The misers

Author's name: Al-Jahiz

Al-Jahiz is Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr al-Jahiz, from around Kinanah. He was short in stature, had a stern face, and was ugly in appearance. He was nicknamed al-Jahiz because of his bulging eyes. However, his lightheartedness, charming conversation, pleasant manner, and natural sense of humor helped to conceal his ugliness, making people flock to his company to enjoy his conversations and amuse themselves with his witty jokes. He collected some of them in his book “Al-Bukhala’”, in which he portrayed misers in the best way. He did not take his misers from the depths of history, but he took them from his environment and specifically mentioned among them the misers of Basra, his country, and the misers of Khorasan, especially its capital, Merv. He named the misers without hesitation, and he portrayed his misers in a realistic, sensual manner, and a psychological manner. His cheerful, playful personality, imbued with mockery and sarcasm, made him mix in his portrayal of them seriousness and frivolity and criticism of customs and morals with humor. He highlighted their movements, anxious or reassured looks, and psychological whims, and exposed their secrets and the hidden aspects of their homes and conversations, whether that was in their private or public affairs. He also described their psychology and all their conditions in this book, and was keen to comment on their eagerness, economy, and tricks in distracting guests from food. Anyone who carefully examines Al-Jahiz's stories will find in them short, comic plays and amusing, funny little anecdotes, such as the story of the Roosters of Marw, which he narrated on the authority of Thamamah ibn Ashras. Everywhere, the rooster picks up grains with his beak and then spits them out in front of the hens, except for his rooster, Marw, which robs the hens of the grains in their beaks. And like the story of Ramadan the Ahwazi sheikh on the ship, and how Ramadan was eating the chicken alone and did not leave the sheikh his companion on his journey, and how the sheikh grabbed Ramadan's beard with his left hand, took the chicken with his right hand, and began hitting Ramadan's head with it until it was cut off in his hand. The Book of Misers is also distinguished by being a humane book, even if it does not encompass all human aspects. Al-Jahiz dealt in it with people's wealth and studied their psychology, morals, instincts, and customs. He made his characters human beings who can exist in all times and places in his portrayal of beggars.