فاتت ابنها يعيط وراحت تسكت ابن الجيران

Fatet ibnaha ye’ayyat we rahet tesakket ebn el giran

Translation: She left her child crying to go console her neighbour's son

Translation: One should take care of their own business before tending to the problems of others. This proverb is no longer in use, but its message is still relevant. 

Source: Egyptian Proverbs, (Al-Ahram Center for Translation and Publishing, 1986) by Ahmed Taymour Pasha

Translated by: Nabil Shawkat