(1) باب مِنْ فَضَائِلِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ رضى الله عنه
This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters and the one narrated on the authority of Abdullah (the words are):
" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) is reported to have said: Behold I am free from the dependence of all bosom friends and if I were to choose anyone as bosom friend I would have taken Abu Bakr as my bosom friend. Allah has taken your companion as a friend. (DE)
Reference (DE): Sahih Muslim 2383 e (DE)
In-book reference (DE): Book 44, Hadith 8 (DE)
USC-MSA web (English) reference(deprecated numbering scheme): Book 31, Hadith 5875 (DE)