Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a great spritual leader born in Punjab, India who preached divine monotheism and universal brotherhood. He was highly critical of caste system and rejected worthless religious rituals. He is also credited for bringing the Hindus and the Muslims closer in those times.
Against this backdrop, this post discusses views and teachings of Guru Nanak in particular and Sikhism in general as is contained in the Guru Granth Sahib.
Guru Nanak Family Background
Baba Guru Nanak (1469-1539) was born in a rich Hindu merchant family [of Khatri caste] in a village called Nankana Sahib near the river Ravi in the predominantly Muslim Punjab (NCERT).
Besides being a successful merchant, Nanak’s father was also a revenue accountant at Talwandi in the Lahore Province of the Delhi Sultanate.
He tried to groom his child for his profitable business, taught him Persian, trained him to be an accountant and even got him married at a young age.
But Nanak did not take any interest in trade and business due to his spiritual inclinations. Rather, he spent most of his time among sufis, yogis and bhaktas. He also travelled widely.
He later left his home and made itineraries to prominent religious places of most religions in India and abroad.
It is said that followers of all faith were attracted to his simple teachings and over a period of time, they grew so attached to him that when he died, a fight ensued between his Muslim and Hindu followers over the funeral ceremony.
The former wanted to bury him as per Islamic traditions while the latter wanted to burn him as per Hindu rituals.
It is said that the body allegedly disappeared leaving behind some flowers which were equally divided between the contending parties who then conducted the last rites accordingly.
Many Muslim scholars (such as Tariq Jameel and Syed Aminul Qadri, etc) still claim that Nanak was a Muslim Sufi Saint and a Wali or friend of God misappropriatied by Sikhs and Brahmanical classes later. Given below is the opinion of a Ahmadi scholar about Guru Nanak.
God
The message of Baba Guru Nanak is spelt out in his hymns and teachings. These suggest that he advocated a form of nirguna bhakti. For him, the Absolute or “rab” had no gender or form. He proposed a simple way to connect to the Divine by remembering and repeating the Divine Name, expressing his ideas through hymns called “shabad” in Punjabi, the language of the region (NCERT).
Thus, Guru Nanak was a strong proponent of monotheism. He testified the oneness of God Almighty and called people to worship only that one universal creator almighty only as can be observed in the Mool Mantra of Sikhism.
ik Onkar Satnam Karta Purakh Nirapau Niravair Akal Murat Ajuni Saipan Gur Parsad Translation One God Truth Supreme Creator Without Fear, without Hate, Timeless in Form, Beyond Birth, Self-Existent, Known by the grace of the Guru. (Guru Granth Sahib 1:1)
True in the primal beginning. True throughout the ages. True here and now. O Nanak, forever and ever true. By thinking, He cannot be reduced to thought, even by thinking hundreds of thousands of times.” (Guru Granth Sahib 1:4-5)
You are the Supreme Lord God, Limitless and Infinite. What Virtues of Yours can I speak of and describe?” (Guru Granth Sahib 11:3)
Highest of the High, above all is His Name. Only one as Great and as High as God can know His Lofty and Exalted State. Only He Himself is that Great. He Himself knows Himself. (Guru Granth Sahib 5:10)
He also said that the Hindu and Muslim God is one and the same.
The Muslim God Allah and the Hindu God Parbramh are one and the same. (Guru Granth Sahib)
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah. He adminsters justice to both Hindus and Muslims. || 1 || (Guru Granth Sahib)
Recalling Nanak’s monotheism, Allama Muhammad Iqbal paid him glorious tributes in his writings.
Phir uthi aakhir, sada Tauheed ki Punjab se; Hind ko ek Mard-e-Kamil ne jagaya khwab se. Translation The call of Monotheism rose again from the land of Punjab; When a perfect man awakened India from its deep slumber.
