Salim bin Abdullah narrates from his father (Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I saw (in a dream) that a vessel was given to me which was filled with milk. I drank from it until I was satisfied, and I felt that the milk was flowing through the veins between my skin and flesh. Some of it was left, so I gave it to Abu Bakr. The people said: O Messenger of Allah! This means knowledge, which Allah Almighty granted you, until when you were filled with it and some remained, you gave it to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: You have spoken the truth."

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "I am free from the friendship of every friend; if I were to take anyone as a close friend (khalil), I would have taken Abu Bakr as my khalil. However, brotherhood and the love of faith remain. As for your master, he is Allah's khalil." Sufyan says: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) meant his own self by this."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this statement of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "If I were to take anyone as a close friend (khalil), I would have taken Abu Bakr as my close friend, but he is my brother and companion, and your master has been taken by Allah the Exalted as a close friend (khalil)."

Lady Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that all the doors of the mosque opening towards the pathway be closed, except for the specific door of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).

Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No person's wealth has benefited me as much as the wealth of Abu Bakr has benefited me." (The narrator says:) Upon this, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) began to weep and said: "I and my wealth are all yours, O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)."

Sayyida Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) spent forty thousand (dirhams or dinars) on the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: During the illness in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, he came (to the mosque) with a band tied around his head. The Prophet (peace be upon him) sat on the pulpit, praised and glorified Allah, and then said: Among the people, no one has treated me better in regard to his life and wealth than Ibn Abi Quhafa. If I were to take anyone from among the people as a close friend (khalil), I would have taken Abu Bakr, but the brotherhood of Islam remains. Close all the doors in the mosque except the specific door for Abu Bakr (to enter).

(Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) The statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him), "Close all the doors in the mosque except Abu Bakr's door," contains evidence that after the Prophet (peace be upon him), the caliph of the Muslims would be Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), because the Prophet (peace be upon him) knew that among all the people, they might desire to be the caliph after him, except for Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), about whom he knew that he would not desire this. So the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Close every door for entering the mosque except the specific door for Abu Bakr (do not close it)."

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sat on the pulpit and said: "A servant was given the choice by Allah Almighty that He may grant him as much of the adornment and beauty of the world as he wishes, or He may grant him (the rank, status, and reward) in His presence, so that servant chose what is with Allah Almighty (the reward and status in His presence)." (The narrator says:) Upon this, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) began to weep and said: "May our fathers and mothers be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)." (The narrator says:) In reality, the person who was given the choice was the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself, and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) knew this better than all of us. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "In terms of wealth and companionship, Abu Bakr has treated me the best. If I were to take anyone as a close friend (khalil), I would have taken Abu Bakr as my khalil, but the brotherhood of Islam (remains). Every door in the mosque should be closed except the special door for Abu Bakr's entry, which should remain open."

Lady Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was the most beloved of us to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), he was the best among us, and he was our leader.

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Am I not the most deserving regarding this matter? Was I not the first to accept Islam? Did I not do such-and-such deed? Did I not do such-and-such deed?"