Volume 5, Book 57, Number 6:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
Allah’s Apostle 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 aston –
ished at his weeping caused by what the Prophet mentioned as to a Slave ( of Allah) who had been
offered a choice, (we learned later on) that Allah’s Apostle himself was the person who was given the
choice, and that Abu Bakr knew best of all of us. Allah’s Apostle 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.”
Volume 5 – 853 / 1700
SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 5 > BOOK 57: COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET