- Apr 8, 2010
- 1
- 0
I have many friends and acquaintances whom follow the Sikh religion. And by far they are all lovely people and I enjoy their company.
I am curious about all religions and like to find out and ask questions. I am not especially knowledgeable about any one religion, but I enjoy learning about them.
One thing I have noticed in my discussions is that whenever Islam amongst Sikhs is mentioned they suddenly get very emotional and start saying how bad Islam is and start abusing that faith. I have also noticed similar incidents on this forum whereby there is a lot of anti-Islam sentiments. Once again this is my personal opinion and from my own observations. I am NOT saying that all Sikhs are like this.
I want to understand the reasons for this. Is it because of the Mughal persecution of the Sikhs (which obviously is unacceptable)? If so how are the actions of the Mughals related to Islam? We have laws in Britain to ensure order is maintained, but there are some people who choose to contravene these laws. Likewise the Mughals chose to contravene the basic tenets of Islam. From what I have read of Islam it doesn’t condone forced conversion much like Sikhism and it doesn’t encourage the killing of innocent people (by suicide bombing or any other method) again something shared by the Sikhs. So what the Mughals did went against the basic teachings of Islam anyway, so could we even regard them as Muslims?
Also not every Mughal ruler persecuted the Sikhs, and some of the Mughal leaders were know to be tolerant of different religions. For example, the Englishman Edward Terry on his voyage to East India between 1616-1619, said of Mughal emperor Nur-ud-din Salim Jahangir, and his administration:
“In that empire all religions are tolerated. The Mogul would speak well of all of them; saying, that a man might be happy and safe in the profession of any religion; and therefore would say that the Mahometan religion was good, the Christian religion good, and the rest good; therefore the ministers of any religion find regard and esteem amongst the people. I shall speak something of this, from my own particular usage there, then very young, while I lived in those parts.” E. Terry (1777), A Voyage to East-India, (The New York Public Library, J. Wilkie), p.418.
Terry also recounts in his book a story that he witnessed of a man who was summoned in the presence of Jahangir after converting to Christianity. The Emperor attempted to convince him "to renounce his new profession" firstly by way of threats, and then with promises of riches. When Jahangir perceived that his resolution indeed was to be a Christian... he [Jahangir] bid him to continue, and with a reward discharged him".
“The Mughals were Muslims who ruled a country with a large Hindu majority. However for much of their empire they allowed Hindus to reach senior government or military positions.[…] The Mughals brought many changes to India[…]one of which were periods of great religious tolerance”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/mughalempire_1.shtml
Once more I don’t mean to offend anyone or the Sikh faith itself, but am interested in your responses. I hope no-one will be offensive in return to my honest search for answers.
I am curious about all religions and like to find out and ask questions. I am not especially knowledgeable about any one religion, but I enjoy learning about them.
One thing I have noticed in my discussions is that whenever Islam amongst Sikhs is mentioned they suddenly get very emotional and start saying how bad Islam is and start abusing that faith. I have also noticed similar incidents on this forum whereby there is a lot of anti-Islam sentiments. Once again this is my personal opinion and from my own observations. I am NOT saying that all Sikhs are like this.
I want to understand the reasons for this. Is it because of the Mughal persecution of the Sikhs (which obviously is unacceptable)? If so how are the actions of the Mughals related to Islam? We have laws in Britain to ensure order is maintained, but there are some people who choose to contravene these laws. Likewise the Mughals chose to contravene the basic tenets of Islam. From what I have read of Islam it doesn’t condone forced conversion much like Sikhism and it doesn’t encourage the killing of innocent people (by suicide bombing or any other method) again something shared by the Sikhs. So what the Mughals did went against the basic teachings of Islam anyway, so could we even regard them as Muslims?
Also not every Mughal ruler persecuted the Sikhs, and some of the Mughal leaders were know to be tolerant of different religions. For example, the Englishman Edward Terry on his voyage to East India between 1616-1619, said of Mughal emperor Nur-ud-din Salim Jahangir, and his administration:
“In that empire all religions are tolerated. The Mogul would speak well of all of them; saying, that a man might be happy and safe in the profession of any religion; and therefore would say that the Mahometan religion was good, the Christian religion good, and the rest good; therefore the ministers of any religion find regard and esteem amongst the people. I shall speak something of this, from my own particular usage there, then very young, while I lived in those parts.” E. Terry (1777), A Voyage to East-India, (The New York Public Library, J. Wilkie), p.418.
Terry also recounts in his book a story that he witnessed of a man who was summoned in the presence of Jahangir after converting to Christianity. The Emperor attempted to convince him "to renounce his new profession" firstly by way of threats, and then with promises of riches. When Jahangir perceived that his resolution indeed was to be a Christian... he [Jahangir] bid him to continue, and with a reward discharged him".
“The Mughals were Muslims who ruled a country with a large Hindu majority. However for much of their empire they allowed Hindus to reach senior government or military positions.[…] The Mughals brought many changes to India[…]one of which were periods of great religious tolerance”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/mughalempire_1.shtml
Once more I don’t mean to offend anyone or the Sikh faith itself, but am interested in your responses. I hope no-one will be offensive in return to my honest search for answers.
