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Islam is an Abrahamic religion and Sikhism is a dharmic religion. Unlike the Abrahmic Monotheism of Islam, Panentheism i.e. one creator(Ik Onkar) pervading the whole of creation and beyond, describes Sikh theology more precisely. The prophet Mohammad founded Islam, whereas Sikhism is attributed to Guru Nanak. The Quran and the Guru Granth Sahib are the main texts of Muslims and Sikhs respectively. [1] In Islam, the legal system based on the Quran and the Sunnah is known as Sharia; there are no such legal system mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib.

Basics of Islam ,Sikhism Theology

Islam's most fundamental concept is a rigorous monotheism, called tawhīd (Arabic: توحيد). God is described in chapter 112 of the Qur'an as "Say: He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him."(112:1-4) Belief in the "Day of Resurrection/Judgement Day ", Yawm al-Qiyāmah (Arabic: يوم القيامة) is also crucial for Muslims. They believe the time of Qiyāmah is preordained by God but unknown to man. The trials and tribulations preceding and during the Qiyāmah are described in the Quran and the hadith. The Qur'an emphasizes bodily resurrection ie All Dead beings will be recreated by Allah on this day , a break from the pre-Islamic Arabian understanding of death.Beleivers will be ultimatemly awarded heavens and Non-Beleivers will suffer in Hell fire eternally .

For Sikhism very first verse of Guru Granth Sahib known as Mool Mantra or Root Mantra describe God as " One Universal Creator Immanent throughout His Creation . Thy Name Is Truth, Beyond Fear, Beyond Hatred,Beyond Time , Beyond Birth, Self-Existent. By Guru's Grace~ Chant : True In The Primal Beginning. True Throughout The Ages. True Here And Now. O Nanak, Forever And Ever True. ||1||

Aim of a Sikh is to realise his or her own True-Self or Oneness,Duality is just an illusion due to five vices 1)Kam ie Lust ,2)Krodh ie Anger ,3)Lobh ie Greed ,4)Moh ie attachment ,5)Ahankaar ie Ego.

"Everything is within the home of the self; there is nothing beyond. One who searches outside is deluded by doubt. By Guru's Grace, one who has found the Lord within is happy, inwardly and outwardly. ||1||" "Guru Granth Sahib ang 102.

The Sikh Gurus and Muslim contemporaries

The relations between earlier Sikh Gurus and earlier Islamic Mughal Empire were not much strained , During his fourth journey Udasi Guru Nanak visited many middle eastern countries to preach his message of Truth .In an incident mentioned by a noted Sikh Scholar Bhai Gurdas ,it appeared to a Qazi that Kaaba followed the direction of Guru Nanak's feet ,when qazi objected and rotated the feet of Guru Nanak , who was sleeping with his feet facing Kaaba .[2] [3] Mughal Empror Akbar also visited third Sikh Guru,Guru Amardas at Goindwal and taken Langar ie free kitchen there and offered donations for Langar .

But with the rise of fundamentalists such as Ahmad Sirhindi also described as Mujaddid Alf Thānī, meaning the "reviver of the second millennium Islam" in the Mughal Empire ,began the persecution of Non Muslims in the empire . Fifth Guru ,Guru Arjan was executed by Jahangir. [4][5][6]

Guru Hargobind, (sixth Guru of the Sikhs), after the Martyrdom Guru Arjan Dev saw that it would no longer be possible to protect the Sikh community without the aid of arms.[7] He built Akal Takhat means the Throne of the Immortal and is still the highest political institution of the Sikhs and wore two swords of Miri and piri [8]

Guru Tegh Bahadur(ninth Guru) was beheaded at chandini chowk Delhi for protection of Hindus of Kashmir who were forced to convert to Islam by Aurangzeb , along with fellow devotees Bhai Mati Dass, Bhai Sati Dass and Bhai Dayalaa. Tenth Guru Guru Gobind Singh formed Khalsa known as Army of Akal Purakh (Immortal) and Gave 5 Ks to Khalsa .