O Baba, the Lord Allah is Inaccessible and Infinite. Sacred is His Name, and Sacred is His Place. He is the True Cherisher. (Guru Granth Sahib)
He is Allah, the Unknowable, the Inaccessible, All-powerful and Merciful Creator. All the world comes and goes—only the Merciful Lord is permanent. (Guru Granth Sahib)
He is not born, and He does not die; He does not come and go in reincarnation. The God of Nanak is pervading and permeating everywhere. (Guru Granth Sahib)
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah. He adminsters justice to both Hindus and Muslims. (Guru Granth Sahib)
The Pirs, the Prophets, the spiritual teachers, the faithful, the innocents and the
martyrs, the Shaikhs, the mystics, the Qazis, the Mullahs and the Dervishes at His
Door—they are blessed all the more as they continue reading their prayers in praise to Him. (Guru Granth Sahib)
How can he escape from falling into hell, when he does not remember the Prophet? (Guru Granth Sahib)
My mind has faith, that the Prophet has given You access to the Profound Lord. Your body has been purged of the deadly poison; You drink the Ambrosial Nectar deep within. Your Heart has blossomed forth in awareness of the Unseen Lord, who has infused His Power throughout the ages. O True Guru, You are intuitively absorbed in Samaadhi, with continuity and equality. You are open-minded and large-hearted, the Destroyer of poverty; seeing You, sins are afraid. Says Kal, I lovingly, continually, intuitively chant the Praises of Lehnaa with my tongue. (Guru Granth Sahib)
I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim. My body and breath of life belong to Allah — to Raam — the God of both. (Guru Granth Sahib)
All sorts of troubles and pains afflicted the slanderer. There is no difference between Naam Dayv and the Lord. 28:1:10 (Guru Granth Sahib)
If the Lord Allah lives only in the mosque, then to whom does the rest of the world belong? (Guru Granth Sahib)
The God of the Hindus lives in the southern lands, and the God of the Muslims lives in the west. (Guru Granth Sahib)
You fashioned all these men and women, Lord. All these are Your Forms. Kabeer is the child of God, Allah, Raam. All the Gurus and prophets are mine. (Guru Granth Sahib)
First, Allah created the Light; then, by His Creative Power, He made all mortal beings. From the One Light, the entire universe welled up. So who is good, and who is bad? (Guru Granth Sahib)
World
Hundreds of thousands of clever tricks, but not even one of them will go along with you in the end. So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away? O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will.” (Guru Granth Sahib 1:5-7)
This world is engrossed in corruption and cynicism. Only those who know God are saved.” (Guru Granth Sahib 13:16)
Guru
Sikhism stresses the need for a Guru as a bridge between God and the worshipper. Guru has been referred to as a ladder to God who has been referred to as a fortress.
How can I climb up to the Fortress without a ladder? By meditating on the Lord, through the Guru, I am blessed and exalted. The Guru is the Ladder, the Guru is the Boat, and the Guru is the Raft to take me to the Lord’s Name.” (Guru Granth Sahib 17:12-13) (Guru Granth Sahib)
Without the True Guru, the Name of the Lord is not found, even though people may perform hundreds of thousands, even millions of rituals. (Guru Granth Sahib 40:15)
Without the True Guru, God is not found; all have grown weary of performing religious rituals. (Guru Granth Sahib 72:12)
By the Grace of the Divine Guru, one meets the Lord. By the Grace of
the Divine Guru, one is carried across to the other side. By the Grace of the Divine
Guru, one swims across to heaven. By the Grace of the Divine Guru, one remains dead while yet alive. (Guru Granth Sahib)
True, True, True True, True is the Divine Guru. False, false, false, false is all other service. (Guru Granth Sahib)
When the Divine Guru grants His Grace, the Naam, the Name of the Lord, is implanted within. When the Divine Guru grants His Grace, one does not wander in the ten directions. When the Divine Guru grants His Grace, the five demons are kept far away. When the Divine Guru grants His Grace, one does not die regretting. (Guru Granth Sahib)
