Sunday, June 7, 2026

A house from Ruha. دَارٌ مِنْ رُهاً.

Abu al-Nada said: Ruha is a tribe, and Ruha is also a town. (In the dictionary, Ruha' - like Sama' - is a clan of Madhhij, and Ruha - like Huda - is a town.)
This proverb is used for someone you ask a question to, and they tell you what you already know.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Arabic proverb "Dar min Ruha" is used to describe someone who, when you tell them something or ask them for information, answers with something you already know, or offers nothing new.
The closest English proverbs and expressions in meaning are:
"You're telling me!"
It's as if you're telling me something I don't know! — Said to someone who mentions something already known and obvious.
"Tell me something I don't know."
Tell me something I don't know. — This is the closest equivalent.
"That's old news."
"No kidding!"
"Really?!" (Sarcastically, meaning the matter is already known and obvious).
Therefore, the best equivalent to the proverb "Dar min Ruha" is:
"Tell me something I don't know."
That is: Tell me something new, not something already known and obvious.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

قال أبو الندى:قبيلَةٌ، ورها بلد أيضاً. (في القاموس أن رهاء - كسماء - حي رها - كهدى - بلد)
يضرب لمن تستخبره فيخبرك بما تعرفه.

Religion is sincere advice. الدِّينُ النَّصِيحَةُ.

The essence of sincere advice is to reconcile people, derived from the word for sewing, which means to mend what is broken. This is based on a hadith narrated from the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, which reads: "They said: 'To whom, O Messenger of God?' He said: 'To God, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims, and their general public.'" Scholars have said: Sincere advice to God means that the servant dedicates his actions to God alone. Sincere advice to His Messenger means that his heart is pure in accepting the call of prophethood and does not harbor any opposition to it. Sincere advice to the Muslims means that they do not distinguish themselves from him in any way. It has also been said that sincere advice to the leaders of the Muslims means that their unity is not broken, nor their rulings disobeyed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The hadith “religion is advice” does not mean merely giving advice, but rather that the essence of religion is based on sincerity, honesty, and good will towards God, His Messenger, and Muslims. Therefore, there is no English proverb that matches it exactly, but the closest equivalents according to meaning are:
Honesty is the best policy.
Honesty is the best policy.
- It is close to the meaning of sincerity and good intentions, although it is narrower than the meaning of the hadith.
True faith is sincere devotion.
True faith is sincerity and loyalty.
- An interpretive translation that is closer to what is intended.
Religion is sincere counsel.
— This is the common literal translation of the hadith.
The essence of religion is sincerity.
The essence of religion is sincerity.
- This is closest to the meaning of the hadith according to scholars, because advice here means sincerity and good will.
If you are looking for an English equivalent in meaning rather than in pronunciation, the best form is:
The essence of religion is sincerity.
If you want to translate the hadith itself, the usual formula is:
Religion is sincere counsel.
Or:
Religion is sincerity.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
الأصل في النصيحة التلفيق بين الناس، من النصح وهو الخياطة، وذلك أن تلفق بين التفاريق، وهذا من حديثٍ يروى عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وتمامه "قالوا: لمن يا رسول الله؟ قال: لله ولرسوله ولأئمة المسلمين وعامتهم" قالت العلماء: النصيحة لله أن يُخْلِصَ العبدُ العملَ لله، والنصيحة لرسوله أن يَصْفُوَ قلبُه في قبول دعوة النبوّة ولا يضمر خلافها، والنصيحة للمسلمين أن لا يتميزوا عنه في حال من الأحوال، وقيل: النصيحة لأءمة المسلمين أن لا تَشُقَّ عَصَاهم، ولا يعقَّ فتواهم.

The blood of kings is more effective than rabies دِمَاءُ المُلُوكِ أَشْفَى مِنَ الكَلَبِ.

The root of the word "rabies" is severity, and "the dog of winter" refers to its intense cold. A "rabid dog" is one that is rabid and eats human flesh. It is narrated that "the blood of kings is the cure for rabies." The Arabs believed that whoever suffered from rabies due to the bite of a rabid dog—a condition akin to madness that afflicts one after such a bite—would be cured if given the blood of kings to drink. Some scholars of interpretation refuted this, saying that the proverb means that the blood of a noble person is the quenching of thirst for revenge, as the poet said: "A rabid dog, from the pain of what has befallen him... and the anxieties of a bewildered heart." And as it was said: "A rabid dog, striking skulls and necks..." They said: So, if someone is rabid with rage and anger, and then achieves their revenge, that is the cure for the rabies, not that there is actually blood being drunk.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proverb "The blood of kings is more healing than rabies" does not literally refer to drinking blood, but rather to someone whose anger and grief are only soothed by taking revenge on a powerful figure or the one who caused them harm. "Rabies" here refers to intense anger and agitation, and "healing" means quenching the thirst for vengeance.
There is no English proverb that is a direct equivalent, but some of the closest proverbs and expressions are:
Revenge is sweet.
Nothing heals like revenge.
Vengeance is a balm to the wounded soul.
The best revenge is satisfaction.
The best revenge is achieving satisfaction and quenching the thirst for vengeance. If you want an English proverb that closely resembles the spirit of the Arabic proverb, the best equivalent is:
Revenge is sweet.
However, if you want to preserve the meaning of "quenching anger by taking revenge," the more accurate expression is:
Nothing soothes wrath like revenge.
That is, nothing extinguishes anger like revenge.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
أصل الكَلَب الشدَّةُ، وكلبة الشتاء: شدة برده، والكَلب الكَلِب: الذي يَكْلَبُ بلحوم الناس، ويروى "دماء  الملوك شِفَاءُ الكلب" تزعم العرب أن مَنْ كان به كَلَب من عَضِّ الكَلْب الكَلِب - وهو شيء شبيه بالجنون يعترى من عضة ذلك الكلب - ثم إذا سقي دماء الملوك شفي، ودفع بعضُ أصحاب المعاني هذا، فقال: معنى المثل أن دمَ الكريم هو الثأرُ المُنِيمُ، كما قال القائل:
كلبٌ من حس ما قد مسه ... وأفانين فؤاد مختبل
وكما قيل: كَلِبٌ بِضَرْب جَمَاجم ورِقَابِ ...
قال: فإذا كلب من الغيظ والغضب، فأدرك ثأره فذلك هو الشفاء من الكلب، لا أن هناك دَماً يُشْرب في الحقيقة.



