Arabic (Original)
أَخْبَرَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ الرَّمَادِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ حَدَّثَنَا الْأَعْمَشُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْأَحْوَصِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ «أَبْرَأُ إِلَى كُلِّ خَلِيلٍ مِنْ خِلِّهِ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلًا وَلَكِنْ وُدُّ إِخَاءٍ وَإِيمَانٍ وَإِنَّ صَاحِبَكُمْ خَلِيلُ اللَّهِ»
English Translation
Abdullah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'I declare myself free from the close friendship of every close friend. If I were to take a close friend, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a close friend, but there is the affection of brotherhood and faith. Indeed, your companion is the close friend of Allah.'
