Jarīr ibn Ḥāzim related: “I heard Yaʿlā ibn Ḥakīm, from ʿIkrimah, from Ibn ʿAbbās, say: ‘During the illness in which he passed away, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out with his head bound in a cloth. He mounted the pulpit, praised Allah and extolled Him, then declared: “No one among the people has supported me with his life and wealth more than Abū Bakr. Were I to choose anyone from mankind as an intimate friend (khalīl), I would choose Abū Bakr; yet the bond of Islam is superior. Close every small door (khawkhah) opening into the mosque except the door of Abū Bakr.”’ Al-Bukhārī recorded this.”
Zayd ibn Abī Unaysah transmitted—from ʿAmr ibn Murrah, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥārith—that Jundub told him: He heard the Prophet ﷺ, five days before his death, say: “I once had among you brothers and companions, but today I disclaim every close friend of his former intimacy. If I were to take anyone as a khalīl, I would take Abū Bakr as my khalīl. My Lord has taken me as a khalīl just as He took Abraham as a khalīl. A people before you used to turn the graves of their prophets and righteous into places of worship; do not turn graves into places of worship—for I forbid you to do so.” Muslim recorded this.”
Muʾammal ibn Ismāʿīl narrated—from Nāfiʿ ibn ʿUmar, from Ibn Abī Mulaykah, from ʿĀʾishah—who said: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell ill with the illness that carried him away, he fainted. When he regained consciousness he said, ‘Call Abū Bakr to me so that I may write something for him, lest anyone covet Abū Bakr’s position or anyone aspire to it.’ Then he added, ‘Allah and the believers will refuse that—Allah and the believers will refuse that—Allah and the believers will refuse that.’” She continued, “Allah willed nothing except that it be my father.”
Abū Ḥātim al-Rāzī said: “Yusrah ibn Ṣafwān narrated it to us—from Nāfiʿ, from Ibn Abī Mulaykah—in a mursal form, and that version is the sounder one.”
ʿIkrimah also reported—from Ibn ʿAbbās—that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out during the illness in which he died, his head wrapped in a dark bandage and a cloak draped over his shoulders,