The Guru is the river of the nine treasures, washing off the dirt of our lives. So speaks Tal the poet: serve the Guru, day and night, with intuitive love and affection. Gazing upon the Blessed Vision of the Guru, the pains of death and rebirth are taken away (Guru Granth Sahib)
When the Divine Guru grants His Grace, one looks upon good and bad as the same. (Guru Granth Sahib)
The false go and mingle with the false, while the truthful Sikhs sit by the side of the True Guru. (Guru Granth Sahib)
The Lord Allah is Unseen; He cannot be seen. The Guru has blessed me with this sweet molasses. Says Kabeer, my anxiety and fear have been taken away; I see the Immaculate Lord pervading everywhere. (Guru Granth Sahib)
The mortal man loves to accumulate wealth and property. The GurSikh loves to meet and embrace the Guru. Servant Nanak loves to kiss the feet of the Holy. (Guru Granth Sahib)
O GurSikhs, chant the Name of the Lord, O my Siblings of Destiny. Chanting the Lord‟s Name, all sins are washed away. (Guru Granth Sahib)
Those who apply the dust of the Feet of the True Guru to their faces, renounce falsehood and enshrine love for the Lord. Their faces are radiant in the Court of the Lord, O Siblings of Destiny. Service to the Guru is pleasing to the Lord Himself. Even Krishna and Balbhadar meditated on the Lord, falling at the Guru‟s Feet. O Nanak, the Lord Himself saves the Gurmukhs. (Guru Granth Sahib)
The Sikh of the Guru is very fortunate. The True Guru arranges this world and
the next for His Sikh. O Nanak, with the fullness of His heart, the True Guru mends His Sikh. (Guru Granth Sahib)
One who obeys the Guru‟s Teachings one hundred per cent — that selfless
servant comes to know the state of the Transcendent Lord. The True Guru‟s Heart is
filled with the Name of the Lord. So many times, I am a sacrifice to the Guru. He is the treasure of everything, the Giver of life. Twenty-four hours a day, He is imbued with the Love of the Supreme Lord God. The servant is in God, and God is in the servant. He Himself is One — there is no doubt about this. By thousands of clever tricks, He is not found. O Nanak, such a Guru is obtained by the greatest good fortune. (Guru Granth Sahib)
The truthful Sikhs sit by the True Guru‟s side and serve Him. The false ones search, but find no place of rest. Those who are not pleased with the Words of the True Guru — their faces are cursed, and they wander around, condemned by God. Those who do not have the Love of the Lord within their hearts — how long can those demonic, self-willed manmukhs be consoled? One who meets the True Guru, keeps his mind in its own place; he spends only his own assets. O servant Nanak, some are united with the Guru; to some, the Lord grants peace, while others — deceitful cheats — suffer in isolation. (Guru Granth Sahib)
If any son or Sikh serves the True Guru, then all of his affairs will be resolved. He obtains the fruits of his desires — children, wealth, property, union with the Lord and emancipation. All treasures are in the True Guru, who has enshrined the Lord within the heart. (Guru Granth Sahib)
O GurSikhs, know that the Bani, the Word of the True Guru, is true, absolutely true. The Creator Lord Himself causes the Guru to chant it. The Beloved Lord makes the faces of His GurSikhs radiant; He makes the whole world applaud and acclaim the Guru. (Guru Granth Sahib)
Those who surrender to the True Guru‟s Will are imbued with the four-fold Love of the Lord. (Guru Granth Sahib)
The false go and mingle with the false, while the truthful Sikhs sit by the side of the True Guru. (Guru Granth Sahib)
O Sikhs, love the Word of the Shabad; in life and death, it is our only support. (Guru Granth Sahib)
The True Guru is the Banker, and His Sikhs are the traders. Their merchandise
is the Naam, and meditation on the True Lord is their account. (Nanak was born in a Merchant caste) (Guru Granth Sahib)
Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru of Sikhs donned the royal regalia of a King and took the title of Sacha Padshah or the true king. Consequently, Sikhs started referring to their Gurus as “Sache Padshah”.
Muslims
Guru Granth Sahib generaly praises the virtues and qualities of being a Muslim but some of its verses also refers to Muslims as “Malechhyas” i.e. the impure and untouchable ones.