Two of the younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh aged only 9 and 7 were bricked up alive by Wazir Khan in Sirhand (Punjab).

When Guru Gobind singh was in South India ,he sent Banda Singh Bahadur to chastise the tyrannical Mughal faiy`dar of Sirhind.Banda Singh captured Sirhind and laid the foundation of Sikh empire [9]

.[10]

After the death of Bandha, the Sikh Misls(Sikh confedracies) came to power in a series of sweeping military and diplomatic victories.

Ranjit Singh united these confedaries into one large Empire. The empire comprised almost 200,000 square miles (520,000 km2) that included the following modern day political divisions made up: Punjab (India and Pakistan)Jammu, Haryana,Himachal Pradesh(India), Kashmir, conquered in 1818( India/Pakistan/China) Gilgit, Northern Areas, Khyber Pass, Peshawar, Pakistan North-West Frontier Province and FATA(Pakistan ,Afghanistan ), Parts of Western Tibet (1841), (China)

The Empire remained united until the death of Ranjit Singh after which it fragmented and the British wrested control in the Anglo-Sikh wars.

Differences between Islam and Sikhism

The Five Pillars of Islam (Template:Lang-ar) is the term given to the five duties incumbent on every Muslim. These duties are Shahada (Profession of Faith), Salat (prayers), Zakat (Giving of Alms), Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). These five practices are essential to Sunni Islam; Shi'a Muslims subscribe to eight ritual practices which substantially overlap with the five Pillars.[11] .[12]

The Three Pillars of Sikhism Guru Nanak formalised three basic guidlines for Sikhs: Naam Japna (focus of God), Kirat Karni (honest living) and Vand Chakna (sharing with others).

1. Naam Japna: The Gurus led the Sikhs directly to practise Simran and Naam Japna – meditation on God through reciting, chanting, singing and constant remembrance followed by deep study & comprehension of God’s Name and virtues (Gurbani the Compendium of ETERNAL truth). The inner voice of the Sikh thus stays immersed in praises and appreciation of the Creator and the ONE ETERNAL GOD Waheguru and his WILL. The Sikh is to intuitively practice and stay focussed on the True Path through every breath throughout his life. Various ways were gifted to the Sikhs to remember and tread on this path of righteousness. To begin with and as a social habit, recite the Nitnem banis daily in remembrance of the grace and Kirpa (blessing) of the Almighty. 'Early to bed & early to rise...' is the FIRST STEP towards the Gate to Sikhism.

2. Kirat Karni: He expected the Sikhs to live as honourable householders and practise Kirat Karni – To honestly earn by ones physical and mental effort while accepting both pains & pleasures as GOD's gifts and blessings. One is to stay truthful at all times and, fear none but the Eternal Super Soul. Live a life founded on decency immersed in Dharam - life controlled by spiritual, moral & social values.

3. Vand Chakna: The Sikhs were asked to share their wealth within the community by practising Vand Chakna – “Share and Consume together”. The community or Sadh Sangat is an important part of Sikhism. One must be part of a community that is pursing flawless objective values set out by the Sikh Gurus and every Sikh has to contribute in whatever way possible to the common community pool. This spirit of Sharing and Giving is an important message from Guru Nanak.

Sikhs are prohibited from eating halal and kosher food or any other ritually slaughtered (known as kutha meat) meat or fish.[13] Sikhs eat (Jhatka) meat , although Gurudwara langar is largely lacto-vegetarian, though this is understood to be a result of efforts to present a meal that is respectful of the diets of any person who would wish to dine, rather than out of dogma. Sikhs do not believe in pilgrimages; Muslims, in contrast, consider Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) a crucial part of the faith. Male Sikhs do not circumcise unlike Muslim males.

Role and Equality of Women

The Quran dedicates numerous verses to Muslim women, their role, duties and rights, in addition to Sura 4 with 176 verses named An-Nisa (women). Some verses are considered as key in defining gender roles in Islam, one being verse 4.34:

Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great''.

