- English translation
The one doesn't rule out the other.
- Literal wording
It does not prevent walaya (sainthood, or possibly guardianship).
- Meaning and lesson
The saying describes something that sits alongside another thing without doing it any harm. The two may look mismatched or even opposed at first glance, yet the presence of one leaves the other intact. It insists that apparent contradiction need not mean real conflict.
The last word supports two readings: a saintly or holy standing, or a position of guardianship or authority. Under either reading, the point is the same: an accompanying trait or circumstance, however unexpected, neither cancels nor disqualifies the more important thing beside it.
- When it is used
Use it as a brief rejoinder when someone objects that two things clash, to insist that one sits alongside the other without spoiling it. It fits a pairing of apparent opposites, a flaw beside a virtue, or an odd companion beside something valued.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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