E-mail "Misrepresentation of Sikhism by Muslims"

[nogroup singh]

Email from: Amarjit Singh Shaukeen" <ashaukeen@hotmail.com

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This time it seems some of our Muslim friends have a problem in their understanding of the Sikh religion. Could this be an effort to proselytize Sikh youth. Strangely the people who created this website do not have any contact information. Their identity is unknown.

Amarjit had forwarded this email with a special reference to the concluding paragraph which says:

"Baba Nanak, in one of his Janam Sakhis he says that he had it revealed to him by God that the religion of Islam is true. It was because of this that he went on pilgrimage to Makka, and adopted all the tenets of Islam. His sacred relics at Dera Baba Nanak bear the clearest testimony to his profession of the Islamic Kalima, "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet", and those at Guru Har Sahai in the Ferozepore District, include a copy of the Holy Quran. He also proclaimed that enmity to Islam was enmity to the light that comes from heaven...."

The author did not care to provide any specific reference to the Janam Sakhi. If he had done his homework he should have realized that there is a Sakhi wherein a Muslim priests moves the Guru's feet in a direction different from the Kaaba. The holy structure also moves with it. The message of the Sakhi is that God is present everywhere and there is no reason to look into a particular direction/structure in the belief that God is present there only.

The Islamic chola with Quranic phrases was presented to Guru Nanak by Muslim Pirs who became his followers during his visit to Baghdad. I can understand Guru Nanak saying that "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet." To the Guru it did not matter what name you gave God, for He was the same for everyone.

Innumerable are the prayer-chants;

Innumerable the forms of devotion.

Innumerable are the forms of worship;

Innumerable the modes of doing penace.

Innumerable are those with vows of silence

in unbroken contemplation.

How may I give an idea of Divine might?

All thou willst is good, thou Formless one !

Immutable, ever perfect art thou.(Guru Granth Sahib, Jap, M.1. pp.3-4)And,

Some utter His name as Rama, others as Khuda;

Some serve the Lord of the universe, others Allah;

Gracious Lord Almighty, compassionate show Thy Grace.

Some bathe at Hindu holy spots, others perform Haj;

Some prefer 'puja', others bow their heads in 'namaz'.

Some study Vedas, others the Quran;

Some wear blue, others white.

Some are called Muhammadans, others Hindus

Some seek 'bihisht' others 'swarga'

Saith Nanak: whoever the Divine Will realizes,

The Lord's mystery has understood.(Guru Granth Sahib, Ramkali, M.5.p.885)

Obviously our friends did not care to understand Sikh philsosphy. Otherwise they would have never made such a silly remark.

Moreover, Isalm has the concept of a wrathful God. God in Sikhism is loving and benevolent. He does not threaten man into submission. Says the Qur'an:

"And on whosoever My wrath comes down, He indeed falls down to the depth."

In Sikhism, God never punishes man in deep hatred. He is all-loving. This is the reason why Sikhism does not have the concept of infidels. Every man and woman - believer or an aetheist - can be a recepient of God's Grace (nadar). Man does not influence God in this decision, it is entirely God's. To God it does not matter if you believe in Him or you don't. Man will get the realization whenever he wishes to bestow man with that realization. This is Sikh philosophy. God, in Sikhism, looks upon His creation with love. He is a Loving and Forgiving God.

"How can You be angry with Your own children? O Lord!

For, as You belong to them they belong to You."(Rag Siri MI p.25)

Sikhism guarantees, total equality and freedom to women. In Islam a woman is considered inferior to man and her status can never be equal to that of a man. Guru Nanak spoke of woman's equality. How could he consider Islam to be the true path since it denies its women equality and freedom? Says the Guru:

from the woman is our birth, in the woman's womb are we shaped;

To the woman we are engaged, to the woman we are wedded;

The woman is our friend and from woman is the family;

Through the woman are the bonds of the world;

Why call woman evil who gives birth to the leaders of the World?

From the woman is the woman, without woman there is none. (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 473)

The dignity Sikhism guarantees women, Islam denies her.

The problem with semitic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - is their exclusivity and arrogance in their claim to be the only path. All these religions fall short of guaranting man basic equality and dignity.

The author is wrong in his suggestion that Sikhism was a movement against Hinduism. Sikhism is an original and revealed religion. Sikhism was a movement against superstition and dogmatism of both Islam and Hinduism. Guru Nanak found both Muslims and Hindus living an immoral life. Says the Guru:

To muslims:

Make compassion your mosque,

Faith your prayer mat,

Make honest living your scripture,

Let modesty rule your conduct,

Let piety be your fasts,

Let right conduct be the Ka'aba,

Truth your Prophet,

Make the Lord's Will your rosary.

In such a way become a Muslim.

