Where haram is what God prohibits, ayb is what the community judges. Behaviour that embarrasses a family, disrespects an elder, or violates cultural norms — these are ayb. The word does more social work day-to-day than haram because it operates in the human rather than the divine register: you answer to other people for ayb, to God for haram. 'Ayb alayk' — shame on you — from someone who means it is worth heeding.