كتاب المقدمة
The Book of the Sunnah
(11a)
Chapter: The Virtue of Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra)
(11)
باب فَضْلِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ رضى الله عنه
Sunan Ibn Majah 93
It was narrated that 'Abdullah said:
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'I have no need of the friendship of any Khalil (close friend) but if I were to have taken anyone as a close friend, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a close friend, but your companion is the close friend of Allah,'" (One of the narrators) Waki' said: (by the phrase 'your companion'), he was referring to himself.
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ "‏ أَلاَ إِنِّي أَبْرَأُ إِلَى كُلِّ خَلِيلٍ مِنْ خُلَّتِهِ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلاً إِنَّ صَاحِبَكُمْ خَلِيلُ اللَّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَكِيعٌ يَعْنِي نَفْسَهُ ‏.‏
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 93
In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 93
English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 93