Satire and Social and Moral Criticism in Sheikh Bahaee's Persian Works

Sheikh Bahaee, the great religious scholar of the 10th and 11th centuries (A.H.), was also an architect, poet, mathematician, and astronaut. His high religious status as Sheikh- ul- Islam in the Safavid court and among the people makes it hard to think of the presence of satire in his works. Nevertheless, the fact is that Sheikh Bahaee has strategically employed satire as an effective means of criticism of society and morality of his time, as well as promotion of social awareness. In addition to some satiric poems and writings found in his works, he has also two completely satiric works named Kashkool (collection of writings), and Moush- o- Gorbe (Mouse and Cat), a symbolic story. Existence of hese works alone shows how Sheikh Bahaee concerned with satire in criticizing deeds and sayings of particular groups of people. This study then is an attempt to show the potential of satire, as well as social and moral criticism in Sheikh's Bahaee's Persian works.