Narrator:Ā’ishah
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، أَخْبَرَنِي الْجُرَيْرِيُّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ
أَىُّ أَصْحَابِهِ كَانَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ قَالَتْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ . قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّهُمْ قَالَتْ عُمَرُ . قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّهُمْ قَالَتْ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ .
It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin Shaqiq said:
"I said to 'Aishah: 'Which of the (Prophet's) Companions was most beloved to him?' She said: 'Abu Bakr.' I said: 'Then which of them?' She said: ''Umar.' I said: 'Then which of them?' She said: 'Abu 'Ubaidah.'"
Reported by Ibn Majah (No. 102), Muslim (No. 717a, 717b, 1156a, 1156b), Abu Dawud (No. 1292), At-Tirmidhi (No. 3657, 3758b), An-Nasa’i (No. 2184, 2185) and Ahmad (No. 23198, 23932, 24216, 24510, 24645, 24893).