Hadithcore
Musnad Ahmad 4121
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It was narrated that 'Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) said:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Indeed, I have nothing to do with the friendship of any close friend. If I were to take a close friend, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a close friend. But your companion is the close friend of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.”

References1 variant
Arabic/English book
Book 26, Hadith 4121
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