Mu'jam Kabir Tabarani 15962 — I heard Ibn Asim (Sayyiduna Qays bin)

Abd al-Malik bin Abi Sawiyyah al-Minqari (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates: I heard Ibn Asim (Sayyiduna Qays bin Asim, may Allah be pleased with him) giving his last counsel. He gathered his sons, who were thirty-two males, and said: "My sons, when I die, make the eldest of you your chief so that you may take the place of your fathers, and do not make the youngest of you your chief, otherwise it will bring disgrace on you among your companions. Do not appoint a wailing woman over me, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbid wailing. Hold fast to caring for wealth, for it rouses the noble and through it one is freed from need of the base. Give camels only on (occasions of) their due right, and do not withhold them from their due right. Beware of every bad stock, for however much it pleases you one day, it will grieve you far more. Be wary of the sons of your enemies, for they are your enemies after the way of their fathers. And when I die, bury me in a place where this tribe of Banu Bakr bin Wa'il will not find out about me, for there were wounds (enmities) between me and them in the Days of Ignorance, and I fear that they will dig me out of the grave and thereby ruin their worldly life and ruin your Hereafter." Then he called for his quiver and gave an order to his eldest son, whose name was Ali, saying: "Take an arrow out of my quiver." He took it out, and he said: "Break it." He broke it. Then he said: "Take out two arrows." He took them out, and he said: "Break them." He broke them. Then he said: "Take out three arrows." He took them out, and he said: "Break them." He broke them. Then he said: "Take out thirty arrows." He took them out, and he said: "Tie them together with a cord." He tied them. Then he said: "Break them." He could not break them, and he said: "My sons, like this are you (strong) when united, and like that are you (weak) when divided." Then he recited these verses:
True glory is only what a truthful father has built, and what his offspring has kept alive by his deeds.
Glory, bravery and forbearance suffice when chastity and generosity adorn them.
O my sons, you are thirty brothers; when you bind covenants against misfortunes,
you are like thirty arrows which, when bound with a strong cord,
do not break; but if the arrows are scattered, their very scattering destroys their whole.
Those of age and dignity among you are the most deserving of chieftainship,
and upon them is the care of the young until even the youngest reaches maturity and becomes capable of striving.