«عَنْدِ الِامْتِحَانْ يُكْرَمِ الْمَرْء أَوْ يُهَانْ»

A person's worth is settled not by talk or reputation but by what happens when they are actually put to the test. The trial itself sorts people, lifting those who meet it well and lowering those who fail; disgrace is one possible outcome, not a fate every test brings.

The saying works as both encouragement and warning: prepare seriously, because the decisive moment will reveal the truth about you. In Arabic, imtiḥān rhymes with yuhān, giving the saying its compact, quotable shape.

Suitable when someone is about to face an exam, a hardship, or a moment of responsibility, as a reminder that claims and appearances will soon be measured. It can also comment afterward on someone who was honored or exposed by how they handled a trial.