To hindus(in reference to their holy thread):

From the cotton of compassion,

Spin the thread of contentment,

Tying the knot of continence,

Give it the twist of virtue,

Such a sacred thread O Wiseman,

Fabricate for your inner self.

Perhaps the author is justifying his claim due to the monotheistic belief of God, also found in Sikhism. Sikhs believe in One God of all the Creation whether you are a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, etc. For Muslims, people who don't believe in their definition of God - Allah - are infidels and they have Allah's word to fight these infidels and make them into believers.

Tolerance, co-existence and respect for human beings is another major difference between Islam and Sikhism. Guru Nanak would never approve of an intolerant philosophy.

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http://www.geocities.com/pak_history/sikhism.html

Sikhism vs Islam and Hinduism

1. Sikhs believe in One and only One God, whereas Hindus worship quite a number of gods, goddesses, and deities.

2. The Hindu Trinity---Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva---is altogether rejected by Sikhs. They also do not believe in Krishna and Rama as reincarnations of God.

3. The worship of any carved statues, images or idols is completely forbidden in Sikhism although it is allowed in Hinduism.

4. The cow is not considered as a sacred animal by Sikhs, hence it is not worshiped at all.

5. The supermacy of the Vedas, Gita and other Hindu scriptures is not recognised or accepted in Sikhism. They have their own holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, compiled by the fifth Guru himself.

6. Sikhism has rejected the caste system, and all men and women are reckoned equal irrespective of their caste, color or creed.

7. Sikh traditions, customs, and ceremonies of death and marriage are completely different from the Hindus.

8. Unlike it is in Hinduism, vegetarianism is not given any special spiritual or moral importance in Sikhism. Meat eating is allowed.

"How are you a Brahman and I am a low caste? Is it that I have blood in my veins and you have milk?" (Gauri Kabir p-324)

"Why call Shiv God, and why speak of Brahma as God? God is not Ram Chander, Krishan, or Vishnu whom ye suppose to be the lords of the world. Sukhdev, Prasar, and Vyas erred in abandoning the One God and worshipping many gods. Hindus have set up false religions; I in every way believe that there is but One God." (Swaya- XV, Guru Gobind Singh)

In Zafarnama which Guru Gobind Singh wrote to Emperor Aurangzeb, he mentioned about hill Rajas, "They worshipped idols, and I was an idol-breaker.."

"Five are the Muslim prayers; five their appointed hours, Five their names. These be the true prayers: The first is Truth, the second is lawful earning and the third is to beg the Graces of God for all, The fourth is the right intention in the mind and the fifth is the praise of the Lord." (Guru Nanak, Var Majh)

"You are the Creator, O Lord, the Unknowable. You created the Universe of diverse kinds, colours and qualities. You know your own Creation. All this is your Play." (Guru Nanak, Var Majh)

"He neither has father, nor mother, nor sons nor brothers." (Guru Nanak, Maru).

"Burnt be the mouth that asserts, the Lord takes birth. He is neither born nor dies; neither enters birth nor departs. All pervasive is Nanaks Lord." (Guru Arjan Dev, Raga Bhairon)

"The stone he calls his god, in the end, drowns him with itself... Know that a boat of stone carries one not across" (Guru Arjan Dev, Suhi)

"The stone neither speaks nor gives anything. Therefore its service is fruitless and its worship is of no avail." (Bhagat Kabir, Bhairo)

"They cannot be called satis, who burn themselves with their dead husbands. They can only be called satis, if they bear the shock of separation. They may also be known as satis, who live with character and contentment and always show veneration to their husbands by remembering them." (Guru Amar Das, Var Suhi)

It is obvious that Sikhism has more commonality with Islam, and was actually a movement against Hinduism..

Baba Nanak, in one of his Janam Sakhis he says that he had it revealed to him by God that the religion of Islam is true. It was because of this that he went on pilgrimage to Makka, and adopted all the tenets of Islam. His sacred relics at Dera Baba Nanak bear the clearest testimony to his profession of the Islamic Kalima, "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet", and those at Guru Har Sahai in the Ferozepore District, include a copy of the Holy Quran. He also proclaimed that enmity to Islam was enmity to the light that comes from heaven.

Source: Click here

[Guest]

the janam sakhis are not sacred within sikhi - they are life stories of shri guru nanak dev ji maharaj.... muslims misinterpret the janam sakhis and use them as arguments... where in the janam sakhis it states "islam is the true religion" blah blah blah..... these are conversations between shri guru nanak dev ji and muslim scholars when he went to mecca

:roll: :roll:

is the author of the website's email address there???

