RELIGIONS
Islam and Sikhs
Baba Nanak was born a Hindu in Punjab but embraced Iss-laam. Sikhs consider him an auotar – a derivate of otar in Punjabi that means to come down or descend. It is like a rasool in Arabic or messenger in English. It is used for a recipient of divine inspirations or messages.
Baba Nanak went to Mekka to perform the once-a-lifetime-worship of a Moslem (See Commentary 5 Acts of worships or pillars of Islam). He was appalled during his Middle East travels when he saw members of his new community violating their own Teachings of Islam.
He found that remembrance of God Almighty repeatedly exhorted in the Holy Qor-aan was conspicuously missing among Moslems. He noticed ignorance prevail all around Moslem countries he visited. He saw beggary rampant, beggars begging everywhere, able-bodied men trying to live on the charity of others without doing any work. He felt urged to get rid of evil that had entered what the Holy Qor-aan had created. A new religion named Sikh (Khaalsa) was born.
- To eradicate illiteracy, he mandated his disciples to sikh (‘learn’ in Punjabi) and keep learning all the time as perpetuated in the prayer ‘God add to my knowledge’ (020:115).
- To develop economic independence, he mandated working and not beggary as the means to provide food, clothing and shelter. Millions of Sikhs all over the world always work and earn livelihood without many, if any at all, begging charity for subsistence.
- To keep on right road, he led his followers to call each other a Khalaysa (In Punjabi ‘one who remembers God Almighty exclusively, purely, totally or wholly). The same word with the same meaning appears in the Holy Qor-aan (038:047).
- To help devotees remember God khalaysatun, he set up in Golden Temple (India) a free food service (Lungar). It has continued for several centuries. The massacre by a Britisher killing hundreds, if not thousands, including unarmed kids and women in 1930’s didn’t stop it. Anthony Bourdain broadcast that in a CNN documentary. In Slough (England) I saw Sikhs practice their faith in a temple as they still do in Nankana Sahib (Pakistan).
In 1965 in Kabul, Afghanistan I observed while buying dry fruit that Sikhs practically dominated the entire dry-fruit market, and Moslems begged for charity from those Sikh shops.
In 1980’s in Mo and in 1990’s in Pa, USA I met Indian Sikhs who swore that nowhere in the world a Sikh could be seen begging. Sikh Faith requires to earn by working and not begging.
In 1990’s in Philadelphia, USA I had Sikh clients in my Law practice. I saw them not to beg. Never once any of them failed to pay the Attorney fee for services rendered. Never once any defaulted paying the scheduled payment when that had been prearranged.
In 2000’s in San Francisco, USA I rode with a Sikh cabdriver. He was born in China in a diplomat’s home, had never been to Punjab but fluently spoke Chinese and Punjabi like English.
Many jewels of the Teachings of Islam shine gloriously in the crown of Sikh Faith.
Religion, Islam and Sikhs
RELIGIONS
Islam and Sikhs
Baba Nanak was born a Hindu in Punjab but embraced Iss-laam. Sikhs consider him an auotar – a derivate of otar in Punjabi that means to come down or descend. It is like a rasool in Arabic or messenger in English. It is used for a recipient of divine inspirations or messages.
Baba Nanak went to Mekka to perform the once-a-lifetime-worship of a Moslem (See Commentary 5 Acts of worships or pillars of Islam). He was appalled during his Middle East travels when he saw members of his new community violating their own Teachings of Islam.
He found that remembrance of God Almighty repeatedly exhorted in the Holy Qor-aan was conspicuously missing among Moslems. He noticed ignorance prevail all around Moslem countries he visited. He saw beggary rampant, beggars begging everywhere, able-bodied men trying to live on the charity of others without doing any work. He felt urged to get rid of evil that had entered what the Holy Qor-aan had created. A new religion named Sikh (Khaalsa) was born.
In 1965 in Kabul, Afghanistan I observed while buying dry fruit that Sikhs practically dominated the entire dry-fruit market, and Moslems begged for charity from those Sikh shops.
In 1980’s in Mo and in 1990’s in Pa, USA I met Indian Sikhs who swore that nowhere in the world a Sikh could be seen begging. Sikh Faith requires to earn by working and not begging.
In 1990’s in Philadelphia, USA I had Sikh clients in my Law practice. I saw them not to beg. Never once any of them failed to pay the Attorney fee for services rendered. Never once any defaulted paying the scheduled payment when that had been prearranged.
In 2000’s in San Francisco, USA I rode with a Sikh cabdriver. He was born in China in a diplomat’s home, had never been to Punjab but fluently spoke Chinese and Punjabi like English.
Many jewels of the Teachings of Islam shine gloriously in the crown of Sikh Faith.
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