“It is difficult to be called a Muslim; if one is truly a Muslim, then he may be called one. First, let him savor the religion of the Prophet as sweet; then, let his pride of his possessions be scraped away. Becoming a true Muslim, a disciple of the faith of Mohammed, let him put aside the delusion of death and life. As he submits to God’s Will, and surrenders to the Creator, he is rid of selfishness and conceit. And when, O Nanak, he is merciful to all beings, only then shall he be called a Muslim.“(Guru Granth Sahib 141:10-12)
“Dhotee tikaa tai japmaalee Dhaan malaychhaa khaa-ee antar poojaa parheh kataybaa sanjam turkaa bhaa-ee chhodeelay paakhandaa” translated into English as ‘They wear their dhotis, apply ritual frontal marks to their foreheads, and carry their rosaries, but they eat food with the Muslims. O Siblings of Destiny, you perform devotional worship indoors, but read the Islamic sacred texts, and adopt the Muslim way of life. Renounce your hypocrisy!”(Guru Granth Sahib 471:15-16)
“One who cleanses himself of impurity is a Muslim.” (Guru Granth Sahib 662:15)
“He alone is a Haji, a pilgrim to Mecca, who purifies his heart. He alone is a Haji, a pilgrim to Mecca, who purifies his heart.” (Guru Granth Sahib 1084-1)
“To be Muslim is to be kind-hearted, and wash away pollution from within the heart. He does not even approach worldly pleasures; he is pure, like flowers, silk, ghee and the deer-skin…He alone is a Shaykh, a preacher, a Haji, and he alone is God’s slave, who is blessed with God’s Grace. The Creator Lord has Creative Power; the Merciful Lord has Mercy. Realize the True Hukam, the Command of the Lord, O Nanak; you shall be released from bondage, and carried across.” (Guru Granth Sahib 1084:9-13)
There are five prayers and five times of day for prayer; the five have five names. Let the first be truthfulness, the second honest living, and the third charity in the Name of God. Let the fourth be good will to all, and the fifth the praise of the Lord. Repeat the prayer of good deeds, and then, you may call yourself a Muslim. O Nanak, the false obtain falsehood, and only falsehood.
Babur
Guru Nanak was undoubtedly saddened by the reckless bloodshed during the Mughal invasion led by Babur and has expressed his shock and anger which is visible in several verses of the Guru Granth Sahib.
However, he also regarded the Mughal invasion of India as a punishment of God to errant Brahmins and Kings.
The Creator Himself does not take the blame, but has sent the Mugal as the messenger of death.” (Guru Granth Sahib 360:12)
“Those, whom the Creator Lord would destroy-first He strips them of virtue. Millions of religious leaders failed to halt the invader, when they heard of the Emperor’s invasion. He burned the rest-houses and the ancient temples; he cut the princes limb from limb, and cast them into the dust. None of the Mugals went blind, and no one performed any miracle…those men whose letters were torn in the Lord’s Court, were destined to die, O Siblings of Destiny.” (Guru Granth Sahib 417:18; 418:1-3)
Hindu-Brahmanism
Guru Nanak frowned upon idol worship and bluntly criticized it using various analogies.
He criticised Brahmins for corrupting the original monotheistic religion as was prevalent in ancient India.
You worship stones and sit like a stork, pretending to be in Samaadhi…If you knew the nature of God, you would know that all of these beliefs and rituals are in vain.” (Guru Granth Sahib 470:16-18)
That stone idol, for which you tear off those leaves, that stone idol is lifeless.(Guru Granth Sahib 479-5)
The sculptor carves the stone and fashions it into an idol, placing his feet upon its chest. If this stone god was true, it would devour the sculptor for this.(Guru Granth Sahib 479-7)
One stone is lovingly decorated, while another stone is walked upon. If one is a god, then the other must also be a god. (Guru Granth Sahib 525-5)
Why worship gods and goddesses, O Siblings of Destiny? What can we ask of them? What can they give us? (Guru Granth Sahib 637-6)
The ignorant fools pick up stones and worship them. But when those stones themselves sink, who will carry you across?(Guru Granth Sahib 556-10)
Those who call a stone their god – their service is useless. Those who fall at the feet of a stone god, their work is wasted in vain. (Guru Granth Sahib 1160-5-6)
The stone does not speak; it does not give anything to anyone. Such religious rituals are useless; such service is fruitless. If a corpse is anointed with sandalwood oil, what good does it do? What good does it do? What does it lose from this? Says Kabeer, I proclaim this out loud-behold, and understand, you ignorant, faithless cynic. The love of duality has ruined countless homes. (Guru Granth Sahib 1160:8-11)
The Hindus have forgotten the Primal Lord; they are going the wrong way.” (Guru Granth Sahib 556:9)
He alone is a Brahmin, who contemplates God. (Guru Granth Sahib 662-14)
O Pandit O religious scholar, your Gayatri was grazing in the fields. Taking a stick, the farmer broke its leg and now it walks with a limp. O Pandit I saw your great lord shiva riding along on a white bull. In the merchant’s house a banquet was prepared for him-he killed the merchant’s son. (Guru Granth Sahib 874:18-19)
There is no Truth in suffering, there is no Truth in comfort. There is no Truth in wandering like animals through the water. There is no Truth in shaving one’s head; there is no Truth is studying the scriptures or wandering in foreign lands. There is no Truth in trees, plants or stones, in mutilating oneself or suffering in pain.(Guru Granth Sahib 952:8-9)
The supreme essence of reality has no shape or form. (Guru Granth Sahib 952:14)
Hindu Rulers
The man-eaters say their prayers. Those who wield the knife wear the sacred thread around their necks. In their homes, the Brahmins sound the conch. They too have the same taste. False is their capital, and false is their trade. Speaking falsehood, they take their food. The home of modesty and Dharma is far from them. O Nanak, they are totally permeated with falsehood. The sacred marks are on their foreheads, and the saffron loin-cloths are around their waists; in their hands they hold the knives — they are the butchers of the world!
Wearing blue robes, they seek the approval of the Muslim rulers. Accepting bread from the Muslim rulers, they still worship the Puraanas. They eat the meat of the goats, killed after the Muslim prayers are read over them, but they do not allow anyone else to enter their kitchen areas. They draw lines around them, plastering the ground with cow-dung. The false come and sit within them. They cry out, “Do not touch our food, or it will be polluted!” But with their polluted bodies, they commit evil deeds. With filthy minds, they try to cleanse their mouths. Says Nanak, meditate on the True Lord. If you are pure, you will obtain the True Lord. || 2 ||
Caste System
Gurus’ opinion about the rich and the poor is reflective of his egalitarian thinking. He was saddened by the mistreatment and dishonor of the poor at the hands of the rich.
He was also disturbed by the rampant discrimination on the basis of poverty, caste, and occupation.
No one respects the poor man. He may make thousands of efforts, but no one pays any attention to him. When the poor man goes to the rich man, and sits right in front of him, the rich man turns his back on him. But when the rich man goes to the poor man, the poor man welcomes him with respect. The poor man and the rich man are both brothers. God’s pre-ordained plan cannot be erased. Says Kabeer, he alone is poor, who does not have the Naam, the Name of the Lord, in his heart. (Guru Granth Sahib 1159:3-6)
There is nothing wrong with the pot of clay-there is nothing wrong with the Potter. The One True Lord abides in all; by His making, everything is made. (Guru Granth Sahib 1350:2-3)
Religious Rituals
Pilgrimages, fasts, purification and self-discipline are of no use, nor are rituals, religious ceremonies or empty worship.(Guru Granth Sahib 75:17)
There is no Truth in shaving one’s head; there is no Truth is studying the scriptures or wandering in foreign lands. (Guru Granth Sahib 952:8-9)
The self-willed manmukh performs religious rituals, like the unwanted bride decorating her body. (Guru Granth Sahib 31:9)
Work cited
- Guru Granth Sahib (English Translation: Singh Sahib Sant Singh Khalsa, MD Hand Made Books 899 N. Wilmot, Suite C-2 Tucson, Arizona 85711, USA)