Mystical Love in the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)

The majority of Iranians are receptive to the poetry. In various historical periods, poetry is used to motivate Iranians to participate in political movements. For instance, during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), war poets used poetry to inspire the Iranians to fight against the Iraqi soldiers. In my presentation, I will examine how classical mystical themes and motifs were applied to a modern political context to encourage the youth to participate in the fight against the Iraqi forces. I will particularly focus on the theme of love. Persian poets drew parallels between the journey to the battlefield and the spiritual path of perfection, comparing the fight in the battlefield to the fight against the lower soul (nafs). Such comparisons made some Iranians to believe that self-sacrifice on the front-line will end to the ultimate union with the Beloved and will guarantee their eternal salvation in the hereafter.