«اِلتَّنَا وَلَا الْغِنَا»

The saying sets a person's good origin against their wealth and tells the listener to prefer the first. When a choice must be made about whom to bring close, the decency of someone's roots is meant to weigh more heavily than how much money they have.

The advice applies above all to marriage alliances and to the people one chooses to live or keep company with. Riches are treated as something that can slip away, so a bond resting on them stands on unsteady ground; being rich does not make a person a sound choice.

Said as counsel to someone deciding on a marriage match, a family to marry into, or a close companion, steering them to value the other party's good roots and character above that party's money or possessions.