«اِلْبِهِيمْ يِتْرِبِطْ مِنْ وِدْنُهْ وِبَنِي آدَمْ مِنْ لِسَانُهْ»

The proverb contrasts physical restraint with moral obligation: an animal may be tethered by the ear, while a person is bound, figuratively, by what they say. Here “Bani Adam” is intended to mean an individual human being, not humanity as a group.

It stresses accountability in speech. A promise, declaration, or commitment creates a duty to follow through, rather than evade its consequences or withdraw it casually. The binding described is moral and social, not literal physical restraint.

Use it to remind someone that a promise, agreement, or stated commitment carries responsibility. It may also rebuke a person who tries to deny, alter, or escape what they previously said, emphasizing the expected duty to stand by one’s word.