a)  

ابن حبّان:٦٨٦١أَخْبَرَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ الْجُمَحِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْمَدِينِيِّ حَدَّثَنَا مَعَنُ بْنُ عِيسَى حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ حُنَيْنٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَلَسَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ «إِنَّ عَبْدًا خَيَّرَهُ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا مَا شَاءَ وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَهُ» فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَقَالَ فَدَيْنَاكَ بِآبَائِنَا وَأُمَّهَاتِنَا فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هُوَ الْمُخَيَّرُ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَعْلَمَنَا بِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «إِنَّ أَمَنَّ النَّاسِ عَلَيَّ فِي مَالِهِ وَصَحِبْتِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلًا وَلَكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الْإِسْلَامِ لَا يَبْقِيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ خَوْخَةٌ إِلَّا خَوْخَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ»  

مَنْ يُكَنَّى أَبَا الْمُعَلَّى أَبُو الْمُعَلَّى الْأَنْصَارِيُّ

tabarani:19119Muḥammad b. Muḥammad al-Tammār al-Baṣrī Wʿuthmān b. ʿUmar al-Ḍabbī > Abū al-Walīd al-Ṭayālisī > Abū ʿAwānah > ʿAbd al-Malik b. ʿUmayr > Ibn Abū al-Muʿallá from his father

[Machine] The messenger of Allah ﷺ delivered a sermon and said, "Verily, a man is favored by his Lord to live in this world as long as he wishes to live in it, eating from it, until he meets his Lord. So he chooses to meet his Lord." Abu Bakr began to weep, and the companions of the messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Are you not amazed by this sheikh?" The messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned a righteous man who was favored by his Lord between the world and meeting his Lord, so he chose to meet his Lord. Abu Bakr, being the most knowledgeable among them, said, "I would sacrifice myself for you, O Messenger of Allah, with my wealth and my children." The messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "No one among the people has done us a favor by his companionship and the possession of his hand more than Ibn Abi Quhafah. And if I were to take a close friend, I would have taken Ibn Abi Quhafah, but he is my brother and a supporter of faith. And your close friend is Allah."  

الطبراني:١٩١١٩حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ التَّمَّارُ الْبَصْرِيُّ وعُثْمَانُ بْنُ عُمَرَ الضَّبِّيُّ قَالَا ثنا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ ثنا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي الْمُعَلَّى عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ

خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «إِنَّ رَجُلًا خَيَّرَهُ رَبُّهُ أَنْ يَعِيشَ فِي الدُّنْيَا مَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَعِيشَ مِنْهَا يَأْكُلُ مِنْهَا وَبَيْنَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ فَاخْتَارَ لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ» فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَلَا تَعْجَبُونَ مِنْ هَذَا الشَّيْخِ؟ ذَكَرَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ رَجُلًا صَالِحًا خَيَّرَهُ رَبُّهُ بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ فَاخْتَارَ لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَعْلَمَهُمْ بِمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ نَفْدِيكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ بِأَمْوَالِنَا وَأَبْنَائِنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «مَا مِنَ النَّاسِ أَحَدٌ أَمِنَ عَلَيْنَا فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَذَاتَ يَدِهِ مِنِ ابْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ وَلَكِنْ وَدَّ وَأَخَا إِيمَانٍ وَإِنْ صَاحَبَكُمْ خَلِيلُ اللهِ»  

suyuti:4847a

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. (Using translation from Bukhārī 466)   

السيوطي:٤٨٤٧a

"إِنَّ الله خيَّرَ عَبْدًا بَينَ الدُّنْيَا وَبينَ مَا عنْدَهُ فَاخْتَارَ ذَلِكَ الْعبْدُ مَا عنْدَ الله، فَبَكى أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَال: يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ: لَا تَبْكِ، إِنَّ أمَنَّ النَّاس عَلَيَّ فِي صُحْبَتِه وَمَالِهِ أَبُو بَكْر، وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خليلًا غَيرَ ربِّي لاتَّخَذْتُ أبَا بَكْر خَلِيلًا، وَلكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الإِسْلَام وَمَوَدتهُ. لا يَبْقَيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِد بَابٌ إلا سُدَّ (إلا) بَاب أبِي بَكْرٍ".  

[حم] أحمد [خ] البخاري [م] مسلم عن أَبي سعيد