Islam and Sikhism

Islam And Sikhism

Islam is based around the belief that Muhammad is the Seal of the prophets. It came into existence in the seventh century and views Jews, Christians and Muslims as "People of the Book", as all three major faiths are part of the Abrahamic religions. Muslims also believe Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus were prophets.

Sikhism came into existence in the fifteenth century. It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing. The Sikh Gurus (or teachers) have emphasized recognizing all humans as equal before Waheguru, regardless of colour, caste, race, gender or religion. The Sikh Gurus did not call themselves prophets. The emphasis is on a single all pervading God and creating a relationship with him. There is no place for intermediaries.

Sikhs embody the qualities of a Sant-Sipahie, a saint-soldier. One must have control over one's internal vices and be able to be constantly immersed in virtues clarified in the Guru Granth Sahib. A Sikh must also have the courage to defend the rights of all who are wrongfully oppressed or persecuted irrespective of religion, colour, caste or creed. Baptized Sikhs are initiated into the Khalsa Panth, the Khalsa is Akal Purakh de fauj - the Army of God. Guru Gobind Singh (10th guru of Sikhism) clearly choose these words very deliberately - He did not state that the Khalsa was the army of the Khalsa or an army of the Sikhs or the army of Punjab - but an Army of God whose function was the protection and safeguarding of all the peoples of God regardless colour, caste, race, gender or religion.

The book of the Muslims is known as the Qu'ran, Islam believes the angel Gabriel was the medium through whom God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad, and that he sent a message to all prophets. The Sikh holy book is known as the Guru Granth Sahib, it contains the teachings of the Sikh Gurus and includes passages from both Hindu and Sufi saints. The Sikh Gurus have referred to their compositions as dhur ki bani or the word of primal divine source. Again, no intermediary communicated this word of God.

The spread of Islam in South Asia was greatly aided by many Islamic dynasties that ruled parts of the Indian subcontinent starting from the 12th century. The prominent ones include the Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526) and the Mughal Empire (1526–1857). The Sikh gurus frequently came into direct confrontation with some of the Mughal rulers due to the Sikh faith's opposition to forced conversions. The Sikhs abolished Mughal rule in the whole province in one stroke and were the first army in history to destroy the Mughal Empire and conquer Afghanistan, which lead to the creation of a Sikh Empire in the late-17th century. By the late-18th century, the British Empire had extended their Empire east towards the Punjab which lead to British invading the Empire of the Sikhs. Soon after the British army began recruiting large number of Sikhs into the British Army, in which the Sikhs made up to 25% of the soldiers in World War I and World War II. This was under the Martial Race Theory that Sikhs were born warriors, which proved true as the Sikhs were awarded 14 Victoria Crosses for their bravery and over 27 battle honours (a record).

Sikhism is opposed to the concept of forced conversions and strongly believes in the fatherhood of an omnipresent, omnipotent and all pervasive God and brotherhood of man. Sikhs believe in one God and basic foundation elements of Sikh lifestyle involves five principles, which are Nām Japō or Simran "meditation on Waheguru", Kirat Karō "honest labor", Vaṇḍ Chakkō or Sewa "charity to the community", Bana "Sikh attire or Dress code", and Shastar "physicality defend oneself and others". Guru Nanak Dev was the founder of Sikhism, the teachings of the first five Sikh Gurus were compiled by the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev into the Guru Granth Sahib. These included teachings of saints of the Hindu and Muslim faith also. The Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, before his death, declared the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal guru of the Sikhs for all times to come, and copies were distributed by Baba Deep Singh and Bhai Mani Singh to Sikhs.