«اِلشَّرْطِ نُورْ»

The saying praises terms agreed in advance; the key word means a stipulation, not the colloquial word for a police officer. When partners state conditions plainly at the outset, those conditions later act like a lamp, a metaphor for guidance rather than a religious claim, showing what was promised and settling quarrels.

It also carries practical advice. A longer variant links it to ploughing time, yet the short form applies generally: before hiring or any shared venture, spell out obligations openly, because explicit terms protect relationships better than vague goodwill or later recollection.

Use it when urging people to settle terms before starting a joint undertaking, such as a partnership, hire, or shared harvest. It also suits moments when an earlier agreement resolves a dispute, reminding everyone that clarity at the outset spared confusion later.