The Somali proverb “Borran hadimo ha qodin, haddii aad qodana ha dheereyn, ku dhici doontaa mooyee” can be translated as: “Do not dig a pit of harm; if you do, do not make it deep, for you may fall into it yourself.” It is a warning against betrayal, malice, and overreach. Its central insight is simple: harm designed for others often returns to the person who initiated it.

Meaning and Moral Logic

The proverb’s “pit” represents a scheme, trap, or act of sabotage. To dig it is to engineer another person’s downfall; to dig it deeply is to escalate the harm beyond control. The final clause delivers the lesson: the architect of a trap may become its victim.

The saying therefore promotes fairness, restraint, and foresight. It discourages gossip, secret plotting, retaliation, and reckless escalation. It also recognizes human imperfection with dry humour: if someone ignores the moral warning and insists on digging, they should at least avoid creating a disaster from which no one—including themselves—can escape.

This makes the proverb more than a statement about abstract karma. It is practical advice about cause and effect. Malicious actions generate mistrust, retaliation,........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)