«اِلزِّنَادِ الصُّلْبِ يْوَلَّعْ مِنْ قدْحُهْ»

The saying pictures a single fire-starting tool made of steel, meaning a hard kind of iron rather than any other sense of the word. Struck against stone, such a striker produces a spark every time and kindles the tinder. Its toughness guarantees a result, so no strike is wasted and no effort goes unanswered.

Applied to people, the image praises someone strong and decisive who sees matters through to the end. Whatever this person sets in motion takes hold, just as a well-made striker reliably brings forth fire with each blow. Here the verb means to set alight, not to be fond of something.

Use it to praise a forceful, reliable person who finishes whatever they take on, especially after they have just carried a hard task through. It works as a compliment or a confident prediction about someone's competence, not as general advice.