Who are Sikhs?

The word Sikh means ‘disciple’ or ‘learner.’ The Sikh religion was founded in the fifteenth century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Sikhism is monotheistic and stresses the equality of all men and women. Sikhs believe in three basic principles; meditating on the name of God (praying), earning a living by honest means as well as sharing the fruits of one’s labor with others. Sikhism rejects caste and class systems and emphasizes service to humanity. Turbans are worn to cover our long hair and with respect to God. The Sikh faith teaches us the humanitarian principles of freedom, equality, and justice. There are about 25 million Sikhs in the world. Sikhs have been in the United States for over 100 years. Sikhism recognizes the universal truths that underlie all human endeavors, religions and belief systems. The universal nature of the Sikh way of life reaches out to people of all faiths and cultural backgrounds, encouraging us to see beyond our differences and to work together for world peace and harmony.

A Sikh is a man of love, equality & peace. They protect belong to all religions & races. Their Turban is their crown, uniform, a Symbol against depression. 83000 Sikhs soldiers died fighting in the World wars! Sikhs By far the community which has Lowest number of people imprisoned. They are not criminals or terrorist.They are Law abiding citizen. 58000 Gurdwaras prepare 6 Million meals a day. Its in their blood to fight against tyranny. Their Gurus gave his life so that everyone could practice his faith with freedom.

Sikhism is a practical religion and Sikhs are a pragmatic people. The emphasis is on a leading a worldly, successful life as a householder and a contributing member of society, but with the mind attuned to an awareness of God. Sikhism rejects all distinctions based on caste, creed, gender, color, race, or national origin. For Sikhs, God is not found in isolation or by renouncing the world, but is attained as an active family member and member of one’s community. The word “Sikh” means student. Therefore, a Sikh is and remains a student of the meaning of life.

The Sikh faith is committed to the equality of women, and necessarily so, as it defines God as gender neutral, perhaps one of the few major world religions to do so. There is no activity in a Gurdwara or within the community that is permitted to a man but not to a woman. There is no religious function from which women are barred at any time of their lives. Sikh spirituality is centered round this need to understand and experience God, and eventually become one with God.

The Sikh Gurus promoted all human beings as one and the same, and they are all above discrimination. The Gurus showed real love for all of humanity. Muslims were equally dear to them as Hindus, or any others.

It is well known that Bhai Mardana a Muslim, spent his whole adult life with Guru Nanak, accompanying the Guru with his Rabab as a musician and the Guru’s closest companion everywhere that the Guru went.

The foundation of Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar – the premier Sikh shrine, was laid by a Muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir. Guru Arjun Dev incorporated in Guru Granth Sahib – the Sikh Holy Book, hymns of God-oriented saints – both Hindus as well as Muslims. Hymns of any saint that found a place in this Holy Book, are honored like those of the Gurus, and every Sikh bows equally in reverence to all of them.

The Sikh faith is a faith of learning and spiritual self-improvement; of dialogue; of intellectual evolution and certainly not of “conversion”; a person becomes a Sikh by choice and certainly not by compulsion or with inducements or incentives or by any other devices. It is a truly interfaith approach to religion undertaken in a way where the universal unity of the human spirit is honored. Sikhi promoted interfaith principles when the word ‘interfaith’ did not exist!

~ Tapasleen Kaur