Quranic Concepts of Reward and Punishment of Deeds in the Shahnameh

The world of being is the world of punishment، and every action has a reaction both in this world and in the hereafter. Reward and punishment are important subjects in scriptures، mentioned in a variety of ways in all religions. However، the distinction goes to the way this topic has been expressed، the type of reward and punishment as well as their bestowal/infliction time and place. The Holy Qur''an has repeatedly mentioned، in different Surahs and Ayas، the reward and punishment in this and in the other worlds، through narrating stories and deeds of those living in the past and mentioning the righteous and the evil-doers. Additionally، ahahith and Islamic narratives from the Infallibles (PBUT) are frequent enough that one can find a more thorough explanation and analysis of the topic using them. As a wise poet familiar with Islamic and Zoroastrian texts، and through finding about the stories of predecessors and observing the failure of the cruel and the victory of the justice-seeker، Ferdowsi has touched on this moral issue in different manners and statements in the form of maxims and moral teachings. The present article studies punishment and reward in the Shahnameh، trying to look at different aspects of Ferdowsi''s view on the topic. Since the Shahnameh narrates kings'' demeanor، Ferdowsi focuses on stating conducts befitting this social class، whose righteousness or evil-doing can affect the society positively or negatively.