«اِلضَّرْبْ فِي الْمَيِّتْ حَرَامْ»

The saying condemns cruelty toward someone who is already helpless. The "dead" is figurative and stands for anyone defeated, weak, or unable to fight back, not literally a corpse. Striking a corpse gains nothing, so attacking such a person is equally pointless and reflects badly on the attacker.

It also appeals to a code of honor. Here حرام means shameful or unacceptable, a moral judgment rather than a formal religious ruling. A dignified, magnanimous person shows restraint toward the vulnerable, and bullying them is a mark of meanness rather than strength or courage.

Use it to rebuke someone who keeps attacking, mocking, or punishing a person who is already beaten, ruined, or powerless. It works as a call to restraint, shaming the aggressor for picking on someone who cannot fight back.