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Love & Justice: Week 3 - Historical Influences of the Era

Wednesday
,
10
June
2020

While it is true that Guru Nanak Sahib regularly engaged with the beliefs and practices of Muslims and Hindus, the notion that Sikhi is simply a blend or revision of these faiths is misguided.

There are many secondary texts about Sikhi, written by Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike, that attempt to categorize Sikhi as a “syncretic” faith that blends elements of Islam and Hinduism.

While it is true that Guru Nanak Sahib regularly engaged with the beliefs and practices of Muslims and Hindus, the notion that Sikhi is simply a blend or revision of these faiths is misguided. In Guru Nanak Sahib’s own words, na koi Hindu na koi Musalman (there is no Hindu; there is no Muslim). These were his first words upon realizing IkOankar (1-Ness), the central paradigm around which Sikhi is built.

This course is an immersive introduction into the principles of the Sikh faith told through the primary source of the Guru Granth Sahib and secondary historic texts on the life of Guru Nanak Sahib. This course has been created with an audience of young adults in mind.

The Sikh Research Institute recognizes its ethical responsibility to promptly correct any factual small or large errors. Please get in touch with us via email to request a correction if you have identified a mistake.

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In This Video

Asha Marie Kaur

Research Assistant

Asha Marie Kaur is a Research Assistant with SikhRI. She has a BA in Political Science and International Studies from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she was born and raised.

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