Every major war brings major changes. After Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Libya, the United States and Israel targeted Iran. Everyone has their own opinion about the effects of this war on the world, especially the Muslim world. If we seek guidance from world literature, we can sketch the picture of war in the light of Tilism-e-Hoshruba and Shakespeare’s great tragedies. Tilism-e-Hoshruba is a classic of the Eastern world, while Shakespeare is the classical playwright of the Western world. In dramatic situations, only drama and dialogue can truly represent reality. King Lear is a dethroned king who, imaginatively, exists in Iran’s situation; thus, King Lear becomes a Tehrani king. The second character in the dialogue is the Fool, who in English drama appears foolish but speaks the wisest words. In Tilism-e-Hoshruba, Amar Ayyar symbolizes worldly cunning and trickery. Let us see how these characters, through the voice of an ineffective writer, depict the post-war scenario.

King Lear Tehrani:
Howl, howl, cry out, O humans, cry! Shed tears—this is the time to weep bitterly. Humans have now turned to stone. Cruelty reigns. If I had your tongues and eyes, I would mourn in such a way that even the roof of the sky would crack. Bombing girls’ schools, targeting leaders one by one, attacking civilian populations—O humans, weep! What greater ظلم (oppression) could there be?

Fool of Baghdad:
O great and ancient king, the world is not governed by emotions but by reason. Your sorrow over Iran’s destruction is justified, but what kind of strategy is it that Iran fires missiles equally at Muslim Gulf countries and Israel? Both Jews and Muslims are targets of Iran. Iran’s strategy is suicidal.

King Lear Tehrani:
“Blow, winds, crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!”
O winds, burst your cheeks, descend with fury, go beyond limits, cry out! It does not matter to me whether David died, or Ali was martyred, or Umar was killed. When Tom, Dick, and Harry die, blood flows and the sky weeps. Whatever has happened in the Middle East is a great tragedy. President Trump, Netanyahu, and even their opponents—all are responsible.

Fool of Baghdad:
O ruler of earth and sky, kind father of unkind daughters, unfortunate king! It is not right to view the world only through the lens of emotions. You divided your kingdom among your daughters and are suffering the consequences of that mistake. Similarly, Iran has not maintained good relations with even a single Muslim country. It strengthened ties with India and Russia, while remaining in a cold war with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Now it is firing missiles there. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE have reached the limit of patience and may soon be compelled to declare war on Iran. Lebanon has expelled the Iranian ambassador, Saudi Arabia has sent back Iran’s diplomatic staff, and the UAE is ready to join military operations in the Strait of Hormuz. O well-intentioned king, Iran also has its share of mistakes—accept them.

King Lear Tehrani:
“Poor naked wretches, whereso’er you are…”
O helpless, naked, oppressed people, wherever you may be. When I was king, I could not feel your suffering. I had no awareness of the deaths, hunger, and nakedness caused by war. America’s Trump has morally lost. Despite causing such destruction, he could neither change the regime nor alter Iranian thinking. American bases have been destroyed, oil prices have risen worldwide, the Strait of Hormuz is closed. O Baghdadi, reason is cunning and changes disguises, but wars are decided by courage and resolve. Iran has won, and America has lost.

Fool of Baghdad:
O king of kings, second Alexander, heir of Aristotle and Plato! Your words are valid, but the world runs on reason, not emotions. I am a character from Alif Laila; for 700 years, Muslims have been colored by emotionalism, which is why we saw the fall of Baghdad, Granada, Dhaka, and countless other defeats. Except for Bunyan-um-Marsoos, today’s real weapons are intellect, knowledge, and technology. Iran has not fallen alone—it has dragged six Muslim countries down with it. The story of Palestine’s freedom is over. If a Palestinian state agreement is made, it is fragmented. Lebanon is destroyed, Syria has fallen into the hands of religious extremists, Libya is in anarchy, and Iraq is helpless. Iran’s religious and military leadership has reached martyrdom; now there is no central leadership—only anarchy and autonomous commanders rule.

King Lear Tehrani:
O Baghdadi, you have lost your senses! The whole world stands against America. Europe is not supporting it. Iran has set an example of courage and resistance. The countries that acted as American agents and provided military bases have been exposed before the world.

Fool of Baghdad:
O king of kings, you are a hero of the West and understand the East, but you do not fully grasp the psychology of Eastern people—their standards of victory and defeat are different from the world. Your daughter Cordelia represented Eastern values, while Goneril and Regan, though your own daughters, marched against you intoxicated by power.

King Lear Tehrani:
“O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven!”
O heavens, do not let me go mad—do not let me lose my sanity. O Fool of Baghdad, listen! This world is mad, America is mad, Iran is mad—they are driving me mad. This is a war of madmen. Whoever mediates or brings peace will have their name written in the heavens.

Fool of Baghdad:
Pakistan’s name is being mentioned as a mediator. It has helped ten oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz and is acting as a bridge between Iran and America. It also has the support of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. Consultations are being held with Mohammed bin Salman and President Erdogan before talking to President Trump. O king of tragedy! The Muslim world glorifies tragedies and weeps over them but does not prevent their creation or growth.

King Lear Tehrani:
O Fool of Baghdad, I may be the king of Western tragedies, but whether East or West, the essence of all classical stories, dramas, and novels is that humanity and respect for human life matter most. Those who play with human lives are recorded in history with black margins. America and its President Trump have become part of those dark margins, their names written alongside Hulagu Khan, Hitler, and other tyrants.

Fool of Baghdad:
O living character of Western literature! Now history is not written on battlefields but through artificial intelligence. This is no longer the age of bravery but of technology; not morality but power; not shells but drones; not humans but humanoids. Perhaps now history will not be written in black, white, or golden colors, but in shades of grey.