I saw the feet of the polytheists very close to us as we were in the cave. I said: Messenger of Allah, if one amongst them were to see at his feet he would have surely seen us. Thereupon he said: Abu Bakr, what can befall two who have Allah as the third One with them.  

قَالَ نَظَرْتُ إِلَى أَقْدَامِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ عَلَى رُءُوسِنَا وَنَحْنُ فِي الْغَارِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ نَظَرَ إِلَى قَدَمَيْهِ أَبْصَرَنَا تَحْتَ قَدَمَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا ظَنُّكَ بِاثْنَيْنِ اللَّهُ ثَالِثُهُمَا  

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."  

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۔»  

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri through another chain of transmitters.  

خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ النَّاسَ يَوْمًا بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ  

If I were to choose a bosom friend I would have definitely chosen Abu Bakr as my bosom friend, but he is my brother and my companion and Allah, the Exalted and Gliorious. has taken your brother and companion (meaning Prophet himself) as a friend.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلاً وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخِي وَصَاحِبِي وَقَدِ اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ ﷻ صَاحِبَكُمْ خَلِيلاً  

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.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ خَلِيلاً  

If I were to choose amongst the people of earth someone as my bosom friend, I would have chosen the son of Abu Quhafa as my friends but God has taken your companion as a friend.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ خَلِيلاً وَلَكِنْ صَاحِبُكُمْ خَلِيلُ اللَّهِ  

" Messenger of Allah ﷺ is reported to have said: Behold I am free from the dependence of all bosom friends and if I were to choose anyone as bosom friend I would have taken Abu Bakr as my bosom friend. Allah has taken your companion as a friend.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَلاَ إِنِّي أَبْرَأُ إِلَى كُلِّ خِلٍّ مِنْ خِلِّهِ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلاً إِنَّ صَاحِبَكُمْ خَلِيلُ اللَّهِ  

Who amongst people are dearest to you? He said: A'isha. He then said: Who amongst men? He said: Her father, and I said: And who next? He said: Umar. He then enumerated some other men.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعَثَهُ عَلَى جَيْشِ ذَاتِ السَّلاَسِلِ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ عَائِشَةُ قُلْتُ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ قَالَ أَبُوهَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ عُمَرُ فَعَدَّ رِجَالاً  

I heard ʿA'isha as saying and she was asked as to whom Messenger of Allah ﷺ would have nominated as his successor if he had to nominate one at all. She said: Abu Bakr. It was said to her: Then whom after Abu Bakr? She said: ʿUmar. It was said to her. Then whom after ʿUmar? She said: Abu ʿUbaida b. al-Jarrah, and then she kept quiet at this.  

سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ وَسُئِلَتْ مَنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُسْتَخْلِفًا لَوِ اسْتَخْلَفَهُ قَالَتْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقِيلَ لَهَا ثُمَّ مَنْ بَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَتْ عُمَرُ ثُمَّ قِيلَ لَهَا مَنْ بَعْدَ عُمَرَ قَالَتْ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ ثُمَّ انْتَهَتْ إِلَى هَذَا  

What in your opinion (should I do) if I come to you but do not find you, and it seemed as if she meant that he might die. Thereupon he said: If you do not find me, then come to Abu Bakr. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Jubair b. Mut'im through another chain of transmitters (and the words are) that a woman came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and discussed with him something and he gave a command as we find in the above-mentioned narration.  

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً سَأَلَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ شَيْئًا فَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ جِئْتُ فَلَمْ أَجِدْكَ قَالَ أَبِي كَأَنَّهَا تَعْنِي الْمَوْتَ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدِينِي فَأْتِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ حَجَّاجُ بْنُ الشَّاعِرِ حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ جُبَيْرَ بْنَ مُطْعِمٍ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ امْرَأَةً أَتَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَكَلَّمَتْهُ فِي شَىْءٍ فَأَمَرَهَا بِأَمْرٍ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ عَبَّادِ بْنِ مُوسَى  

I have better claim to it, whereas Allah and the Faithful do not substantiate the claim of anyone but that of Abu Bakr.  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي مَرَضِهِ ادْعِي لِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَأَخَاكِ حَتَّى أَكْتُبَ كِتَابًا فَإِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ يَتَمَنَّى مُتَمَنٍّ وَيَقُولَ قَائِلٌ أَنَا أَوْلَى وَيَأْبَى اللَّهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِلاَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ  

Who amongst you is fasting today? Abu Bakr said: I am. He (again) said: Who amongst you followed a funeral procession today? Abu Bakr said: I did. He (the Prophet) again said: Who amongst you served food to the needy? Abu Bakr said: I did. He (again) said: Who amongst you has today visited the sick? Abu Bakr said: I did. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Anyone in whom (these good deeds) are combined will certainly enter paradise.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مِنْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ صَائِمًا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَنَا قَالَ فَمَنْ تَبِعَ مِنْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَازَةً قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَنَا قَالَ فَمَنْ أَطْعَمَ مِنْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِسْكِينًا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَنَا قَالَ فَمَنْ عَادَ مِنْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مَرِيضًا قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا اجْتَمَعْنَ فِي امْرِئٍ إِلاَّ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ  

A person had been driving an ox loaded with luggage. The ox looked towards him and said: I have not been created for this but for lands (i. e. for ploughing the land and for drawing out water from the wells for the purpose of irrigating the lands). The people said with surprise and awe: Hallowed be Allah, does the ox speak? Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: I believe it and so do Abu Bakr and 'Umar. Abu Huraira reported Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: A shepherd was tendirig the flock when a wolf came there and took away one goat. Tile shepherd pursued it (the wolf) and rescued it (the goat) from that (wolf). The wolf looked towards him and said: Who would save it on the day when there will be no shepherd except me? Thereupon people said: Hallowed be Allah I Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: I believe in it and so do Abu Bakr and Umar believe.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَسُوقُ بَقَرَةً لَهُ قَدْ حَمَلَ عَلَيْهَا الْتَفَتَتْ إِلَيْهِ الْبَقَرَةُ فَقَالَتْ إِنِّي لَمْ أُخْلَقْ لِهَذَا وَلَكِنِّي إِنَّمَا خُلِقْتُ لِلْحَرْثِ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ تَعَجُّبًا وَفَزَعًا أَبَقَرَةٌ تَكَلَّمُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِنِّي أُومِنُ بِهِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَيْنَا رَاعٍ فِي غَنَمِهِ عَدَا عَلَيْهِ الذِّئْبُ فَأَخَذَ مِنْهَا شَاةً فَطَلَبَهُ الرَّاعِي حَتَّى اسْتَنْقَذَهَا مِنْهُ فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيْهِ الذِّئْبُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَنْ لَهَا يَوْمَ السَّبُعِ يَوْمَ لَيْسَ لَهَا رَاعٍ غَيْرِي فَقَالَ النَّاسُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِنِّي أُومِنُ بِذَلِكَ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ  

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Shihab with the same chain of transmitters, but there is no mention of the story pertaining to the ox.  

عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ قِصَّةَ الشَّاةِ وَالذِّئْبِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ قِصَّةَ الْبَقَرَةِ  

I believe in it and so do Abu Bakr and Umar, but they were not at that time present there.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ يُونُسَ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ وَفِي حَدِيثِهِمَا ذِكْرُ الْبَقَرَةِ وَالشَّاةِ مَعًا وَقَالاَ فِي حَدِيثِهِمَا فَإِنِّي أُومِنُ بِهِ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَمَا هُمَا ثَمَّ  

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira through another chain of transrritters.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