There is no dearth of material regarding the noble inspiring life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji the Tenth Master AS a spiritual preceptor and a military genius he is a well-known historical figure. In organizing ability none could beat him. He was an outstanding social reformer & profound scholar and prodigious linguist. His fame is very firmly established as a great poet It is however hardly possible for persons imperfectly acquainted With the main currents of the history of the Sikhs to adequately appreciate the fact that Guru Gobind Singh Ji was not at all inimical towards Islam or the Muslims He came into the world to uphold the dignity of humanity to free the mind of man from every type of bondage and to uproot Oppression and tyranny social as well as political
Says he: “For this purpose I was born and this let all the virtuous understand to advance right counsels and emancipate the good.
And destroy evil-doers root and branch.” In the present times when at many places the Sikhs and Mohammadans do not like to sit together to talk together or to walk together it will be of special significance (o remember that Guru Gobind Singh Ji had many Muslim admirers and devotees who were prepared to stake their all for him. When Guru Gobind Singh JI was born there lived in the city of Kuhram a celebrated Sayed called Bhikan Shah On the young Guru’s natal morning Bhikan Shah looked and bowed towards the east His disciples were considerably taken aback and asked him why he did Contrary to all Muslim customs he had bowed in the direction to which the Hindus turned in their worship of the Unseen Bhikan Shah calmly replied that there had just been born in Patna a spiritual king who would establish religion and destroy the civil doers.
Bhikan Shah vowed that he would to Worship the newborn spiritual sovereign and would perform a daily fast till he had seen him or suffering a lot of hunger and fatigue he arrived at Patna Then he sat down near the Guru’s house but a pan and away from the crowd that had come to offer their felicitations on the auspicious occasion. When the crowd dispersed Kirpal Chand the child’s uncle went to Bhikan Shah and asked him for what purpose he had come. He told him the nature of his vow and made a request to enable him to get a glimpse of the newborn child ‘The mother and grandmother of the babe were suspicious of the Mohammedans and their Emperor Aurangzeb They therefore tried to put off Sayyed Bhikan Shah and told him that he might return after three months when they would show him the child. On receiving this answer the Sayyed demonstrated and repeated that he was Only a Fakir and had come hundreds of miles to see the boy. At last listening to the advice of Kirpst Chand the mother and grandmother cave way and consented that the Sayyed should behold the babe but only in public in the presence of the Sikhs of Patna and amid the sol inspiring strains of the Guru’s hymns with reback accompaniments.
When the infant was produced the whole assembly rose to do him honor and present their offerings. Sayyed too bowed at the young Spiritual princess feet and he placed before him two car then vessels covered with muslin-one containing milk and the other water. The child playfully touched both vassals upon this the Sayyed thanks of the Sikhs for having been the means of giving them a sight of future Gun.
They asked Bhikan Shah what he meant by the two vessels He said in reply that the child had in a way indicated that he had hatred for neither and that the Hindus and
Muslim would abide and the child would include them both in his reason. Thereupon the Sayyed departed in a happy mood.
Besides Bikram Shah Nawab Rahim Baksh and Karim Baksh were some of the famous Muslims among the early admirers of the Tenth Master. A garden and a vile large which were gifted by these two Muslims to Guru Gobind Singh Ji are part of the Gurdwara at Patna even today. One day while the child Gobind Rai was playing with his matter Pir Arif Din a famous Fakir of Lakh pur drove by him. As soon as he saw little Gobind he got down from his carriage and bowed before the child very humbly Pir Arif Din’s followers got engaged. He told them not to be upset as he had offered Salaam to Allah-the Great He added that God was present in the child i.e. the child had imbibed celestial spirit.
It is an historical fact that while talking to a Muslim Fakir Ghias ud-din Gumi Gobind Singh Ji semi-jocularly remarked “Brother Ghias-ud-din to whom dost thou belong?” Ghias-ud-din pointed to his friend philosopher and guide Bhai Nand Lal Ji and said “To him Sire” At this one of the devoted disciples tried to correct Ghias-ud-din but the great Guru Promptly intervened by observing. “There is no dispute at all. Brother Nand Lal belongs to me and brother Ghias-ud-din belongs me.” This was indeed a clear indication of the large-heartedness of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Pious and God-fearing Mohammedans like Pir Budhu Shah of Sadhaura who were fed up with the then existing intolerable conditions due to the high handedness of the Mughal rulers expressed themselves ready and willing to support and serve Guru Gobind Singh Ji wholeheartedly.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 22, 1994