In Qur'an, surah 2:182 equates two women as substitute for one man, in matters requiring witnesses.

Qurn differentiates on the Gender basis and its states that "the men are a degree above them" ,Women are expected to be obidient to their husbands . Muslim woman can marry a Muslim only , Divorce parameters are also different for both genders .Polygamy is allowed in Islam .The right to own slave women, seized during military campaigns and jihad against non-believing pagans and infidels from Southern Europe to Africa to India to Central Asia, was considered a natural right of a Muslim .[14] Sharia ,.[15][16][17][18]

In Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib stated that the Sikh woman has all the rights and privileges enjoyed by a man. She is considered to have the same soul as man and has equal right to grow spiritually. The Sikh woman is allowed to lead religious congregations, to take part in Akhand Path (the continuous recitation of the Holy Scriptures), to perform Kirtan, to work as Granthi (priest) or a preacher and to participate freely in all religious, cultural, social, political and secular activities.

From woman, man is born,within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all.' Guru Nanak, Raag Aasaa Mehal 1, Page 473

Islamic predestination

In accordance with the Islamic belief in predestination, or divine preordainment (al-qadā wa l-qadar), God has full knowledge and control over all that occurs. This is explained in Qur'anic verses such as "Say: 'Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed for us: He is our protector'…"[19] For Muslims, everything in the world that occurs, good or evil, has been preordained and nothing can happen unless permitted by God. In Islamic theology, divine preordainment does not suggest an absence of God's indignation against evil, because any evils that do occur are thought to result in future benefits men may not be able to see. According to Muslim theologians, although events are pre-ordained, man possesses free will in that he has the faculty to choose between right and wrong, and is thus responsible for his actions. According to Islamic tradition, all that has been decreed by God is written in al-Lawh al-Mahfūz, the "Preserved Tablet".[20][21] ,.[22][23][24]

.[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]

Harmandir Sahib and Mecca

The Harmandir Sahib (also known as the Golden Temple).

The Golden Temple Amritsar India (Sri Harimandir Sahib Amritsar) is not only a central religious place of the Sikhs, but also a symbol of human brotherhood and equality. Everybody, irrespective of cast, creed or race can seek spiritual solace and religious fulfilment without any hindrance. It also represents the distinct identity, glory and heritage of the Sikhs.

As advised by Sri Guru Amar Dass (3rd Sikh Guru), Sri Guru Ram Dass (4th Sikh Guru) started the digging of Amrit Sarovar (Holy Tank) of Sri Harmandir Sahib in 1577 A.D., which was later on brick-lined by Sri Guru Arjan Dev (5th Sikh Guru) on December 15, 1588 and He also started the construction of Sri Harimandir Sahib. Sri Guru Granth Sahib (scripture of the Sikhs), after its compilation, was first installed at Sri Harimandir Sahib on August 16, 1604 A.D. A devout Sikh, Baba Budha Ji was appointed its first Head Priest.

The Golden Temple Amritsar India (Sri Harmandir Sahib Amritsar) has a unique Sikh architecture. Built at a level lower than the surrounding land level, The Gurudwara teaches the lesson of egalitarianism and humility. The four entrances of this holy shrine from all four directions, signify that people belonging to every walk of life are equally welcome.In the Golden Temple Community Kitchen,Langar at an average 75,000 devotees or tourists take langar in the Community Kitchen daily; but the number becomes almost double on special occasions.[33]

Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. As the birthplace of Muhammad and a site of the composition of the Quran,[34][35] Mecca is regarded as the holiest city in Islam,[36] and a pilgrimage to it, known as the Hajj, is obligatory upon all able Muslims.

