عليل و عامل مداوي
Alil we amel medawi
Translation: He's sick and pretending to be a doctor
Meaning: If someone who says he is a doctor cannot cure himself, then there is little hope of him curing you. This proverb refers to those who lecture you on your problems even though they are incapable of solving their own. This phrase is still understood today, but it was more popular a century ago, which is evident from the use of the old word 'medawi,' or a traditional healer.
Source: Egyptian Proverbs, (Al-Ahram Center for Translation and Publishing, 1986) by Ahmed Taymour Pasha,
Translated by: Nabil Shawkat
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