The book "Al-Bukhalā'" by Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr al-Kinani, known as Al-Jahiz (d. 255 AH), is one of the most important and famous works of satirical and critical Arabic literature in the Arab and Islamic heritage. **Subject of the Book:** - The book addresses the phenomenon of miserliness from a social, psychological, and literary perspective, shedding light on the impact of this trait on individuals and society. - It is a collection of stories, anecdotes, and curiosities that Al-Jahiz gathered about misers whom he met or heard about, especially from the inhabitants of Khorasan and Marw. **Importance of the Book and Its Style:** - **Satirical Literature:** The book is distinguished by its satirical and humorous literary style, portraying the strange and funny behaviors of misers in a way that creates enjoyment and benefit for the reader, blending seriousness with comedy. - **Social and Psychological Study:** It is not just a storybook; rather, it represents an early and profound social and psychological study of the nature of this type of people, revealing their motivations and justifications for their behavior. - **Al-Jahiz's Skill:** It highlights Al-Jahiz's exceptional skill in narration, description, and psychological analysis of characters, as well as his use of dialogues and the colloquial language prevalent in his time. - **Mirror of the Abbasid Era:** The book reflects aspects of social, cultural, and economic life during the Abbasid era, making it an important historical source. **Content of the Book:** - Al-Jahiz narrates his stories sometimes through the voices of the misers themselves, or through the narrators, or he constructs some of them. - The book also includes various information and some historical advice, letters, hadiths, and poetry, as Al-Jahiz is known for his style of digression and for enriching his texts with diverse knowledge.