There are sayings that we inherited and were repeated in the form of popular proverbs to this day, including popular proverbs that raised the status of women and set clear limits for men to deal with them with respect and mercy in secret and in public.

The one who says to his wife, ‘Oh, ‘Awrah.. People play ball with it.’

The poet Masoud Shoman, a researcher in heritage, said in his interview with “The Seventh Day” that most of the popular proverbs are justifying tales, which have nothing to do with a realistic story, except for some proverbs that were born from a story whose origin and history is known. As for the popular proverb that we are talking about today, it is a vivid example of honoring Women and their proper treatment in front of everyone or even within the walls of the house is a matter taken for granted that cannot be disputed, especially in our Egyptian society, which has valued the status of women since the time of our ancient Egyptians, and painted many murals in the temples about the extent to which women were empowered with their rights and control during this period.

And he added that in heritage, many popular proverbs circulated that focused on the need to respect women, and among these proverbs, “He who says to his wife, ‘Oh, the nakedness of people, plays the ball with it,’ and the one who says to his wife, ‘O Hanim, people receive her on the stairs.'” Unfortunately, the first half of this popular proverb is circulated without completing it. To the end, the proverb, despite its circulation in a form that may appear in another sense, has an important meaning and an important expression, which is preserving the dignity of the wife, which is part of the personal dignity of the man. It is not permissible in any way for a man to insult a woman, let alone if She was his wife, and also if a dispute occurred between the spouses, then this dispute must not be discussed in public or in front of anyone, as it is a degradation of their dignity together.

And he added that the beauty of this popular proverb lies in the fact that it is conditional, in order to warn that what a man may do against his wife will certainly have a repercussion from those who deal with her, as for the word nakedness, it is a metaphorical expression that highlights the meaning and explains the amount of harm from this description.

As for the second part of the popular proverb, it says, “He who says to his wife, ‘Oh Hanim, people are waiting for her on the stairs. In the conversation, even if she is not at the level required of her, her support makes her high in the eyes of people and makes her husband a kind and compassionate man who searches in all ways to please him.