- English translation
He lets the flies crawl into his eye, then calls the sore eye God's will.
- Literal wording
He opens his eye to the flies and says: "This is the decree of the Merciful."
- Meaning and lesson
The saying sketches a man who leaves his eye exposed so flies can settle on it, an obvious and avoidable hazard. The eye trouble that follows is implied rather than stated, yet he calmly declares it the will of God. His own carelessness caused the harm, but he blames providence.
Applied to people, it mocks anyone who invites misfortune through reckless choices and then excuses himself by pointing to destiny. The target is the self-serving excuse and the refusal to own the consequences, not religious belief or faith in divine decree itself.
- When it is used
Use this as a pointed rebuke when someone walks knowingly into trouble or skips basic precautions, then answers the result with talk of fate or God's will. It suits blunt, informal criticism.
- Register
- colloquial
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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