Satire and Social Commentary: From Obayd Zakani to Modern Writers

Persian literature, renowned for its lyricism, mysticism, and philosophical depth, also boasts a long and rich tradition of satire—a genre used not only to entertain but to challenge hypocrisy, criticize injustice, and provoke thought. From the biting wit of Obayd Zakani in the 14th century to the works of modern Iranian authors, satire has served as a mirror held up to society, reflecting its absurdities, contradictions, and corruptions with both laughter and rage.

Obayd Zakani: The Master of Persian Satire

One cannot speak of Persian satire without beginning with Obayd Zakani (d. c. 1370), a sharp-tongued poet whose pen spared no one—from corrupt clerics to pompous kings.

Living during a time of political upheaval and social decay, Zakani used humor, irony, and grotesque imagery to critique the moral pretensions of his time. His most infamous work, "The Mouse and the Cat" (Mush-o Gorbeh), is a fable cloaked in playful rhyme, yet seething with political and religious satire.

“The mullah preaches piety by day,
And drinks and sins when out of the way.”

Zakani’s poetry ridiculed the gap between public virtue and private vice, exposing how power often hid behind a veil of sanctity. His boldness remains striking even today—he dared to say what others feared to think.

The Satirical Tradition Lives On

While Obayd Zakani laid the foundation, satire in Persian literature didn’t end with him. Across centuries, writers have used humor as a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) means to critique their world.

Saadi, for instance, though known …