Time is more effective in changing things. الدَّهْرُ أَبْلَغُ في النَّكِيرِ.

By changing things, he means that time changes everything it encounters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Arabic proverb "Time is more eloquent in denial" means that time is more capable than any preacher or critic of bringing about change, and that time is sufficient to alter circumstances and reveal truths.
The closest English equivalents are:
Time changes all things.
Time takes its toll.
Time will tell.
Time is the great healer. (If the context relates to the disappearance of an effect or pain.)
Nothing withstands the ravages of time.
Nothing can withstand the ravages of time. (If the intended meaning is change and corruption.)

The closest English proverb to the meaning of the Arabic proverb is:
Time changes all things.
Or, in a more eloquent and common form:
Time takes its toll.
Both convey the meaning that time is more effective in bringing about change and transformation than any denial or blame.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
يعني بالنكير الإنكار والتغيير، يريد أن الدهر يغير ما يأتي عليه.

Time is a silent, submissive force. الدَّهْرُ أَطْرَقُ مُسْتَتِبُّ.

Meaning, it is silent, submissive, and yielding. Bashar ibn Burd said:
A year, let not tomorrow deceive you... a year, for time is silent and forgiving.
Catch the one with malice in his moment of weakness... and when a she-camel gives milk, milk her.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The proverb "Time is silent and still" means that time may appear calm, still, and stable, but it works its magic quietly, waiting and turning a blind eye until the opportunity arises. It refers to the apparent tranquility and the continuation of events without fanfare.
There is no English proverb that perfectly matches it, but the closest equivalents are:
"Still waters run deep."
— That is, apparent stillness may conceal an underlying influence or force, and this proverb is closest in spirit to the Arabic proverb.
"Time works in silence."
— A direct, non-traditional expression.
"Time quietly takes its course."
"Time will tell."
Therefore, the best English equivalent is:
"Still waters run deep."
If the intention is to emphasize that time moves quietly and steadily, the most appropriate expression is:
Time quietly takes its course.
That is, time proceeds in its course calmly and continuously, until it reaches its end.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
أي مُطْرِق مُغْضٍ منقاد، قال بشار ابن بُرْد:
عَامِ لا يَغْرُرْكَ يَوْمٌ من غدٍ ... عامِ إِنَّ الدَّهْرَ يُغْضِي وَيَهبْ
صَادِ ذَا الضِّغْنِ إلى غِرَّتِهِ ... وَإِذَا دَرَّتْ لَبُونٌ فَاحْتَلِبْ

Time is a tyrannical force. الدَّهْرُ أرْوَدُ مُسْتَبِدٌ.

Meaning, it is gentle in its dealings and dominant in its course. This is like the saying of Ibn Muqbil: "If time were to break me once, it would be for the sake of decay... for time is tyrannical towards peoples, full of change." "Arwad" means: it works its work silently, without being noticed. It is also said: tyrannica
l, determined in its course, and does not turn back.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proverb "Time is a tyrant" means that time works slowly and deliberately, but its will is absolute and unstoppable; it changes circumstances slowly and steadily until it achieves its purpose.
The closest English proverbs and expressions to this meaning are:
Time takes its toll.
Time will have its way.
Time and tide wait for no man.
The mills of God grind slowly, but exceedingly fine.
Time is the master of us all.
Time is the master of all. The closest English proverb that captures the essence of slowness, steadfastness, and influence is:
The mills of God grind slowly, but exceedingly fine.
However, if one wishes to express the irresistible power of time directly, the most fitting expression is:
Time will have its way.
That is, time has its own way, and nothing can stop it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
أي لَيِّنُ المعاملة غالبٌ على أمره، وهذا كقول ابن مُقْبل:
إنْ يَنْقُضِ الدَّهْرُ مِني مرَّةً لِبلى ... فالدهر أرْوَدُ بالأقْوَامِ ذُو غِيَرِ
أرود: أي يعمل عملَه في سكون لا يشعر به، ويقال: المستبد الماضي في أمره لا يرجع عنه.

مميزة

More protective than the protector of the caravan أحمى من مجير الظعن

أحمى من مجير الظعن هو ربيعة بن مكدم الكناني. ومن حديثه، فيما ذكر أبو عبيدة، أن نبيشة بن حبيب السلمي خرج غازياً فلقي ظعناً من كنانة بالكديد ...