Meaning
He is not involved in or responsible for the situation.
Cultural Background
The 'hand' is often associated with 'Barakah' (blessing) or 'Sharr' (evil). Denying a hand in something is a way to protect one's reputation (Sum'ah). Egyptians often use 'Malosh da'wa' (ملوش دعوة) as a synonym, which literally means 'he has no invitation/call' to the matter. In Lebanon and Syria, 'Ma khasso' (ما خصّه) is very common. It comes from the root 'Kh-S-S' meaning 'to concern' or 'to specialize'. In the Gulf, the phrase is used very literally in business to clarify that a partner was not part of a specific transaction.
Use it for Innocence
This is the most 'native' sounding way to say you didn't do something wrong without sounding defensive.
Pronoun Check
Always double-check the suffix on 'li' (li, lak, luh) or you might accidentally blame yourself!
Meaning
He is not involved in or responsible for the situation.
Use it for Innocence
This is the most 'native' sounding way to say you didn't do something wrong without sounding defensive.
Pronoun Check
Always double-check the suffix on 'li' (li, lak, luh) or you might accidentally blame yourself!
Body Language
When saying this, Arabs often show their palms to emphasize they are 'clean' of the matter.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom for 'I'.
المدير غاضب، لكنني ______ في ضياع الملفات.
Since the sentence says 'but I' (لكنني), you must use the 'I' form 'Ma-li'.
Which sentence means 'She is not involved in the secret'?
Select the correct sentence:
'Malaha' is the feminine singular form for 'She'.
Match the situation to the phrase.
Your friend is accused of cheating, but he was sick at home.
He was at home, so he had no part in it.
Complete the dialogue.
أ: هل أنت من كسر النافذة؟ ب: لا، ______.
The speaker is denying breaking the window.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesالمدير غاضب، لكنني ______ في ضياع الملفات.
Since the sentence says 'but I' (لكنني), you must use the 'I' form 'Ma-li'.
Select the correct sentence:
'Malaha' is the feminine singular form for 'She'.
Your friend is accused of cheating, but he was sick at home.
He was at home, so he had no part in it.
أ: هل أنت من كسر النافذة؟ ب: لا، ______.
The speaker is denying breaking the window.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes! You can say 'I had no hand in this success' to be humble.
Yes, but use the formal 'ليس لي يد' instead of 'مالي يد'.
'Ma li dakhl' is more common in dialects and slightly more informal.
Literally yes, but in idioms it almost always means power or agency.
Use 'Malna yad' (مالنا يد).
The concept of 'Yad' as power is used, but this specific idiomatic structure is more post-classical.
Yes, 'لم يكن له يد' (He had no hand).
No, it is a very neutral and polite way to clarify facts.
No, the idiom is strictly singular 'yad'.
Say 'لي يد بسيطة'.
Related Phrases
ما لي دخل
synonymI have no entry/involvement.
يد واحدة لا تصفق
builds onOne hand alone cannot clap.
غسل يده من
similarTo wash one's hands of something.
له يد في
contrastTo have a hand in.
