Jami` at-Tirmidhi Book 49, Hadith 54
that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed the people of the higher levels, will be seen by those who are beneath them like the stars which appear far off in the sky. And indeed Abu Bakr and 'Umar are among them, and they have done well."
"I said to 'Aishah: 'Which of the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) were the most beloved to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?' She said: 'Abu Bakr.' I said: 'Then who?' She said: ''Umar.' I said: "Then who?' She said: 'Then Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah.'" He said: "I said: 'Then who?''" He said: "Then she was silent."
from his father: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave a Khutbah one day and said: 'Indeed there is a man whose Lord has given him the choice between living in this life as long as he wishes to live, and eating from this life as much as he wishes to eat, and between meeting his Lord.'" He said: "So Abu Bakr cried. The Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Are you not amazed at this old man, when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioned a righteous man whose Lord gave him the choice between this life or meeting his Lord, and he chose meeting his Lord.'" He said: "But Abu Bakr was the most knowledgeable one of them regarding what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said. So Abu Bakr said: 'Rather we will ransom our fathers and wealth for you.' So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'There is no one among people more beneficial to us (Amanna Ilaina) in his companionship, or generous with his wealth than Ibn Abi Quhafah. And, if I were to take a Khalil, I would have taken Ibn Abi Quhafah as a Khalil. But rather love and the brotherhood of faith' - saying that two or three times - 'Indeed your companion is the Khalil of Allah.'"