Ibn ‘Abbaas related that during the illness from which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) died, he came out with a piece of cloth tied around his head and sat on the podium (mimbar). He then thanked and praised Allaah, saying: “Indeed there is no one who has given more of himself and his wealth to me than Aboo Bakr, the son of Aboo Quhaafah. If I were to take a person as my close personal friend, it would be Aboo Bakr, but the friendship of Islaam is better.” Collected al-Bukhaaree (Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 5, pp. 5-6, no. 6).