الظن السو يودى جهنم
El zann el saw yewaddi gohannam
Translation: Thinking ill of people leads to hell.
Meaning: This proverb, not very much in use today, is worded in a mix of classical and vernacular Arabic, due perhaps to the influence of Arabic tribal dialects that have survived in non-urban contexts until recently. It advises against thinking ill of people, as this may lead to irrevocable harm. One cannot rule out that it might have originated in reference to crimes of honour.
Source: Egyptian Proverbs, (Al-Ahram Center for Translation and Publishing, 1986) by Ahmed Taymour Pasha,
Translated by: Nabil Shawkat
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