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  4. Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3661
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَبِي الشَّوَارِبِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي الْمُعَلَّى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَطَبَ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ رَجُلاً خَيَّرَهُ رَبُّهُ بَيْنَ أَنْ يَعِيشَ فِي الدُّنْيَا مَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَعِيشَ وَيَأْكُلَ فِي الدُّنْيَا مَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ وَبَيْنَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ فَاخْتَارَ لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ أَصْحَابُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَلاَ تَعْجَبُونَ مِنْ هَذَا الشَّيْخِ إِذْ ذَكَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً صَالِحًا خَيَّرَهُ رَبُّهُ بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ فَاخْتَارَ لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَعْلَمَهُمْ بِمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ بَلْ نَفْدِيكَ بِآبَائِنَا وَأَمْوَالِنَا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَا مِنَ النَّاسِ أَحَدٌ أَمَنَّ إِلَيْنَا فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَذَاتِ يَدِهِ مِنِ ابْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ خَلِيلاً وَلَكِنْ وُدٌّ وَإِخَاءُ إِيمَانٍ وُدٌّ وَإِخَاءُ إِيمَانٍ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا وَإِنَّ صَاحِبَكُمْ خَلِيلُ اللَّهِ ‏"‏ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ بِإِسْنَادٍ غَيْرِ هَذَا ‏.‏ وَمَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ أَمَنَّ إِلَيْنَا يَعْنِي أَمَنَّ عَلَيْنَا ‏.‏ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ ‏.‏
Translation
Narrated Abu Hurairah

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "There is no favor due upon us from anyone, except that we have repaid him, with the exception of Abu Bakr. Verily upon us, there is a favor due to him, which Allah will repay him on the Day of Judgement. No one's wealth has benefited me as Abu Bakr's wealth has benefited me. And if I were to take a Khalil, then I would have taken Abu Bakr as a Khalil, and indeed your companion is Allah's Khalil.

Comment

Hadith Commentary: The Virtue of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq

This profound narration from Jami' at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 3661) reveals the exceptional status of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) in the sight of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The term "Khalil" denotes an intimate, exclusive friendship of the highest degree - the same type of special friendship Allah granted to Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him).

The Unrepayable Favor

When the Prophet (ﷺ) stated that Abu Bakr's favor would be repaid by Allah Himself on the Day of Judgment, he indicated a debt beyond human capacity to repay. This refers to Abu Bakr's complete devotion, his being the first adult male to embrace Islam, his unwavering support during the most difficult times, and his spending all his wealth (40,000 dirhams) to free Muslim slaves and support the fledgling Muslim community.

The Prohibition of Taking Khalil

The Prophet's statement "if I were to take a Khalil" demonstrates that this special bond was divinely prohibited for him, as his ultimate and exclusive intimate friendship was reserved for Allah alone. This prohibition elevates the Prophet's connection with his Lord while simultaneously honoring Abu Bakr by acknowledging that he would have been the chosen one had such earthly intimate friendship been permitted.

Scholarly Perspectives

Classical scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani and an-Nawawi explain that this hadith establishes Abu Bakr's preeminence among all companions. His wealth's benefit mentioned refers not merely to material support but to the perfect timing and sincerity of his contributions. The "favor due" acknowledges sacrifices that transformed the course of Islamic history, particularly during the migration to Medina and the early days of persecution in Mecca.