According to Islamic tradition, the history of Mecca goes back to Abraham (Ibrahim) who built the Kaaba with the help of his elder son Ishmael in around 2000 BCE when the inhabitants of what was then known as Bakkah had fallen away from the original monotheism of Abraham through the influence of the Amelkites.[37] However, outside of Islamic tradition, little is known about the Kaaba before the 5th century CE. Islamic tradition attributes the beginning of Mecca to Ishmael's descendants...[38] Around the 5th century CE, the Kaaba was a place of worship for the deities of Arabia's pagan tribes. tribe[39][40] and remained until the 7th century CE. [41][42][43] An Arabic language word, its etymology, like that of Mecca, is obscure.[44] Widely believed to be a synonym for Mecca, it is said to be more specifically the early name for the valley located therein, while Muslim scholars generally use it to refer to the sacred area of the city that immediately surrounds and includes the Kaaba.[45][46]

The pilgrimage to Mecca involves millions of Muslims from all over the world to pray, women are to pray behind the men. There are two pilgrimages, the Hajj and the Umrah. Once a year, the Hajj, the greater pilgrimage, takes place in Mecca and nearby sites. During the Hajj, several million people of varying nationalities worship in unison. Every adult, healthy, sane Muslim who has the financial and physical capacity to travel to Mecca and can make arrangements for the care of his/her dependents during the trip, must perform the Hajj once in a lifetime. Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, is not obligatory, but is recommended in the Qur'an.[47] Often, they perform the Umrah while visiting the Masjid al-Haram.

Sufi saints in the Guru Granth Sahib

Sufi saint: Hazrat Mian Mir construction of Golden Temple

In December 1588, the Sufi saint of Lahore, Mian Mir,[49][51] who was a close friend of Guru Arjan Dev, initiated the construction of the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) by laying the first foundation stone.[52]

However in 1762, Ahmad Shah, founder of the modern state of Afghanistan (a Hanafi Sunni Islamist) attacked the Golden Temple in Amritsar. He blew up the building with gunpowder [53] and filled its sacred pool with the blood of slaughtered cows. Durrani captured Amritsar in 1757, and sacked the Harmandir Sahib at which point the famous Baba Deep Singh and some of his loyalists were killed by the Afghans.[54] This final act was to be the start of long lasting bitterness between Sikhs and Afghans.[55]

Bhai Mardana : Muslim follower of Guru Nanak

Bhai Mardana (1459–1534) was a Muslim[56] and one of the first followers alongside Bhai Bala,[57][58] who travelled with Nanak in his early journeys across India and Asia. On his later journeys, Nanak was accompanied by Saido and Greho, and Mardana remained with his family.[49] Mardana was born a Muslim[56] to a Mirasi couple, Badra and Lakkho, of Rai Bhoi di Talwandi (modern Nankana Sahib, capital of Nankana Sahib District of Pakistan).

Shah Bhikhan

Pir Bhikhan Shah, a 17th-century Sufi saint, was born the son of Sayyid Muhammad Yusaf of Siana Sayyidari, a village 5 km (3.1 mi) from Pehowa (in modern Kurukshetra district of Haryana). For a time, he lived at Ghuram in present day Patiala district of the Punjab and finally settled at Thaska, again in Kurukshetra district. He was the disciple of Abu l-Muali Shah, a Sufi divine residing at Ambhita, near Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, and soon became a saint of much repute and piety in his own right.

According to a tradition preserved in Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Pir Bhikhan Shah, as he learnt through intuition of the birth of Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708) at Patna, made obeisance that day to the east instead of to the west. At this, his disciples demurred, for no Muslim should make such respectful gestures except towards the Kaaba in Mecca.

The pir explained that in a city in the east, God had revealed Himself through a newborn baby, to whom he had bowed and to no ordinary mortal. Bhikhan Shah with his disciples then traveled all the way to Patna to have a glimpse of the infant Gobind Rai, barely three months old. Desiring to know what would be his attitude to the two major religious peoples of India, he placed two small pots in front of the child, one representing in his own mind Hindus and the other Muslims. As the child covered both the pots simultaneously with his tiny hands, Bhikhan Shah felt happy concluding that the new seer would treat both Hindus and Muslims alike and show equal respect to both.