[Guest]

actually.... if its a geocities website... his contact will be the same as his website folder

pak_history@yahoo.com

and also ull be able to message him thru yahoo....

im on it 8)

[Guest]

ok i jus emailed him... and sent him a message thru yahoo messenger... see if he replied... this is what i wrote

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hi, i jus visited your website and read through ur "claims" that shri guru nanak dev ji was a muslim, and sikhism is leaned towards islam - these claims are 100% false, the relationship between sikhi and islam is non existent and ur website is only there to confuse people... if you wish to place information about sikhi at least have real information instead of misinterpretted and false claims.. esspecially from the janam sakhis which are not acredited as sacred sikh scriptures, your "claim" that shri guru nanak dev ji uttered the kalima at mecca is laughable, if you have proper knowledge about the janam sakhis you would know that those quotes are recorded between shri guru nanak dev ji and muslim clerics.... the kalimas are said by the clerics not guru maharaj.... its wierd how u dont note quotations from shri guru granth sahib ji about muslims... as a muslim aint u meant to tell the truth and accept all other religions????..... not by misquoting and misinterpretting to gain support....myself and fellow sikhs would like to enlighten you on this matter.... come along to our site and engage in a non biased debate on these claims to to our website sikhawareness.com.... waheguru ji ka khalsa - waheguru ji ki fateh (had to add the fateh in :wink: )

[nogroup singh]

One Chardi Kala singh "Bikramjit singh" has given the short history of Janam Sakhis and we can easily kill this claim as source which says that Guru Nanak Dev ji was muslim is inaccurate itself. Its so clear that Janam Sakhis should not be taken serious as per Sikhism code and conducts.

Here is what he wrote about them.

The Bhai Bala Janamsakhi was written by a sect called the Niranjanias. Guru Amardas the third Guru had a disciple called Baba Handal who was a Jat ( farmer caste ), from the village of Jandiala in the Pargana of Batala. Baba Handal used to do voluntary service in the Sikh congregations . Guru Amardas was pleased with Baba Handal and made him the leader of the Sikh congregation of Jandiala. After Baba Handal, his son Bidhi Chand became his successor but he was infatutuated with a Muslim woman and much against the advice of the the local Sikhs he married her. The local Sikhs snapped all contact with Bidhi Chand and only a few of his followers remained with him. Bidhi Chand then got a Janamsakhi written in which he chose to belittle Guru Nanak by making his father Baba Handal as well as Bhagat Kabir greater than Guru Nanak. In one of the stories in this Janamsakhi there is a mention of the prediction made by Guru Nanak about the coming of a Bhagat who would be greater than himself.

[Guest BikramjitSingh]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa

Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Bhaino 'te Bharavo

The Ahmediyas are extremely mischievious. Their intent is neither to 'learn' anything about Sikhism but to ply their pet theory that Guru Nanak was a Muslim. This theory was first propounded by their 'prophet' Mirza Ahmed who declared a hundred years ago that he was the Mehdi, the Messiah and Krishna all rolled into one. For the Ahmediyas to accept the Sikh evidence about Guru Nanak, they will have to acknowledge that their 'prophet' was wrong !. There are millions of Ahmediyas in the world and they have a large organisation ( hatti-shop ) which is doing a good trade and providing a good living for many of their 'scholars' and 'saints'. So, for the Ahmediyas to believe us, they then will need to reassess all that their 'prophet' wrote about and every claim he ever made. This is likely to do irreparable demage to their faith in their 'prophet'. This is why they disregard our evidence and still go on blindly publicising their ridiculous theories.

"Baba Nanak, in one of his Janam Sakhis he says that he had it revealed to him by God that the religion of Islam is true. It was because of this that he went on pilgrimage to Makka, and adopted all the tenets of Islam. His sacred relics at Dera Baba Nanak bear the clearest testimony to his profession of the Islamic Kalima, "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet", and those at Guru Har Sahai in the Ferozepore District, include a copy of the Holy Quran. He also proclaimed that enmity to Islam was enmity to the light that comes from heaven...."

The claim that the pothi at Guru Har Sahai in Ferozepur district was the koran is another one their lies. The pothi at Guru Har Sahai was a early collection of some of the Gurus shabads which was in the custody of Prithi Chand. It was kept at Guru Har Sahai and a building called 'Pothi Mala' was constructed to house it. During the 1900's a team of Ahmediya 'scholars' visited Guru Har Sahai in order to study the pothi. They came to the amazing conclusion that it was a Punjabi translation of the koran. The pothi was lost on a train during the 1970's after the keeper of the pothi took it across india to show it to Sikh communities there. Although the pothi was lost a large number of photostats of the pages were made by a Sikh scholar studying the pothi and these are still available, I think the scholar was Giani Gurdit Singh and his book was published in the early 1990's.

Gurfateh

Bikramjit Singh

[nogroup singh]

This article is good to get the background of Mirza Ahmed.

http://alhafeez.org/rashid/british-jewish/bjc_2.htm

[sikhprideuk]

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh

Steel , did you ever get a reply from the pak_history@yahoo.com person ? would be intresting on what he sent.. plz keep us updated

Thanks

[Guest]

nah he never replied lol :cry: