وَمَنْ يَجْعَلِ الْمَعْرُوفَ مِنْ دُونِ عِرْضِهِ ۞ يَفِرْهُ وَمَنْ لَا يَتَّقِ الشَّتْمَ يُشْتَمِ
Whoever places acts of goodness as a shield before his honor preserves it; whoever does not guard against reproach will be reproached.
Al-maʿrūf is kindness or recognized good conduct, ʿirḍ reputation and honor, and yafirhu indicates safeguarding it. The verse links generous behavior to social standing. Yushtam is passive: the person becomes the target of blame or abuse.
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Zuhayr ibn Abī Sulmā: Age, Mortality, Honor, and Keeping Promises (Verses 43–52)
وَمَنْ يَجْعَلِ الْمَعْرُوفَ مِنْ دُونِ عِرْضِهِ ۞ يَفِرْهُ وَمَنْ لَا يَتَّقِ الشَّتْمَ يُشْتَمِ
Whoever places acts of goodness as a shield before his honor preserves it; whoever does not guard against reproach will be reproached.
Al-maʿrūf is kindness or recognized good conduct, ʿirḍ reputation and honor, and yafirhu indicates safeguarding it. The verse links generous behavior to social standing. Yushtam is passive: the person becomes the target of blame or abuse.