Arabic (Original)
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو نَصْرِ بْنُ قَتَادَةَ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْفَارِسِيُّ قَالَا ثنا أَبُو عَمْرِو بْنُ مَطَرٍ ثنا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ثنا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى أنبأ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ عَنْ حُيِيِّ بْنِ مِخْمَرٍ الْوَصَّابِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ دِمَشْقَ عَنْ أَكْثَمَ بْنِ الْجَوْنِ الْخُزَاعِيِّ ثُمَّ الْكَعْبِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا أَكْثَمُ بْنَ الْجَوْنِ اغْزُ مَعَ غَيْرِ قَو��مِكَ يَحْسُنْ خُلُقُكَ وَتُكْرَمْ عَلَى رُفَقَائِكَ يَا أَكْثَمُ بْنَ الْجَوْنِ خَيْرُ الرُّفَقَاءِ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَخَيْرُ الطَّلَائِعِ أَرْبَعُونَ وَخَيْرُ السَّرَايَا أَرْبَعُمِائَةٍ وَخَيْرُ الْجُيُوشِ أَرْبَعَةُ الَآفٍ وَلَنْ يُؤْتَى اثْنَا عَشَرَ أَلْفًا مِنْ قِلَّةٍ يَا أَكْثَمُ بْنَ الْجَوْنِ لَا تُرَافِقِ الْمِائَتَيْنِ
English Translation
Abu Nasr ibn Qatadah and Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Farisi informed us, from Abu Amr ibn Matar, from Ibrahim ibn Ali, from Yahya ibn Yahya, from a man from the people of Sham, from Huyayy ibn Mikhmar al-Wassabi, who heard Abu Abdullah from the people of Damascus, from Aktham ibn al-Jawn al-Khuza'i al-Ka'bi, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: O Aktham ibn al-Jawn, fight alongside people other than your own tribe — your character will improve and you will be honored among your companions. O Aktham ibn al-Jawn, the best number of companions is four, the best number of scouts is forty, the best raiding party is four hundred, and the best army is four thousand. Twelve thousand will never be defeated due to their small number. O Aktham ibn al-Jawn, do not befriend the wealthy.