Musnad Ahmad 558:2

Abu al-Walid narrated to us, he said: Abu 'Awanah narrated to us, from 'Abd al-Malik—meaning Ibn 'Umayr—from Ibn Abi al-Mu'alla, from his father, that the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, gave a sermon one day and said: "Indeed, a man was given a choice by his Lord between living in the world as long as he wished to live in it and eating in the world as much as he wished to eat in it, and between meeting his Lord; so he chose meeting his Lord." He said: Abu Bakr wept. The companions of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: "Do you not wonder at this old man? The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, mentioned a righteous man whom his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, gave a choice between meeting his Lord and the world, and he chose meeting his Lord." And Abu Bakr was the most knowledgeable of them regarding what the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said. Abu Bakr said: "Rather, we ransom you, O Messenger of God, with our wealth and our children." The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: "There is no one among the people more generous to us with his companionship and his wealth than the son of Abu Quhafa. If I were to take a close friend (khalil), I would have taken the son of Abu Quhafa, but it is affection and brotherhood of faith—but it is affection and brotherhood of faith—twice—and indeed, your companion is the close friend (khalil) of God, the Mighty and Majestic."