«اِلْحُر مَنْ رَاعَى وِدَاد لَحْظَهْ»

The saying defines nobility of character by faithfulness. Its key word, often rendered 'free', carries the older sense of a freeborn or noble-spirited person, not liberty. A truly honorable person keeps faith with affection, however short-lived the acquaintance or modest the bond; the 'moment' stands for any brief or slight tie, not a literal span of time.

Though phrased in the past tense, it states a timeless standard rather than reporting a single event. As praise, it commends people who remember small kindnesses and brief companionships; anyone who discards a bond because it seems minor falls short of true generosity of spirit.

Use this to praise someone who stays loyal or grateful to a person they knew only briefly, or to urge a listener not to forget a small kindness or short friendship. It suits moments of commendation or gentle moral reminder.