#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

حدثنا علي بن محمد، حدثنا وكيع، حدثنا الاعمش، عن عبد الله بن مرة، عن ابي الاحوص، عن عبد الله، قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " الا اني ابرا الى كل خليل من خلته ولو كنت متخذا خليلا لاتخذت ابا بكر خليلا ان صاحبكم خليل الله " . قال وكيع يعني نفسه