Based on fieldwork in Qom, this paper explores the ritual and theological meanings of death among members of a Shi’ite revivalist movement in contemporary Iran. The heyyati movement represents a charismatic development in the religious landscape of the Islamic Republic. The movement expanded on massively during the last decade and played a pivotal role in the mobilisation of popular support for former president Ahmadinejad. The movement circles around an independent type of preachers known as zaker or madha. Although the heyyati movement represents a form of Iranian folk religiosity that in connection to certain holidays entertains broad popular support, it has also developed into a particular subculture with its own lifestyle, ritual repertoire and ideological profile. Lately this development has created controversy as some preachers, more or less openly, have challenged the clerical establishment in the country. Stories about the martyrdom of historical Islamic heroes, ritual manifestations of one’s own readiness to die and meditations about death, constitute important features in the religious life of heyyati men. Despite these mournful expressions in their ritual life, however, present and former members of the movement predominantly speak of their engagement in terms of joy and friendship. In this paper the amalgamation of politics, joyful youth culture and death awareness is presented and analysed.