The wine of Abu al-Rawqa' does not intoxicate . خمر أبي الروقاء لست تسكر

خمر أبي الروقاء لست تسكر
يضرب للغني الذي لا فضل له على أحد، ولا إحسان إلى إنسان.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The wine of Abu al-Rawqa' does not intoxicate you.
This is said of a rich man who has no favor to anyone, nor any kindness to anyone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
المثل «خمرُ أبي الرَّوقاءِ لستَ تُسكِر» يُضرب للرجل الغني الذي يملك المال، لكن لا ينتفع به أحد؛ فهو كخمرٍ لا تُسكر، موجودة في الاسم لكنها عديمة الأثر.
فالمعنى ليس مجرد البخل، بل امتلاك الشيء مع انعدام فائدته للناس.
وأقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية هي: Good for nothing.
إذا أُريد أنه لا نفع فيه.
As useless as a chocolate teapot.
«عديم الفائدة تمامًا.» (مثل إنجليزي مشهور).
He has wealth, but it does no one any good.
«لديه ثروة، لكنها لا تنفع أحدًا.» (وهو الأقرب إلى المعنى).
His wealth is of no benefit to anyone.
«ثروته لا تعود بالنفع على أحد.»
ولا يوجد في الإنجليزية مثل شائع يطابق هذا المثل تمامًا، لأن الصورة العربية خاصة. لذلك إذا كنت تبحث عن مثل لا عن ترجمة، فأقربه من حيث الفكرة هو:
A tree is known by its fruit.
أي إن قيمة الشيء بما يثمره وينفع به، لا بمجرد وجوده، وإن كان لا يطابق المثل العربي تمامًا.
وأرى أن أفضل مقابل لهذا المثل في كتاب أمثال هو:
His wealth is of no benefit to anyone.
أو
He has plenty, but shares nothing.
وهما ينقلان المعنى الذي ذكره الشارح بدقة: غني لا فضل له على أحد ولا إحسان إلى إنسان.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proverb "Abu al-Rawqa's wine does not intoxicate" is used to describe a wealthy man who possesses money, but no one benefits from it. It is like wine that does not intoxicate; the name is imperceptible, but it has no effect.
The meaning is not simply about stinginess, but about possessing something that is of no use to others.
The closest English equivalents are:
Good for nothing.
If the intention is that it is useless.
As useless as a chocolate teapot.
Completely useless. (A well-known English proverb).
He has wealth, but it does no one any good.
He has wealth, but it is of no benefit to anyone. (This is the closest to the meaning).
His wealth is of no benefit to anyone.
There is no common English proverb that perfectly matches this one, as the Arabic expression is unique. Therefore, if you are looking for a proverb rather than a translation, the closest in terms of concept is:
A tree is known by its fruit.
That is, the value of something lies in its productivity and benefit, not merely in its existence, even though this doesn't perfectly align with the Arabic proverb.
I believe the best equivalents for this proverb in the book of proverbs are:
"His wealth is of no benefit to anyone."
Or:
"He has plenty, but shares nothing."
These accurately convey the meaning mentioned by the commentator: a wealthy person who has no favor to bestow upon anyone and no kindness to anyone.