Re: Email- Sikh History -Conflict between Muslims and the Sikhs.
Posted by Yuktanand Singh
Re: Email- Sikh History -Conflict between Muslims and the Sikhs.
Posted by Yuktanand Singh on Wednesday, 9/22/1999 6:11 PM MDT
| Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa! Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh! I wonder if this topic would be too serious for a "young" girl. I know that the following will not help in learning details of the Sikh fights during the different periods. However, the task of reminding us the principles of Sikh faith, and the reason for their fights, falls on our own shoulders. Before we study any conflicts, we must not forget that, the reasons of conflicts among different segments of the human society are many, and they are shared by the masses belonging to all religions. Often, the fights appear as a religious conflict, while in fact, one, or both of the religions involved would have never promoted such an activity. Where there are no religions, people find other reasons to segregate themselves and fight each other. Second, the Sikh Gurus were not against any religion. They were only against the hostility generated by differences in the religious practices. For this reason they refused to conform to the Hindu as well as Muslim practices. They did not instigate or condone a religious conflict. The Sikhs are not to be hostile, whether on the basis of religion or otherwise, towards anyone. However, the masses do not always follow the principles taught by their teachers. The Muslim rulers forced the people of their kingdoms to convert into Islam. The Sikhs refused to submit, resulting in torture and martyrdom of countless Sikhs. This resulted also in attempts at conversion, torture and martyrdom of the Fifth Sikh Master, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, martyrdom of the Ninth Master, Guru Teg Bahadur, at the hands of the Mogul emperors, and fights with the Tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Despite all this the Gurus honored so many pious Muslims. This relationship was reciprocal. The Gurus never asked those Muslims to convert into Sikhs. Writings of the Muslim Saint, as well as the Hindu Saints are included in the Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib. It is important to remember also that the Sikh Gurus gave shelter to anyone seeking refuge from the oppression of the three Mogul emperors succeeding Akbar, regardless of the religious or political affiliation of the person seeking it. They did so despite the persecution they had to face as a consequence of their compassion and impartiality. This gave the Mogul rulers an excuse to torture the Sikhs as "traitors." The Sikh principles stand against intolerance, bigotry, and forced conversion, regardless of the religion of the persecuted. As a last resort, the Gurus taught the Sikhs to fight and actively resist such acts. This is why Sikh faith is a warrior faith. Conversion of non-believers 'by any means' is a characteristic of religions of the Semitic origin. On the other hand, the Sikh Gurus teach that religious labels are superfluous. One can be truthful before God and be redeemed, while continuing to belong to any religion. Converting to a certain religion, or verbal affirmations of some teaching, do not change a person's chance of redemption by a single iota. The Gurbani explains what constitutes a true Muslim in the eyes of God. (SGGS pp. 140, 141, 480, 483, 662, 1084, and 1159-60) These pages can be read in English, here: http://www.sikhs.org/english/frame.html According to the Sikh Gurus, we need to re-establish direct and inner relationship with God, rise above the bigotry customs and rituals practiced in the guise of different religions, engage in deeds that promote this relationship, and shun those acts that would harm it. In short, love one another and not lose sight of the same God hidden in everyone. Those individuals, who are successful in doing so, recognize and respect others on the similar path, regardless of their "religion". For the purpose of non-Sikhs, Sikh Guru's teaching is quite that simple. Their own life was embodiment of this simple truth. People from all religions need to understand this. The order of Khalsa Panth was established to promote a harmony among religions, not fights. It emerged as a necessity. The rules of Khalsa lifestyle preserve the Sikhs of this order as a distinct entity, to prevent assimilation of the Sikh teaching into some "religion," and to enable the Sikhs to fight religious persecution for everyone, everywhere. Khalsa is not here to fight against any religion. Anyone, including any Sikhs, who pretends to do so, is mistaken. So, from a Sikh's biased view, the title "Conflict between Muslims and Sikhs" seems to be flawed. It is would feed the ignorance that exists already among these groups. Perhaps, a title "Conflicts between Muslim rulers and Sikhs" would be more appropriate. Humbly Yuktanand Singh PS: Here are some web-sites: http://www.dancris.com/sikh/ (A book on history of the Gurus) http://www.sikh-history.com/ (A little hard to navigate) http://photon.bu.edu/~rajwi/sikhism/mansukh4.html (For history after the Gurus) |
