Golden Temple in Amritsar, India. Suggested reading: What Every Muslim, Christian and Jew needs to know: The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath
By Alaa Elassar, CNN
(CNN) Two Canadian doctors of the Sikh faith have made the difficult decision to shave off their beards — a pillar of their faith — to continue treating Covid-19 patients.
Their decision has sparked a conversation among Sikhs, especially health care workers, who say there are alternatives to shaving.
Dr. Sanjeet Singh-Saluja, an emergency doctor and physician at McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montreal, said he and his brother, also a doctor, shaved their beards so they could properly wear N95 face masks that offer protection from the coronavirus.
“One of the pillars of the Sikh faith is Seva, which is service to mankind. I have always viewed my work at the MUHC as a chance for me to fulfill my faith’s expectations of service,” Singh-Saluja said in a video explaining his decision.
“However, another pillar of the faith, as many of you know, is Kesh, which is the practice of allowing one’s hair to grow naturally out of respect for the perfection of God’s creation. In this time of pandemic, I am faced with an existential crisis as the latter has severely limited my ability to serve.”
Dr. Zia H Shah, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times
Suggested reading by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times
What Every Muslim, Christian and Jew needs to know: The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath
Baba Guru Nanak: A Saintly Bridge Between Hinduism and Islam
Sikhs To The Rescue Again: Community Cooks Free Meals For Over 30,000 In Isolation In New York
Movie: Appealing to God, a Disoriented Space Alien Hopes There’s Help Out There
A Sikh MP in Defense of the Muslim Hijab in UK Parliament
Muhammad: A Messiah for Our Time, By Khushwant Singh
Video: Daily Iftaar in Dubai Sikh Gurudwara
Categories: Fundamentalism, Health, Interfaith tolerance, Monotheism, Secularism, The Muslim Times