Sikh chronicles[59] record another meeting between Guru Gobind Singh and Pir Bhikhan Shah, which took place in 1672 when the latter went to see him at Lakhnaur, near Ambala, where he was halting for some time on his way from Patna to Kiratpur.[59]

Recent relations

During the partition of India in 1947, there was much bloodshed between Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims, there was mass migration of people from all walks of life to leave their homes and belongings and travel by foot across the new border, on trains and on land people were killed in what was felt to be revenge attacks.

Since 9/11 Sikhs in America have been mistaken for Muslims and endured countless hate crimes, denied employment, bullied in schools and profiled in airports.[60]

Today in the Indian subcontinent, relations between Indians and Pakistanis are very positive since relations between India and Pakistan have improved overall in the last 10 years, both countries have experienced increased levels of tourism by Pakistani Muslims wishing to visit Indian Islamic shrines or sport events in India, or Sikhs wishing to visit the few historical gurudwaras in neighboring Punjab in Pakistan.[61][62]

There are, however, tensions that remain in UK between Sikhs and Muslims regarding some allegations that some Sikhs have been forced to convert to Islam.[63][64]

In 2009, the Taliban in Pakistan demanded that Sikhs in the region pay them the jizya (poll tax levied by Muslims on non-Muslim minorities).[65]

In 2010 the Taliban attacked many minorities including Sikhs resulting in two beheadings.[66]

Ahmadiyya Muslims and Sikhism

Sikhs and Ahmadi Muslims have historically had very good relations. A lot of Sikh religious representatives are often invited to the Ahmadiyya National Jalsa in Qadian, India.[67] Even today Sikhs have very good relations with the Ahmadi Muslims.[68] The Fourth Calif of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community referred to Sikhs as his own brothers. In 2005 the fifth Calif of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community visited Qadian India where he met several Sikh leaders who showed him great love and affection due to their historical strong ties with Ahmadies.[69] Ahmadies view Guru Nanak as a very holy person and a great Saint. Thus Guru Nanak serves as a great uniting factor between Ahmadi Muslims and Sikhs. In fact Sikhism as known today was started around 200 years after the Gurus death. Guru Nanak did not teach the 5 k's of Sikhism. These were introduced by the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who also introduced the element of militancy into Sikhism. They claim that Guru Gobind Singh had political problems with the Moghuls (who were Muslims) some of whom at times unfairly persecuted non-Muslims. As a result of these political wars some people of the Punjab region started resenting the Moghuls and all that they stood for; which of course included their religion Islam. Overtime the movement against Moghuls became stronger and stronger and the hatred towards Moghuls also turned into hatred towards Islam by some Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh played a key role in organising a military against the Moghuls and introduced the 5 k's to them as well.[70] At the time of Guru Nanak's death there were no Sikhs as known today. At his funeral only Muslims and Hindus were present and both demanded the body of Guru Nanak. Hindus wanted to burn it as they claimed that he was born into a Hindu family. Muslims wanted to bury the body .[71] The founder of the Ahmadiyya, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, also wrote a book called Sat Bachan in the late 19th century in which he defended Guru Nanak against attacks by a prominent Hindu leader of the time. In his book, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad demonstrates that Guru Nanak was not a person of bad character as claimed by some Hindus at the time but was a very pious holy saint.[70][70][72]

See also

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    • D. Cohen-Mor (2001), p.4: "The idea of predestination is reinforced by the frequent mention of events 'being written' or 'being in a book' before they happen: 'Say: "Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us…" ' "
    • Ahmet T. Karamustafa. "Fate". Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help): The verb qadara literally means "to measure, to determine". Here it is used to mean that "God measures and orders his creation".
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    • Patton (1900), p.130
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  56. ^ a b Pak delegation arrives to celebrate Bhai Mardana's 550 birth anniversary
  57. ^ Sikh Personalities
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Further reading