Arabic (Original)
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ رَجَاءٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي الْهُذَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي الْأَحْوَصِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلًا وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخِي وَصَاحِبِي وَقَدِ اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ صَاحِبَكُمْ خَلِيلًا»
English Translation
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'If I were to take a close friend, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a close friend, but he is my brother and companion. Allah has taken your companion as His close friend.'