193 - ‘Abdullāh narrated to us, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: Muhammad ibn Ja‘far narrated to us, saying: Shu‘bah narrated to us, from Ismā‘īl ibn Rajā’, who said: I heard Ibn Abī al-Hudhayl relate, from Abū al-Ahwas, who said: I heard ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd relate that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“If I were to take an intimate friend, I would take Abū Bakr as an intimate friend. But he is my brother and my companion, and Allah has taken your companion as an intimate friend.”