«مَا يُقْعُدْ عَلَى الْمَدَاوِدْ إِلَّا شَرِّ الْبَقَرْ»

The proverb laments an unjust outcome: the good are taken away while the bad endure. Its picture is a row of feeding troughs where only the poorest of the cattle are still found, standing for a place or group left holding its least worthy members.

It fits moments when a righteous or worthy person dies or departs and those of lesser character carry on unchanged. The tone joins sorrow for the loss with open disdain for whoever has been left behind.

Say it ruefully when a good person has died or moved on while less worthy people remain, such as a capable colleague leaving. It suits private grumbling more than polite company; aimed at a specific person who stayed behind, it can land as a pointed insult.