69 — Abd Allāh narrated to us: My father narrated to me: Affān and Muhammad ibn Ja‘far narrated to us, both saying: Shu‘ba narrated to us, from Abū Ishāq, who said: I heard Abū al-Ahwas say: Abd Allāh used to relate that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“If I were to take an intimate friend from among my nation, I would take Abū Bakr.”