«حُمَارَك الْأَعْرَجْ وَلَا جَمَلِ ابْن عَمَّكْ»

The saying ranks a modest thing that truly belongs to you above a finer thing you would have to borrow; its 'wala' marks preference, 'rather than', not flat refusal. A crippled donkey of your own still serves you, while a paternal cousin's sturdy camel comes with strings attached, so independence outweighs the apparent advantage of better borrowed means.

Beneath the comparison lies a warning about indebtedness. Accepting a loan, even from close paternal kin such as an uncle's son, places you under an obligation and invites reminders of the kindness shown. Enduring the limitations of what you own is presented as the wiser, more dignified course than carrying the weight of someone else's generosity.

Suitable when someone hesitates between making do with their own imperfect resources and asking a relative or acquaintance for something better. It nudges the listener toward self-reliance and away from favors that may later be held over them.