«ضَرْبِ الدَّابَّهْ صَفْعًا لِصَاحِبْهَا»

Harm done to what belongs to someone, whether any animal they ride or load or a person who serves them, lands on that someone as well. Striking the dependant counts as a slap to the master, a humiliation rather than mere physical harm, because it shows contempt for whoever stands behind the one being struck.

The saying treats respect as something that extends outward from a person to everything under their care. It warns that you cannot mistreat someone's people or animals and still claim to honour that person, and it explains why an owner may feel personally slapped when a dependant is wronged.

Fits moments when someone mistreats another person's servant, dependant or animal, and the owner or patron takes it as a personal affront. It can serve as a warning before the offence or as a reproach afterwards.