Sikhism and Hinduism in Islamic Perspective

Sikhism and Hinduism in Islamic Perspective

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His
Messenger.

Dr. Muhammad M. Abu Laylah, professor of Islamic Studies and Comparative
Religions at Al-Azhar University, states the following:

"Sikhism is a very recent sect although its adherents call it a religion.
The founder of Sikhism is Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who took materials and
principles from Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam and perhaps from other
religions.

The founder of this sect was very close to Islam. It is said that he visited
Makkah and to a certain degree some people thought that he was approaching
Islam at the very beginning.

Sikhism is widespread in India, and Sikhs have large communities in England
and America. They offer their worship in the same way as Hindus do (i.e., in
a temple). They have a Holy Book, and they take care of it by putting it in
a special way inside their temples. Their tradition is close to the Hindu
tradition. Some Hindu priests leave their hair uncut and wear a bracelet
around their wrists. Some baptized people from among the Sikhs are required
to keep their hair uncut.

We consider Sikhism as a tradition rather than a religion. Sikhs are trying
to fight for independence from India and to have their own independent
state. They stand by some values, which brings them close to Islam and other
religions. But we do not acknowledge any religion after Islam.

Islam acknowledges that Allah sent a Prophet to every nation and that every
Prophet spoke the same language that was widespread among the people he was
sent to. There is no direct indication in the Qur'an or the Sunnah about
Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism. However, there are many common elements
between such sects and polytheism. Also, there are many misconceptions
regarding God, and those misconceptions are shared between Sikhism and
polytheism.

The core of the Hindu religion is reincarnation, i.e., that man has many
lives and he can appear in the shape of another man or an animal to suffer
or to enjoy according to his deeds and works in his previous life.

It is needless to say here that the doctrine of reincarnation is totally
rejected in Islam. The Hindus also believe in Nirvana, i.e., that the good
righteous people are embodied in god, and this is also entirely rejected in
Islam. We believe that righteous people will enter Paradise as a reward for
their righteousness.

Having stated the above, I would like to add that the Indians have their
rich and abundant traditions like Muslims, and many Indians stick to basic
human values. They have many wise and religious people. That is why Muslim
scholars benefit from their culture like Kalilah Wa Dimnah that were
translated by Ibn Al-Muqaffa`. We can trace some wise sayings in the Arabic
sources back to their Indian origins. But we should guard ourselves against
polytheism demonstrated in the "godhead" that is unique in the Indian
religions.

When Islam entered India, the Indians were free to practice their religions
and lead their lives according to their traditions. The Muslim rulers never
compelled anyone of them to accept Islam or to change his identity or to
detest his way of life.

It is useful here to refer you to Al-Biruni's book "Tahqiq Ma lilhind min
Maqulah Maqbulah fi Al-`Aql wa Mardhulah", which is available in both Arabic
and English. In it, Al-Biruni clearly reviews the Indian history and
civilization in a critical and academic way."


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