Alislam.org: By Ansar Raza
Thomas Patrick Hughes was a British missionary who worked in India from 1865 to 1884. He wrote many books including “Dictionary of Islām” wherein he added an article about “Sikhism”. The reason offered by him for adding an article about Sikhism in a book about Islam is that:
“…it is enough for the purposes of this article to have established the fact that Sikhism, in its inception, was intimately associated with Muhammadanism; and that it was intended as a means of bridging the gulf which separated the Hindus from the believers in the Prophet.”
The Promised Messiahas mentioning this work of Reverend Hughes in his book “Satt Bachan” (The True Word) writes:
“As some papers run by Sikhs spread this misconception that this book was written with some bad intention or to hurt the feelings, therefore it is pertinent to state that this book is written with all the good intentions and after thorough research. The basic aim of this book is to highlight his great piety and spiritualism and he completely separated himself from Hindu Vedas. He found that the God presented by Islām sparkles with Majesty, Power, Holiness and is Omnipotent. And it is because of his great piety that he declared his belief in Islām. That is because we stated those cogent reasons and proves of his belief. This view was also supported by many British scholars. This is the reason that we have included in this book extracts from Dictionary of Islām page (583-591) by Reverend Hughes which clearly state that Guru Baba Nanak was converted to Islām.” (Satt Bachan, inside title page, Rūhanī Khaza`in, vol-10, p.112)
The Promised Messiahas wrote this book, in 1895, refuting the allegations levelled against Bābā Nānak by Swāmi Dayānand Sarsawati, the Founder of ‘Arya Samāj’ sect of Hindūs, in his book “Satyārath Parkāsh”, clearing the mythological tales about Bābā Nānak, and further proving that he was a Muslim saint. To further the cause and mission of the Promised Messaihas, it is pertinent to present before next generations those sources he quoted.
In this humble effort, some relevant passages from the article “Sikhism” written by Reverend Hughes in his book “Dictionary of Islām” are being reproduced here to have more information about this subject. As mentioned above in his book, the Promised Messiahas has discussed three aspects of Bābā Nānak’s life:
- Refuting allegations levelled by Swāmi Dayānand;
- Clearing mythological and superficial tales from his biography; and
- Proving that Baba Nanak was a Muslim saint.
However, in this article, only one of the above aspects is being discussed, i.e., “Bābā Nānak was a Muslim saint.”
In the introduction, Reverend Hughes writes that Bābā Nānak intended to create a bridge and make a compromise between Hindūs and Muslims:
The literature and traditions of Sikhism present a strange intermingling of Hindū and Muhammadan ideas; and this is so palpably apparent that oven superficial inquirers have been led to conclude that Nānak purposely intended his creed to be a compromise between those two great religions.
A careful investigation of early Sikh traditions points strongly to the conclusion that the religion of Nānak was really intended as a compromise between Hindūism and Muhammadanism, if it may not even be spoken of as the religion of a Muhammadan sect. The very little that seems to be known as to the views of the early Sikh teachers, coupled with the decided opinion put forth by Dr. Trumpp, has made it necessary to give here a longer article on Sikhism than its importance with respect to lslām would have otherwise warranted; because it was necessary to establish the relationship which actually existed between the two faiths. It will be seen that the information given in this article is chiefly taken from original Panjabī books, and from manuscripts in (the India Office Library; and it is supported by the authority of the Ādi Granth, which is the sacred canon of the Sikhs.
Regarding the origin of Sikhism, Reverend Hughes is confident that it emerged out of Sufīsm and that Bābā Nānak was himself a Sufī. He writes:
The Janam-Sākhīs, or biographical sketches of Nānak and his associates, contain a profusion of curious traditions which throw considerable light on the origin and development of the Sikh religion. From these old books we learn that, in early life, Nānak, although a Hindu by birth, came under Sufī influence, and was strangely attracted by the saintly demeanour of the faqīrs who were thickly scattered over Northern India and swarmed in the Punjab…It is, therefore, only reasonable to suppose that any Hindū affected by Muhammadanism would show some traces of Sufī influence. As a fact, we find that the doctrines preached by the Sikh Gurus were distinctly Sufīistic and, indeed, the early Gurus openly assumed the manners and dress of faqīrs, thus plainly announcing their connection with the Sufīistic side of Muhammadanism. In pictures they are represented, with small rosaries in their hands, quite in Muhammadan fashion, as though ready to perform zikr.
Categories: Accepting Islam, Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Asia, ISLAM
We have responded to this claim that Nanak was a Muslim in detail here: http://www.islam-sikhism.info/hist/muslim/muslim01.htm
In short, there is not a spec of evidence to suggest that he was and plenty of evidence to show that he could never have been
The link provided by abu adeeba is an extra ordinary long article to prove that Nanak was not a Muslim and that the Sufis in Islam were fanatics, away from tauheed.
It says that article is done by sufficient scholarly investigation. That is not correct.
The mission of Bab Nanak sahib (Rh.a) to Makkah is not reasonably discussed.
Also, the information given in “Satt Bachan” (which I have not read yet) is not discussed or disproved. Then what is the use of all that lengthy writing. It is only to disgrace the Sufis and a man of God Baba Nanak.
Baba jee was a Hindu. He came over to Islam. Naturally the Hindus did not like it or like him. It is another bad habit of the Muslims to disown Baba Nanak, the saint of 600 years ago.
Will come back and add to my present comments, Insha Allah.
It is reported in books of history that Baba Nanak was presented in the court of King Babur. Baba sahib a.s. told the king Babur “Your children will rule in India for Seven generations….” How did the Baba Nanak sahib know that? Did he have some telephone link with the Ghaib.”
The Shariyat wielding Mullas oppressed the newly converted Muslims to go away from Islam. Many such maulvis have killed men of God due to small differences. The maulvis have their differing Fiqah and every sect has its own bundle of Hadith.
It is well known that there used to be four different prayer mats in Makkah in Baitullah, one for each sevt of Sunnis. i.e. Hanafis, Malikis, Shafi’is and Hanbalis. They did not pray together under one Imam. This was practiced until 150 years ago when Wahhabis arrived. How bad!
Also, we noted that every sect of Muslims had the edict (Fatwa) of Kufr for every other sect. Where were the scholars who have given opinion against Baba Nanak jee?? Where were they at that time?? That is what was done to Baba Nanak sahib a.s. and it is being done even now, it is perpetuated slander against a man of God, a haji sahib who had performed Hajj.
The problem is that the Mullas have not understood the real meaning of the words Momin, Munafiq, Muslim, Kafir, and the Murtadd. The real meaning of Kafir is not understood by them. I want to ask a question: “Any peaceful person of any faIth who has not recited the Kalimah Tayyabah, is he/she a Kafir??” Please reply as per teachings of the Quran.
Let us decide on that before passing judgment on Guru Baba Nanak sahib a.s. Wasslam.
Mr Ghulam Sarwar, had you bothered reading the aforelinked article, you’d have gathered that it’s a refutation of your namesakes infatuation with Guru Nanak from a purely theological perspective.
However, now that you’ve asked, here is a detailed deconstruction and refutation of the HISTORICAL EVIDENCE used by Ghulam Ahmad in support of his vacuous claim that Guru Nanak was a Muslim:
http://www.islam-sikhism.info/hist/ahmad/ahmad01.htm
It tackles the arguments from Sat Bachan including Ghulam Ahmad’s over reliance on the Bala Janam Sakhi, as well as articles published by other prominent Qadiani apologists.
We welcome any and all attempts at a rebuttal which you can email us at: islam_sikhism@yahoo.com
Thanks
Dear Abu Adeeba, I tried the first link. That was your complete failure because if you are a Muslim you are on wrong path.
You should know that the prophet s.a.w.s. gave good news about the coming of a Messiah in this Ummah. You seem to be ignoring all that.
You seem to be believing that prophet Jesus is still alive and he has not passed away.
The is a Hadith “Lam yabqa min an Nabuwwat illa Al-Mubashirat”. Nothing has remained of the prophethood except Good news. It means good news is an important part of prophethood and it still remains with the Muslims.
Can you tell me how those good news will come to us. Please consider my above points and reply. Then I will take up your matter about Baba Nanak sahib, the great Muslim saint.
In the meantime, I will try to read all that you have suggested. Wassalam.
Is that all you got in defending your Messiah?!
Oh dear!
“Fa buhit Allaathi kaffar” (Al-Qur’an)
And you say we failed.
“Inna haatha la shayun ‘ujaab.” (Al-Qur’an)
Well, we’ve thrown down the gauntlet; let’s see if the Ahmadiyya have the ability to respond 🙂
Abu Adeeba, you have come back after two weeks without any explanation of my following writings:
Please see again and reply according ly. Either deny or explain these things.
[1. You should know that the prophet s.a.w.s. gave good news about the coming of a Messiah in this Ummah. You seem to be ignoring all that.
2. You seem to be believing that prophet Jesus is still alive and he has not passed away.
3. There is a Hadith “Lam yabqa min an Nabuwwat illa Al-Mubashirat”. Nothing has remained of the prophethood except Good news. It means good news is an important part of prophethood and it still remains with the Muslims.]
Welcome Abu Adeeba, no hard feelings. Love for all Hatred for None. Wassalam.