Narrated to us Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna and Ibn Bashshar, both said: narrated to us 'Abd al-Rahman, narrated to me Sufyan, from Abu Ishaq, from Abu al-Ahwas, from 'Abdullah — and (another chain): narrated to us 'Abd ibn Humayd, informed us Ja'far ibn 'Awn, informed us Abu 'Umays, from Ibn Abi Mulaykah, from 'Abdullah, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "If I were to take a close friend, I would have taken the son of Abu Quhafah as a close friend."