Sikhism and Islam: comparative religious traditions

Religion

Sikhism

Sikhism was a protest movement against upper castes discrimination and became popular in the larger communities. Over time, Sikhism began being identified with social justice (7 Dalits -- on the Margins of Development, n.d).

The word Sikhism was derived from Sikh which means a strong and able disciple. There are about 23 million Sikhs around the world. This makes Sikhism the 5th largest religion in the world. There are approximately 19 million Sikhs who live in India, primarily in the state of Punjab. Sikhs are also present in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Sikhs are a noteworthy minority in Malaysia and Singapore. Here they are sometimes ridiculed for their distinctive appearance, but respected for their work ethic and high education standards. Sikhism materialized in 16th-century India in an environment that was heavily saturated with conflicts between the Hindu and Muslim religions. It was somewhat influenced by reform movements in Hinduism as well as some Sufi Muslim influences (Overview of Sikhism, 2009).

The Sikh religious tradition was founded over five hundred years ago by Guru Nanak. . Nanak was born in a village in the Punjab which is known as the Land of Five Rivers. He was born into a middle class Hindu family of the Kshatriya warrior caste. The prevailing religious, social and political circumstances of the fifteenth-century Punjab had a great impact on this precocious, sensitive, pragmatic mind. Nanak refused to passively accept of the sham ritualistic and dogmatic aspects of any religion. His focus was on the essence of spiritual purity and moral character, and on the social realities circumscribing and afflicting the subcontinent of India and beyond (Singh, 2000).

There were two religions that dominated India at the time of Nanak's birth. Hinduism was followed by the subjugated and demoralized majority. Islam was the religion of the rulers, who were descendants of Muslim conquerors who had been invading India for centuries. Ideological and attitudinal differences had created a gulf between believers of these two faiths, generating friction and confrontation. The political belligerence and religious intolerance of the rulers were compounded by the ritualized social inequities of the indigenous society's infamous caste system. For the victims of this system of human categorization, the only hope was to perform the duties of one's hierarchical position in this life without protest in the expectation that one would thereby earn some kind of recompense in the next life (Singh, 2000).

Guru Nanak, who was a man of compassionate vision, was determined to fight these circumstances that were oppressing his countrymen. His approach was based on ecumenical dialogue and reasoned argument aimed at relieving the plight of the common person. Such improvement was to be achieved by fostering moral and spiritual regeneration to yield a spirit of mutuality, tolerance, understanding and empathy (Singh, 2000).

Guru Nanak and his follower's attribute Sikhism's origin to the reformation of Hinduism under Islamic influence. Its founder was deeply attracted by Islamic teachings. He learned Persian and Sufi doctrines from Syed Hasan Shah. He is also reported to have been closely associated with six other Muslim mystics of his time (Ali Nadwi, 2008).

Under his leadership and that of his nine successors Sikhism prospered. It combined aspects of Hinduism and Islam, and is called a religion of the gurus. It sought a union with God through worship and service. God was believed to be the true Guru, and his divine word has come to humanity through the 10 historical gurus (Sikhism, n.d.).

The Gurus are thought to be the mediators of divine grace. The term Sikh originated from the Sanskrit word for disciple or learner. Sikhs are disciples to the Guru. Sikhism originated in the Punjab region of northwest India, where it drew on elements from Bhakti Hinduism and Islamic Sufism in order to develop into a distinctive religious tradition in its own right. Sikhs believe that release from the karmic cycle of rebirths occurs in the merging of the human spirit with the all-embracing spirit of God. Religious worship involves consideration of the divine Name. "The ultimate deity is known by several names: Sat (truth), Sat Guru (true Guru), Akal Purakh (timeless being), Kartar (creator), and Wahi-Guru ("praise to the Guru"). By concentrating on God's Name (or many titles), one conquers the ego and unites with God" (Islam in Sikhism, n.d.).

The compilation of the Sikh scriptures began in 1604 by the Fifth Guru. The last of the ten Gurus, Guru Gobind Singh, announced that he would be the last personal Guru and that after that Sikhs were to regard the Adi Granth as their teacher. This sacred book is thought to be the living embodiment of all ten Gurus and is therefore the focus of worship in all Sikh temples. The Adi Granth, though never claiming to be a revealed scripture, is made up of three main parts. A long poem by Nanak, that sums up the elements of Sikhism. A collection of Ragas, or songs that were written by the first five Gurus and a mixed collection of commentaries that elaborated on the Ragas together with hymns of many Hindu saints and Sufi mystics (Islam in Sikhism, n.d.).

Since the beginning of the Sikh religion the faith has been built upon the message of the oneness of Creation. Sikhism believes that an almighty God created the universe. He is believed to be creator and master of all forms of the universe, responsible for all modes of nature and all elements of the world. Sikhism firmly believes God to be the source of the birth, life and death of all things (Davis, 2007).

The great Kabir was born a Muslim but converted to Hinduism through the wisdom of Srila Ramananda. His spiritual path included elements from Islamic Sufism and various Hindu sects. Some of Kabir's hymns are contained in the Guru Granth Sahib. Some believed that Kabir may have been Guru Nanak's Guru. It was thought that the perfect Guru is illumined by God (Singh, 2008).

Sikhism emphasises the belief in One Supreme Being or Creator. It suggests a simple straight path to eternal bliss and spreads a message of love and universal brotherhood. Sikhs believe that the way to lead a good life is to do the following: