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 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."  

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  

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۔»  

[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."  

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  

[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."  

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»  

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)  

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»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Indeed, the most trustworthy among the people in my company and with regards to their wealth is Abu Bakr. If I were to take a close friend, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a friend. However, we are brothers in Islam. There is not a single khawfah (green stalk) in the masjid except it is the khawfah of Abu Bakr."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «إِنَّ أَمَنَّ النَّاسِ عَلَيَّ فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَمَالِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلًا وَلَكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَلَا يَبْقَيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ خَوْخَةٌ إِلَّا خَوْخَةَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ»  

"إنَّ أَمنَّ النَّاس علىَّ فِى ماله، وصُحبتِهِ أَبُو بكر، ولَو كنت مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلًا لاتَّخَذت أبا بكر خَليلًا، ولكِنْ أُخوَّة الإسلَامِ، لا تُبْقَيَنَّ فِى الْمسجد خَوْخَةٌ إِلَّا خَوخَةُ أَبى بَكْرٍ ".  

"إِنَّ منْ أَمَنِّ النَّاسِ عَلَىّ بصحبته وماله أبو بكرٍ، ولو كنت متخذًا خليلًا غيرَ ربِّى لاتخذت أَبا بكرٍ، ولكن أُخُوَّةُ الإِسلامِ ومودَّتُه، لا يَبْقَيَنَّ في المسجدِ بابٌ إِلَّا سُدَّ، إِلَّا بابَ أَبى بكرٍ".

قاله ﷺ في مرضه.