Do Sikhs Fear God?

Should a Sikh Fear God?
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No, Sikhs love God. We leave all that fear based believing to others.

True Sikhs do not like fear.

Sikhs strive to do things out of love and devotion to God, not because we simply fear God's wrath.

That is the fundamental difference between Sikh philosophy and that of the Abrahamic doctrines.

Excellent post Benjamin.

This "fear" referred to in your quote. Is this the type of fear that characterises Abrahamic faiths? Is this a fear of punishment or eternal damnation?

Fear of a vengeful God? (nirvair)

Have you met many Sikhs? Is fear a key driving force of their faith?

The awe Sikhs hold God in (wah) and the desire to merge back with the eternal source are driving forces of Sikhism. If there were ever people who dispised fear in general it is Sikhs.

That being said, the only fear to condone is the fear of God. Not fear of any people or the threats of any belief systems no matter how much they claim to represent God's will.

Be careful not to interprete the bani you did in a manner that aligns Sikhism with similar ideological concepts to that represented by Islam or Christianity. There is a major distinction and difference that must be understood.

ਤੂੰ ਘਟ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਰਬ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਜੀ ਹਰਿ ਏਕੋ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਸਮਾਣਾ ॥
तूं घट घट अंतरि सरब निरंतरि जी हरि एको पुरखु समाणा ॥
Ŧūʼn gẖat gẖat anṯar sarab niranṯar jī har eko purakẖ samāṇā.
You are constant in each and every heart, and in all things. O Dear Lord, you are the One.

ਇਕਿ ਦਾਤੇ ਇਕਿ ਭੇਖਾਰੀ ਜੀ ਸਭਿ ਤੇਰੇ ਚੋਜ ਵਿਡਾਣਾ ॥
इकि दाते इकि भेखारी जी सभि तेरे चोज विडाणा ॥
Ik ḏāṯe ik bẖekẖārī jī sabẖ ṯere cẖoj vidāṇā.
Some are givers, and some are beggars. This is all Your Wondrous Play.

ਤੂੰ ਆਪੇ ਦਾਤਾ ਆਪੇ ਭੁਗਤਾ ਜੀ ਹਉ ਤੁਧੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ॥
तूं आपे दाता आपे भुगता जी हउ तुधु बिनु अवरु न जाणा ॥
Ŧūʼn āpe ḏāṯā āpe bẖugṯā jī ha▫o ṯuḏẖ bin avar na jāṇā.
You Yourself are the Giver, and You Yourself are the Enjoyer. I know no other than You.

ਤੂੰ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬੇਅੰਤੁ ਬੇਅੰਤੁ ਜੀ ਤੇਰੇ ਕਿਆ ਗੁਣ ਆਖਿ ਵਖਾਣਾ ॥
तूं पारब्रहमु बेअंतु बेअंतु जी तेरे किआ गुण आखि वखाणा ॥
Ŧūʼn pārbarahm be▫anṯ be▫anṯ jī ṯere ki▫ā guṇ ākẖ vakẖāṇā.
You are the Supreme Lord God, Limitless and Infinite. What Virtues of Yours can I speak of and describe?

ਜੋ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਜੋ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਤੁਧੁ ਜੀ ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਿਨ ਕੁਰਬਾਣਾ ॥੨॥
जो सेवहि जो सेवहि तुधु जी जनु नानकु तिन कुरबाणा ॥२॥
Jo sevėh jo sevėh ṯuḏẖ jī jan Nānak ṯin kurbāṇā. ||2||
Unto those who serve You, unto those who serve You, Dear Lord, servant Nanak is a sacrifice. ||2||

ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਤੁਧੁ ਜੀ ਸੇ ਜਨ ਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਸੁਖਵਾਸੀ ॥
हरि धिआवहि हरि धिआवहि तुधु जी से जन जुग महि सुखवासी ॥
Har ḏẖi▫āvahi har ḏẖi▫āvahi ṯuḏẖ jī se jan jug mėh sukẖvāsī.
Those who meditate on You, Lord, those who meditate on You-those humble beings dwell in peace in this world.

