0/11.1. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 93 — Abu Bakr and Close Friendship
The Virtue of Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra)
Hadith About Abu Bakr and the Prophet’s Close Friendship
Sunan Ibn Majah : 93
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 93
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " أَلاَ إِنِّي أَبْرَأُ إِلَى كُلِّ خَلِيلٍ مِنْ خُلَّتِهِ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلاً إِنَّ صَاحِبَكُمْ خَلِيلُ اللَّهِ " . قَالَ وَكِيعٌ يَعْنِي نَفْسَهُ .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
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.
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 93In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 0English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 93
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 93
This hadith about Abu Bakr’s virtue explains the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم statement about Khalil, meaning a very close friend. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said he had no need of the close friendship of any Khalil. Then he said that if he were to take anyone as a close friend, he would have taken Abu Bakr as a close friend. The narration ends by saying that your companion is the close friend of Allah, with the narrator explaining that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was referring to himself. The main point is clear: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم belongs in a special closeness with Allah, while Abu Bakr is singled out with a very high honor among people.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم affirmed his special closeness to Allah.
- Abu Bakr was given a high rank in the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم words.
- The hadith shows honor without confusing the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم unique station.
- True virtue is known through what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم praised.
