Martyr!
Chapter Sixteen
by Kaveh AkbarThe chapter introduces Arash Shirazi, a soldier in the Iranian army during the 1985 Iran-Iraq War, who adopts a unique role inspired by his comrade Arman. Dressed in a black robe with a flashlight illuminating his face, Arash becomes a symbolic “angel of night,” riding his horse Badbadak among the dying soldiers to offer them solace and reinforce their resolve. Arman explains that every platoon has a soldier like Arash—one who embodies this celestial figure to provide comfort amidst the horrors of war. The imagery evokes a divine presence, blending light and darkness to create a sense of hope and spiritual reassurance for those facing death.
Arash’s role is deeply tied to religious and cultural narratives, particularly the idea of enduring suffering with dignity. Arman recounts a hadith about a dying soldier who commits suicide and is denied entry to Jannah (Paradise) by the Prophet Muhammad. This story underscores the chapter’s central theme: suffering must be endured “manfully” to secure a place in the afterlife. Arash’s nightly rides aim to prevent soldiers from despairing or taking their own lives, offering them a vision of an angelic presence that validates their sacrifices and strengthens their faith in the midst of battle.
The narrative also highlights the tragic reality of child soldiers, referred to as “boys with men’s names,” who are sent into war with keys to heaven around their necks. Arash’s mission extends to these young fighters, whose innocence contrasts sharply with the brutal demands of combat. His role as a symbolic guardian is not driven by personal conviction but by a commitment to preserving the spiritual fate of his fellow soldiers. Arman emphasizes that intention matters more than belief, urging Arash to focus on the impact of his actions rather than his own doubts.
The chapter concludes with Arash’s reluctant acceptance of his role, despite his fragmented faith. While he struggles to fully grasp the religious significance of his actions, he embraces the responsibility of being a beacon for others. The sword, briefly mentioned at the end, hints at the duality of his existence—both a warrior and a spiritual guide. The chapter paints a poignant picture of war’s psychological and spiritual toll, exploring themes of duty, sacrifice, and the fragile line between hope and despair.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the black robe and flashlight described in the chapter, and what role does this imagery play in the narrative?
Answer:
The black robe and flashlight create a powerful visual metaphor of an angelic presence on the battlefield. The robe, described as “blacker than the black you’re imagining” and worn over the uniform, symbolizes divine protection and mystery. The flashlight mounted beneath the hood illuminates the wearer’s face like “a ball of light,” evoking religious imagery of prophets with fiery halos. This transformation serves a psychological purpose—Arash and others like him ride among dying soldiers to offer comfort and reinforce their faith. The chapter suggests this angelic guise helps soldiers endure suffering rather than succumb to despair, preserving their chance at entering Jannah (Paradise).2. How does the hadith about the suicidal soldier relate to Arman’s teachings and the broader themes of the chapter?
Answer:
The hadith about the soldier who cuts his own throat serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of abandoning suffering. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) turns the soldier away from Jannah because he chose suicide over enduring pain “like a man.” Arman uses this story to emphasize the importance of perseverance, even in extreme agony. This connects to the chapter’s exploration of faith in war—soldiers must believe their suffering has meaning. The “angels” like Arash exist to reinforce this belief, preventing desperate acts that might jeopardize the dying soldiers’ spiritual fate. The hadith underscores the Islamic perspective on martyrdom and the sacredness of enduring battle’s horrors.3. Analyze the juxtaposition of Arash’s personal doubts with his role as a symbolic angel. What does this contrast reveal about faith and duty?
Answer:
Arash admits to having “scattered belief,” seeing the prophets only in fleeting glimpses without depth, yet he fully commits to his role as a beacon of faith for others. This contrast highlights the tension between personal uncertainty and collective duty. Arman reminds him that “action will be judged according to intention”—even if Arash struggles with faith, his intention to comfort the dying sanctifies his actions. The chapter suggests that in war, communal spiritual needs may outweigh individual doubts. Arash’s performance of faith (riding as an angel) becomes more about serving others’ beliefs than resolving his own questions, illustrating how war can demand symbolic roles detached from personal conviction.4. How does the chapter portray the psychological impact of war on young soldiers, particularly through the description of “boys with men’s names”?
Answer:
The chapter poignantly critiques the exploitation of youth in war by listing child soldiers—”Nassir, Sohrab, Houshang”—who wear “men’s clothes and men’s names” as if costumes could confer adulthood. The imagery of them “puffed up like men” underscores their vulnerability and the artificiality of their roles. These boys are given “keys to heaven” as motivation, a manipulation of their innocence. Arash’s duty to preserve their “hereafter” implies that the army robs them of both childhood and life, leaving only the fragile hope of spiritual salvation. This portrayal exposes war’s cruelty in forcing children to confront mortality while their belief systems are still forming.5. Evaluate Arman’s statement that “everything needs its angel, even war.” How does this idea manifest in the chapter’s broader commentary on conflict?
Answer:
Arman’s assertion reflects war’s duality—it destroys lives yet demands meaning to justify its horrors. The “angel” (a soldier like Arash) becomes a necessary illusion, a divine intermediary to make suffering bearable. This manifests in the chapter’s depiction of war as both chaotic and ritualistic: the angel’s theatricality (robe, horse, light) imposes order on the randomness of death. The commentary suggests that without such symbols, soldiers might reject war’s sacrifices entirely. However, the angel also represents a paradox—it is both a compassionate lie (Arash doubts his own role) and a genuine act of mercy, revealing how war distorts even its redemptive gestures.
Quotes
1. “A man like me in every platoon becomes an angel like this…gallop around the war dead and the war dying, give them a glimpse of an angel protecting them, being among them.”
This quote captures the central metaphor of the chapter - soldiers dressing as angels to provide spiritual comfort to dying comrades. It illustrates the psychological warfare tactics and the blurring of religious symbolism with military duty.
2. “The Prophet sent him away because he put his own knife into his own neck instead of suffering like a man, that’s the lesson, that’s the thing Arman wants me to remember.”
This passage reveals the religious justification for enduring suffering in war, using a hadith about Muhammad to condemn suicide. It shows how Islamic teachings are weaponized to maintain soldier morale in desperate circumstances.
3. “Action will be judged according to intention, that’s what he always tells me, action will be judged according to intention, that’s from the Quran somewhere.”
This repeated phrase demonstrates the moral framework guiding the protagonist’s actions. Despite his personal doubts, he finds purpose in helping others die with dignity, showing how intention can sanctify even war’s horrors.
4. “Children walking around puffed up like men in men’s clothes and men’s names, as if the names made them men, as if wearing a man’s boots could.”
This poignant observation critiques the tragic reality of child soldiers in the war. The quote powerfully contrasts the innocence of youth with the brutal expectations placed upon them.