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ਸੇ ਮੁਕਤੁ ਸੇ ਮੁਕਤੁ ਭਏ ਜਿਨ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਜੀ ਤਿਨ ਤੂਟੀ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਫਾਸੀ ॥ से मुकतु से मुकतु भए जिन हरि धिआइआ जी तिन तूटी जम की फासी ॥ Se mukaṯ se mukaṯ bẖa▫e jin har ḏẖi▫ā▫i▫ā jī ṯin ṯūtī jam kī fāsī. They are liberated, they are liberated-those who meditate on the Lord. For them, the noose of death is cut away. ਜਿਨ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਜਿਨ ਹਰਿ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਜੀ ਤਿਨ ਕਾ ਭਉ ਸਭੁ ਗਵਾਸੀ ॥ जिन निरभउ जिन हरि निरभउ धिआइआ जी तिन का भउ सभु गवासी ॥ Jin nirbẖa▫o jin har nirbẖa▫o ḏẖi▫ā▫i▫ā jī ṯin kā bẖa▫o sabẖ gavāsī. Those who meditate on the Fearless One, on the Fearless Lord-all their fears are dispelled.

ਜਿਨ ਸੇਵਿਆ ਜਿਨ ਸੇਵਿਆ ਮੇਰਾ ਹਰਿ ਜੀ ਤੇ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਰੂਪਿ ਸਮਾਸੀ ॥
जिन सेविआ जिन सेविआ मेरा हरि जी ते हरि हरि रूपि समासी ॥
Jin sevi▫ā jin sevi▫ā merā har jī ṯe har har rūp samāsī.
Those who serve, those who serve my Dear Lord, are absorbed into the Being of the Lord, Har, Har.

ਸੇ ਧੰਨੁ ਸੇ ਧੰਨੁ ਜਿਨ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਜੀ ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਿਨ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਸੀ ॥੩॥
से धंनु से धंनु जिन हरि धिआइआ जी जनु नानकु तिन बलि जासी ॥३॥
Se ḏẖan se ḏẖan jin har ḏẖi▫ā▫i▫ā jī jan Nānak ṯin bal jāsī. ||3||
Blessed are they, blessed are they, who meditate on their Dear Lord. Servant Nanak is a sacrifice to them. ||3||

ਤੇਰੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਭੰਡਾਰ ਜੀ ਭਰੇ ਬਿਅੰਤ ਬੇਅੰਤਾ ॥
तेरी भगति तेरी भगति भंडार जी भरे बिअंत बेअंता ॥
Ŧerī bẖagaṯ ṯerī bẖagaṯ bẖandār jī bẖare bi▫anṯ be▫anṯā.
Devotion to You, devotion to You, is a treasure overflowing, infinite and beyond measure.

ਤੇਰੇ ਭਗਤ ਤੇਰੇ ਭਗਤ ਸਲਾਹਨਿ ਤੁਧੁ ਜੀ ਹਰਿ ਅਨਿਕ ਅਨੇਕ ਅਨੰਤਾ ॥
तेरे भगत तेरे भगत सलाहनि तुधु जी हरि अनिक अनेक अनंता ॥
Ŧere bẖagaṯ ṯere bẖagaṯ salāhan ṯuḏẖ jī har anik anek ananṯā.
Your devotees, Your devotees praise You, Dear Lord, in many and various and countless ways.

ਤੇਰੀ ਅਨਿਕ ਤੇਰੀ ਅਨਿਕ ਕਰਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਪੂਜਾ ਜੀ ਤਪੁ ਤਾਪਹਿ ਜਪਹਿ ਬੇਅੰਤਾ ॥
तेरी अनिक तेरी अनिक करहि हरि पूजा जी तपु तापहि जपहि बेअंता ॥
Ŧerī anik ṯerī anik karahi har pūjā jī ṯap ṯāpėh jāpėh be▫anṯā.
For You, many, for You, so very many perform worship services, O Dear Infinite Lord; they practice disciplined meditation and chant endlessly.

ਤੇਰੇ ਅਨੇਕ ਤੇਰੇ ਅਨੇਕ ਪੜਹਿ ਬਹੁ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸਾਸਤ ਜੀ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਿਆ ਖਟੁ ਕਰਮ ਕਰੰਤਾ ॥
तेरे अनेक तेरे अनेक पड़हि बहु सिम्रिति सासत जी करि किरिआ खटु करम करंता ॥
Ŧere anek ṯere anek paṛėh baho simriṯ sāsaṯ jī kar kiri▫ā kẖat karam karanṯā.
For You, many, for You, so very many read the various Simritees and Shaastras. They perform rituals and religious rites.

ਸੇ ਭਗਤ ਸੇ ਭਗਤ ਭਲੇ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਜੀ ਜੋ ਭਾਵਹਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਭਗਵੰਤਾ ॥੪॥
से भगत से भगत भले जन नानक जी जो भावहि मेरे हरि भगवंता ॥४॥
Se bẖagaṯ se bẖagaṯ bẖale jan Nānak jī jo bẖāvėh mere har bẖagvanṯā. ||4||
Those devotees, those devotees are sublime, O servant Nanak, who are pleasing to my Dear Lord God. ||4||

ਤੂੰ ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਅਪਰੰਪਰੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਜੀ ਤੁਧੁ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥
तूं आदि पुरखु अपर्मपरु करता जी तुधु जेवडु अवरु न कोई ॥
Ŧūʼn āḏ purakẖ aprampar karṯā jī ṯuḏẖ jevad avar na ko▫ī.
You are the Primal Being, the Most Wonderful Creator. There is no other as Great as You.

ਤੂੰ ਜੁਗੁ ਜੁਗੁ ਏਕੋ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਤੂੰ ਏਕੋ ਜੀ ਤੂੰ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਸੋਈ ॥
तूं जुगु जुगु एको सदा सदा तूं एको जी तूं निहचलु करता सोई ॥
Ŧūʼn jug jug eko saḏā saḏā ṯūʼn eko jī ṯūʼn nihcẖal karṯā so▫ī.
Age after age, You are the One. Forever and ever, You are the One. You never change, O Creator Lord.

ਤੁਧੁ ਆਪੇ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋਈ ਵਰਤੈ ਜੀ ਤੂੰ ਆਪੇ ਕਰਹਿ ਸੁ ਹੋਈ ॥
तुधु आपे भावै सोई वरतै जी तूं आपे करहि सु होई ॥
Ŧuḏẖ āpe bẖāvai so▫ī varṯai jī ṯūʼn āpe karahi so ho▫ī.
Everything happens according to Your Will. You Yourself accomplish all that occurs.

ਤੁਧੁ ਆਪੇ ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਸਭ ਉਪਾਈ ਜੀ ਤੁਧੁ ਆਪੇ ਸਿਰਜਿ ਸਭ ਗੋਈ ॥
तुधु आपे स्रिसटि सभ उपाई जी तुधु आपे सिरजि सभ गोई ॥
Ŧuḏẖ āpe sarisat sabẖ upā▫ī jī ṯuḏẖ āpe siraj sabẖ go▫ī.
You Yourself created the entire universe, and having fashioned it, You Yourself shall destroy it all.

ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ਕਰਤੇ ਕੇ ਜੀ ਜੋ ਸਭਸੈ ਕਾ ਜਾਣੋਈ ॥੫॥੧॥
जनु नानकु गुण गावै करते के जी जो सभसै का जाणोई ॥५॥१॥
Jan Nānak guṇ gāvai karṯe ke jī jo sabẖsai kā jāṇo▫ī. ||5||1||
Servant Nanak sings the Glorious Praises of the Dear Creator, the Knower of all. ||5||1||

Look at references to fear in bani holistically. From my understanding (which could be wrong), we fear God with the ultimate aim of eradicating all of our fears and living in a sehaj state.

If fear is an early motivator, shabad is designed to ultimately destroy it within a Sikh. Does this make sense?

Waheguru is the destroyer of our fears!

ਸ੍ਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
स्रीरागु महला ५ ॥
Sarīrāg mėhlā 5.
Siree Raag, Fifth Mehl:

ਸੋਈ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਜੀਅੜੇ ਸਿਰਿ ਸਾਹਾਂ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੁ ॥
सोई धिआईऐ जीअड़े सिरि साहां पातिसाहु ॥
So▫ī ḏẖi▫ā▫ī▫ai jī▫aṛe sir sāhāʼn pāṯisāhu.
Meditate on Him, O my soul; He is the Supreme Lord over kings and emperors.

ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਕੀ ਕਰਿ ਆਸ ਮਨ ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਸਭਸੁ ਵੇਸਾਹੁ ॥
तिस ही की करि आस मन जिस का सभसु वेसाहु ॥
Ŧis hī kī kar ās man jis kā sabẖas vesāhu.
Place the hopes of your mind in the One, in whom all have faith.

ਸਭਿ ਸਿਆਣਪਾ ਛਡਿ ਕੈ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਚਰਣੀ ਪਾਹੁ ॥੧॥
सभि सिआणपा छडि कै गुर की चरणी पाहु ॥१॥
Sabẖ si▫āṇpā cẖẖad kai gur kī cẖarṇī pāhu. ||1||
Give up all your clever tricks, and grasp the Feet of the Guru. ||1||

ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਸੁਖ ਸਹਜ ਸੇਤੀ ਜਪਿ ਨਾਉ ॥
मन मेरे सुख सहज सेती जपि नाउ ॥
Man mere sukẖ sahj seṯī jap nā▫o.
O my mind, chant the Name with intuitive peace and poise.

ਆਠ ਪਹਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਧਿਆਇ ਤੂੰ ਗੁਣ ਗੋਇੰਦ ਨਿਤ ਗਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
आठ पहर प्रभु धिआइ तूं गुण गोइंद नित गाउ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Āṯẖ pahar parabẖ ḏẖi▫ā▫e ṯūʼn guṇ go▫inḏ niṯ gā▫o. ||1|| rahā▫o.
Twenty-four hours a day, meditate on God. Constantly sing the Glories of the Lord of the Universe. ||1||Pause||

ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਸਰਨੀ ਪਰੁ ਮਨਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
तिस की सरनी परु मना जिसु जेवडु अवरु न कोइ ॥
Ŧis kī sarnī par manā jis jevad avar na ko▫e.
Seek His Shelter, O my mind; there is no other as Great as He.

ਜਿਸੁ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ਘਣਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਦਰਦੁ ਨ ਮੂਲੇ ਹੋਇ ॥
जिसु सिमरत सुखु होइ घणा दुखु दरदु न मूले होइ ॥
Jis simraṯ sukẖ ho▫e gẖaṇā ḏukẖ ḏaraḏ na mūle ho▫e.
Remembering Him in meditation, a profound peace is obtained. Pain and suffering will not touch you at all.

ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਕਰਿ ਚਾਕਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਚਾ ਸੋਇ ॥੨॥
सदा सदा करि चाकरी प्रभु साहिबु सचा सोइ ॥२॥
Saḏā saḏā kar cẖākrī parabẖ sāhib sacẖā so▫e. ||2||
Forever and ever, work for God; He is our True Lord and Master. ||2||

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਰਮਲਾ ਕਟੀਐ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਫਾਸ ॥
साधसंगति होइ निरमला कटीऐ जम की फास ॥
Sāḏẖsangaṯ ho▫e nirmalā katī▫ai jam kī fās.
In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, you shall become absolutely pure, and the noose of death shall be cut away.

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ਸੁਖਦਾਤਾ ਭੈ ਭੰਜਨੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਕਰਿ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ॥ सुखदाता भै भंजनो तिसु आगै करि अरदासि ॥ Sukẖ▫ḏāṯa bẖai bẖanjno ṯis āgai kar arḏās. So offer your prayers to Him, the Giver of Peace, the Destroyer of fear.

ਮਿਹਰ ਕਰੇ ਜਿਸੁ ਮਿਹਰਵਾਨੁ ਤਾਂ ਕਾਰਜੁ ਆਵੈ ਰਾਸਿ ॥੩॥
मिहर करे जिसु मिहरवानु तां कारजु आवै रासि ॥३॥
Mihar kare jis miharvān ṯāʼn kāraj āvai rās. ||3||
Showing His Mercy, the Merciful Master shall resolve your affairs. ||3||

ਬਹੁਤੋ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਵਖਾਣੀਐ ਊਚੋ ਊਚਾ ਥਾਉ ॥
बहुतो बहुतु वखाणीऐ ऊचो ऊचा थाउ ॥
Bahuṯo bahuṯ vakẖāṇī▫ai ūcẖo ūcẖā thā▫o.
The Lord is said to be the Greatest of the Great; His Kingdom is the Highest of the High.

ਵਰਨਾ ਚਿਹਨਾ ਬਾਹਰਾ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਕਹਿ ਨ ਸਕਾਉ ॥
वरना चिहना बाहरा कीमति कहि न सकाउ ॥
varnā cẖihnā bāhrā kīmaṯ kahi na sakā▫o.
He has no color or mark; His Value cannot be estimated.

ਨਾਨਕ ਕਉ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮਇਆ ਕਰਿ ਸਚੁ ਦੇਵਹੁ ਅਪੁਣਾ ਨਾਉ ॥੪॥੭॥੭੭॥
नानक कउ प्रभ मइआ करि सचु देवहु अपुणा नाउ ॥४॥७॥७७॥
Nānak ka▫o parabẖ ma▫i▫ā kar sacẖ ḏevhu apuṇā nā▫o. ||4||7||77||
Please show Mercy to Nanak, God, and bless him with Your True Name. ||4||7||77||

Benjamin

Before I respond, please answer my 2 simple questions:
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/interfaith-dialogues/25057-do-sikhs-fear-god.html

(1) Are you a Muslim who believes in the Prophet Mohhammad?
(2) Are you here to learn about Sikhism or do dawa?

I have just been reading the Gurmukhi and version and there is something lost in translation. The word should be more like say when someone is about to dive off a high spring board and one has apprehension/fear/respect kind of thing. Its more like a healthy respect.

It is not like the Abrahamic God where one should fear God vengeance fire and brimstone.