234 – ʿAbd Allāh narrated to us, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: Abū al-Walīd Hishām narrated to us, saying: Abū ʿAwānah narrated to us, from ʿAbd al-Malik—meaning Ibn ʿUmayr—from Ibn Abī al-Muʿallā, from his father, who reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, delivered a sermon one day and said:

“A man was given a choice by his Lord, Mighty and Majestic, between living in this world as long as he wished, eating whatever he wished of its food, and meeting his Lord. He chose to meet his Lord, Mighty and Majestic.”

He said: Abū Bakr wept, and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Are you not astonished at this old man? The Messenger of Allah merely mentioned a righteous man whose Lord gave him a choice between this world and meeting his Lord, and he chose to meet his Lord!”

Abū Bakr understood what the Messenger of Allah had said better than any of them. Abū Bakr said, “Rather, we would ransom you with our wealth and our children!”

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“No one has been more generous to us with his companionship and his wealth than Ibn Abī Quhāfah. Were I to take an intimate friend, I would take Ibn Abī Quhāfah. But ours is affection and brotherhood in faith; but ours is affection and brotherhood in faith”—twice—“and indeed, your companion is Allah’s intimate friend.”

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235 – ʿAbd Allāh narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Abī al-Shawārib narrated to me, saying: Abū ʿAwānah narrated to us, from ʿAbd al-Malik ibn ʿUmayr, from Ibn Abī al-Muʿallā, from his father, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, a report like it, with similar wording.