Arabic Proverbs

السلام عاليكم ورحمة الله

Something I enjoy doing in my spare time is deducing the meanings of Arabic proverbs or riddles, I've tried to work out a few today (I'll post them in as a reply to this post).

The instructions are to:

1) Research
2) Find an Arabic proverb
3) Try to vowelise it as much as you can
4) Work out the literal meaning (you can use a dictionary)
5) Then deduce what you think the moral is!

If you can't work it out just post it in anyway, someone else could have a go إن شاء الله

مع السلامة

ستُبْدي لَكَ الأيامُ ما كنتَ جاهِلاً ، بِالأخبارِ منْ لم تزود

‘Days will show you what you were ignorant of, and it will come to you by news unchased.’

I think it means: Wait patiently for the truth, for it will not stay hidden perpetually, but will come forward without your having asked for it.

منْ يضْحكُ أخيراً يضحكُ كثيراً

'(He) who laughs last, laughs most.'

I think it means: Revenge is sweetest when it is sought out of surety and not in haste.

إذا رأيتَ نيوبَ اللِيثِ بارزة ، فلا تظننُ أن الليث يبتسم

'If you saw the fangs of the Lion were prominent, (so) do not assume that the lion is smiling.'


I think it means: Appearances are not always what they seem.

علّمتُهُ شدَّ الرّماحِ ، فلمّا اشْتدَّ ساعِدُهُ رَماني ، علّمتُهُ نَظْمَ القَوَافِي ، فلمّا نظمَ قافيةً هَجاني

‘I taught him the drawing of spears (archery), when his help (i.e. his arm) strengthened, he shot me; I taught him the formulation of rhymes (poetry), when he formulated a rhyme (poem) he ridiculed me.’

I think it means: Many a time the one who teaches in kindness is attacked when the one who had been taught finds it in his benefit, some fail to remember loyalty and faithfulness to the one that had helped them.

خير الكلام ما قل ودل

The best talk is the short(est) and (most)meaningful one

Could someone please help vowellise it...

I agree with that!

Here are some more:

اَلْفُتُوحُ عَلَى قَدْرِ الْمُلُوكِ

'Victories are according to the ability of the kings who gain them.'

خُذْ مِنَ الْيَوْمِ عِبْرَةً وَمِنَ الْغَدِ خِبْرَةً

'Take a lesson from today and from tomorrow, experience'

I love this:

مَنْ نَامَ لَمْ يَشْعُرْ بِمَنْ يَسْهَرُ

He who sleeps does not know of those who are sleepless.
Literally: 'He who slept, did not feel for he who is lain awake.'