134 - Ahmad narrated to us: Abū Khaythamah narrated to us: Wahb ibn Jarīr narrated to us: My father narrated to us, saying: I heard Ya‘lā ibn Hakīm narrate from ‘Ikrimah, from Ibn ‘Abbās, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came out during the illness from which he died, with a cloth wrapped around his head. He sat on the pulpit, praised and extolled Allah, then said:

“No one has been more generous to me with himself and his wealth than Ibn Abī Quhāfah. Were I to take anyone as an intimate friend, I would take Abū Bakr; but the bond of friendship in Islam is better. Have every small doorway opening into the mosque closed except Abū Bakr’s.”