Sikhs became better known to the world in June 1984, when Golden Temple was attacked by the Indian Army and thousands of innocent pilgrims including women and children were mercilessly massacred. This was followed by killing and burning alive of Sikhs in Delhi and other Congress ruled states in November 1984, after the murder of Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Earlier Sikhs were mistaken because of their beard and turban, as Muslims from Middle East, or a sect of Hindus.

Western reporters while covering the atrocities on Sikhs introduced Sikhism as a faith combining the acceptable beliefs of Hinduism and Islam. Hindu writers consider Sikhism not a separate faith, but reformed Hinduism. Some of them describe it as a militant sect of Hindus. All this misunderstanding about Sikhism arose because of its non-sectarian and no communal approach to religion and God. Further many tenets of Sikh faith apparently seem similar to those of Hindu or Muslim faith.

A superficial or a distant view of Sikhism, as an outsider usually takes, regarding the Sikh belief in one God and non-recognition of caste system, misleads him to conclude that these concepts have been borrowed from Islam. Transmigration of soul, Kalma theory (the belief that whatever we get in this life is the fruit of our deeds karams, dove in the previous life) and burning of the deeds are quoted as Hindu beliefs adopted by Nanak. He is said to have not approved of the bigotry of the Muslims and the forcible conversion of Hindus into Islam. He also rejected the ritualistic approach of Hindus while formulating Sikh tenets, The adoption of both Hindu and Muslim names for God, by the Gurus in their gurbani and inclusion of rhymes composed by both Hindu and Muslim saints, in the Adi Granth, the Holy Book of the Sikhs, strengthened the above supportion.

Sikhism, when closely studied, has been found to be an independent New Faith for the modern man. For understanding it properly we have to study the social and political environment prevailing when Sikhism was founded and analyzed the philosophy of Sikh beliefs, tenets and practices.

When Nanak was born in 1469, India was ruled by Muslims, who came as invaders from the west. Local residents called Hindus were divided into many faiths such as Jainism, Buddhism, Vedic religions and many sects’ yogis, Sidhs etc. Hindus were denied equal citizenship rights. Rather they were hated even tortured and many of their temples demolished. Muslim rulers practiced all kinds of pressures and tactics to convert Kafus (Hindus) to become Momans (accept Islam). Hindus hated Muslims as un-pious people and called them Malechh (outsiders, dirty, bad).

New Faith, New God: Guru Nanak refused to accept the prevailing belief that Hindus were created by Parmatma and Muslims were created by Allah. The first formal sermon he gave, after coming on the river Beird was, “There is no Hindu and no Musalman”. According to him every person is a simple human being created by one God, the Almighty. He did not differentiate between Hindus and Muslims. Nanak thus revealed a NEW GOD who loves both Hindus and Muslims (and also the whole humanity).

The one-God philosophy, no doubt existed before the birth of Nanak, not only in Islam but also in Hindu religion. However God was believed by both of them to be partisan and sectarian. According to Hindus, Parmentma (God) pemits only good Hindus after their death into swang (heaven), others are pushed into Nark (hell). Hindus do not allow Muslims or low-caste people (un-touchable) to enter their temples. On the other hand, Muslims believe Allah (God) will allow only good Muslims to enter Bahisht (heaven) and there will be tortured in Dozakh (hell). They do not permit any non-Muslim (considered to be non-believers) to enter the mosque for prayers.

Nanak, in total contrast to the above, says there is only one God, one humanity and one faith. Just because we have more than one name for God (Parmatma, Alla, Ram, Rahim…) and more than one way to worship him, it should not mislead us to believe that there are more than one God and more than one Faith, Nanak preached that language of God is love. Any person (Hindu, Muslim, low caste, high caste, man, woman…) who him and sincerely “sings” his pracan realize him. To remember him can use any name, because all are his and equally good. No one name is more liked by him than names, In the Holy Granth there scores of names of God (then used different religions and sects) men with equal love and respect for all,

Nanak warned that it is a sin to any person untouchable or call a Malechh or non-believer just be his culture is different and he uses a different name for God. To preach philosophy, Nanak founded the of Sangat and Pangat. All persons, of their faith, caste, status, sex etc. welcomed to sit together for the time in the history of the human-as equals to remember the virtues their creator. Nanak named this Sangat. They all were also equally to sit together to enjoy free community meals (Langar). This was named Pangat. No one can be even today, admission to Sangat or Pangat in a gurdwara.

Guru Nanak categorically stathat in his court, every person will treated as a human being, irrespective of his faith, birth or wealth and no favor or injustice will be done to anyone. He warmed that neither he nor any other prophet can intercede to help his followers at the time of judgment. Final decision will depend upon the deeds we do, and nothing else.

The one God new philosophy preached by Nanak in contrast to the sectarian God preached earlier justifies the statement that Sikhism is a new faith for the mode man and adoptable by the people all over the world.

There are other basic beliefs of Sikh faith as well, which can be mentioned to further explain that Sikhism is not a combination of Hinduism and Islam but a basically new faith.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 17, 1986