It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us during the days of his final illness. He (peace and blessings be upon him) had a cloth tied around his head. I walked behind him (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) ascended the pulpit. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (It is as if) I am standing at the Hawd (Pond of Kawthar) at this moment. Then he said: A servant was offered the world and its adornment, but he chose the Hereafter. No one among the people understood this except Abu Bakr, who said: O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you, rather, may all our wealth, lives, and children be sacrificed for you (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) descended from the pulpit, and after that, he (peace and blessings be upon him) was not seen in the mosque until his last breath. Also, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Among the people, in terms of companionship and wealth, Abu Bakr has done the greatest favor to me. If I were to take a close friend from among the people other than my Lord, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a close friend, but Islamic brotherhood and affection is necessary with everyone. All the doors opening towards the mosque should be closed, except for the door of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).

Ibn Abi Al-Ma'la narrates from his father that one day the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, delivered a sermon and said: "A servant has been given the choice by his Lord to either remain in this world as long as he wishes and eat from it whatever he wishes, or to meet his Lord. He has chosen to meet his Lord." Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, began to weep. The noble Companions said, "Look at this elder; the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, has only mentioned a righteous servant whom Allah Almighty gave the choice between the world and meeting his Lord, and he chose to meet his Lord." Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, understood the words of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, very well. He said, "We all, along with our wealth and children—or (he said, the narrator is in doubt) our fathers—are sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him." The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "No one has done more favor to me with his companionship and wealth than Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafa. If I were to take anyone as a close friend (khalil), I would have taken the son of Abu Quhafa as my close friend, but the relationship of affection, brotherhood, and faith is the strongest, and indeed, I am the close friend (khalil) of Allah Almighty."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon to the people, at that time there was a black turban on his head.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Wathilah bin Asqa’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that one day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) came to us and said: Do you think that I will be the last among you to pass away? Beware! I am among the first of you who will pass away, and after me, you will die group after group, and some of you will destroy others.