Narrated Aiyub: The Prophet said, "If I were to take a Khalil, I would have taken him (i.e. Abu Bakr) as a Khalil, but the Islamic brotherhood is better."
Hadith ReferenceSahih Bukhari / The Virtues and Merits of The Companions of The Prophet / Hadith: 3657
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:أحاديث صحيح البخاريّ كلّها صحيحة