In his works, Dowlatabadi reflects religion in various forms, including emotions, beliefs, and behaviors. Given the deep-rooted presence of religion in the Iranian psyche and language over the past thousand years, the inclusion of religious elements in the works of realist writers such as Mahmoud Dowlatabadi may seem entirely natural. However, considering Dowlatabadi’s leftist/Marxist leanings, the presence of religion in his works appears paradoxical rather than organic. This article examines the social, affective, and religious functions in five of Dowlatabadi’s stories. The findings indicate that these affects are manifested in two ways: through characters’ verbal and nonverbal actions. Moreover, such affects typically surface during times of hardship. Beyond minor factors such as Dowlatabadi’s realist style, the primary reason for the presence of religion in his works lies in the theoretical shortcomings of Iranian Marxists. In the absence of progressive revolutionary forces, Iranian leftist ideologues were compelled to adopt religious figures and movements to fill the void left by the lack of revolutionary agents. Religious characters such as Imam Ali and mystics like Hallaj thus appear in the writings and discourse of leftist authors like Golsorkhi, symbolically taking on the role of revolutionary forces