«يِحْسِدُوا الْعِرْيَانْ عَلَى شْرَايْةِ الصَّابُونْ»

The saying describes envy aimed at someone whose apparent gain is worthless to him. A naked man has no clothing to cover him, so soap, which cleans but does not clothe or feed, does nothing to ease his real condition. The image is a deliberately absurd comic picture, not a literal scene.

The humour lies in the mismatch between what onlookers resent and what the person truly lacks. Bystanders see a purchase and assume good fortune, while the saying points out that the purchase fails to address the deeper need, so the envy is misplaced. The proverb does not praise cleanliness or the purchase itself; its point depends on that contrast.

Speakers use this saying when someone resents another person's modest gain that is practically useless given the recipient's actual circumstances. It fits moments when envy is misdirected, reminding listeners that a purchase only matters if it meets the real need.