Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 8, Hadith 466

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النَّضْرِ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ حُنَيْنٍ، عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ خَطَبَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَيَّرَ عَبْدًا بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ، فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي مَا يُبْكِي هَذَا الشَّيْخَ إِنْ يَكُنِ اللَّهُ خَيَّرَ عَبْدًا بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَاخْتَارَ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ، فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هُوَ الْعَبْدَ، وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَعْلَمَنَا‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ لاَ تَبْكِ، إِنَّ أَمَنَّ النَّاسِ عَلَىَّ فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَمَالِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً مِنْ أُمَّتِي لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، وَلَكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَمَوَدَّتُهُ، لاَ يَبْقَيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ باب إِلاَّ سُدَّ إِلاَّ باب أَبِي بَكْرٍ ‏"

Narrated By Abu Said Al-Khudri : The Prophet delivered a sermon and said, "Allah gave a choice to one of (His) slaves either to choose this world or what is with Him in the Hereafter. He chose the latter." Abu Bakr wept. I said lo myself, "Why is this Sheikh weeping, if Allah gave choice to one (of His) slaves either to choose this world or what is with Him in the Here after and he chose the latter?" And that slave was Allah's Apostle himself. Abu Bakr knew more than us. The Prophet said, "O Abu Bakr! Don't weep. The Prophet added: Abu- Bakr has favoured me much with his property and company. If I were to take a Khalil from mankind I would certainly have taken Abu Bakr but the Islamic brotherhood and friendship is sufficient. Close all the gates in the mosque except that of Abu Bakr.