ExploringSikhi
SPNer
- Aug 13, 2013
- 60
- 94
Sat Sri Akal everyone,
some of you may recall my first thread on this forum in which I got the impression that most, if not all of you, reject the concepts of miracles in Sikhism. Indeed, I have been reading other threads on this site in which members say that they like Sikhism because it is the only religion which does not require them to suspend their disbelief and accept things they know are impossible.
The story of Guru Nanak going to Mecca was one of the first I came across a few months ago when I first started researching Sikhism. Of course I didn't believe it, but all the Sikhs I was interacting with did believe it, which made me think that perhaps this religion wasn't for me. However, since my time on SPN, I have found a different 'brand' of Sikhism, one which is more appealing to me because it rejects the rituals/susperstitions I have found in other parts of the Panth.
The problem I have come across is that the story of Guru Nanak going to Mecca and making it spin around is not just any other story, it is actually recorded in the work of Bhai Gurdas. For those of you who may not know, he is considered to be the premiere SIkh historian, or at least that's what I have heard from other Sikhs. In his Vaars, Bhai Gurdas records:
ਬਾਬਾ ਫਿਰਿ ਮਕੇ ਗਇਆ ਨੀਲ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਧਾਰੇ ਬਨਵਾਰੀ।
Baabaa Dhiri Makay Gaiaa Neel Basatr Dhaaray Banavaaree.
बाबा फिरि मੴके गइआ नील बसत्र धारे बनवारी ।
Donning blue attire then Baba Nanak went to Mecca.
1 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੧
ਆਸਾ ਹਥਿ ਕਿਤਾਬ ਕਛਿ ਕੂਜਾ ਬਾਂਗ ਮੁਸਲਾ ਧਾਰੀ।
Aasaa Hadi Kitaab Kachhi Koojaa Baang Mousalaa Dhaaree.
आसा हथि किताब कछि कूजा बांग मुसੴला धारी ।
He held staff in his hand, pressed a book under his armpit, caught hold of a metal pot and mattress.
2 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੨
ਬੈਠਾ ਜਾਇ ਮਸੀਤ ਵਿਚਿ ਜਿਥੈ ਹਾਜੀ ਹਜਿ ਗੁਜਾਰੀ।
Baitdaa Jaai Maseet Vichi Jidai Haajee Haji Gujaaree.
बैठा जाइ मसीत विचि जिथै हाजी हजि गुजारी ।
Now he sat in a mosque where the pilgrms (hajis) had gathered.
3 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੩
ਜਾ ਬਾਬਾ ਸੁਤਾ ਰਾਤਿ ਨੋ ਵਲਿ ਮਹਰਾਬੇ ਪਾਇ ਪਸਾਰੀ।
Jaa Baabaa Soutaa Raati No Vali Maharaabay Paai Pasaaree.
जा बाबा सुता राति नो वलि महराबे पाइ पसारी ।
When Baba (Nanak) slept in the night spreading his legs towards the alcove of mosque at Kaba,
4 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੪
ਜੀਵਣਿ ਮਾਰੀ ਲਤਿ ਦੀ ਕੇਹੜਾ ਸੁਤਾ ਕੁਫਰ ਕੁਫਾਰੀ?
Jeevani Maaree Lati Dee Kayharhaa Soutaa Kudhar Kudhaaree.
जीवणि मारी लति दी केहड़ा सुता कुफर कुफारी ।
The qazi named Jivan kicked him and asked who was this infidel enacting blasphemy.
5 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੫
ਲਤਾ ਵਲਿ ਖੁਦਾਇਦੇ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਪਇਆ ਹੋਇ ਬਜਿਗਾਰੀ।
Lataa Vali Khudaai Day Kiu Kari Paiaa Hoi Bajigaaree.
लता वलि खुदाइ दे किउ करि पइआ होइ बजिगारी ।
Why this sinner is sleeping his legs spread towards God, Khuda.
6 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੬
ਟੰਗੋਂ ਪਕੜਿ ਘਸੀਟਿਆ ਫਿਰਿਆ ਮਕਾ ਕਲਾ ਦਿਖਾਰੀ।
Tangon Pakarhi Ghaseetiaa Dhiriaa Makaa Kalaa Dikhaaree.
टंगों पकड़ि घसीटिआ फिरिआ मੴका कला दिखारी ।
Catching hold of the legs he lynched (Baba Nanak) and lo and behold the miracle, the whole of Mecca seemed to be revolving.
7 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੭
ਹੋਇ ਹੈਰਾਨੁ ਕਰੇਨਿ ਜੁਹਾਰੀ ॥੩੨॥
Hoi Hairaanu Karayni Juhaaree ॥32॥
होइ हैरानु करेनि जुहारी ॥३२॥
All got surprised and they all bowed.
8 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੮
Source: http://searchgurbani.com/bhai_gurdas_vaaran/vaar/1/pauri/32
There appear to be two issues with the above recording (I have put them in bold):
1) Muslims do not believe that Allah resides in the Kabbah, so even if Guru Nanak was pointing his feet towards the Kabbah, no one would have said "why is this infidel pointing his feet towards God." They may have been annoyed, but surely they must have known enough about their own religion to be aware that nothing in the Qur'an or Sunnah says that Allah resides in the Kabbah. I do not know why that is in there.
2) The second issue, a miracle. Bhai Gurdas says "lo and behold the miracle", it was as if Mecca was spinning around.
I have seen Bhai Gurdas' work be used in discussion on SPN before, so clearly he is a respected figure in the religion, even on this forum.
How do the Sikhs on SPN reconcile the notion of no miracles with the miracle described above by Bhai Gurdas? Why would a Qazi, someone who is supposed to be a judge/expert on Islamic law and philosophy, make such a novice mistake by suggesting that Allah resides in the Kabbah?
some of you may recall my first thread on this forum in which I got the impression that most, if not all of you, reject the concepts of miracles in Sikhism. Indeed, I have been reading other threads on this site in which members say that they like Sikhism because it is the only religion which does not require them to suspend their disbelief and accept things they know are impossible.
The story of Guru Nanak going to Mecca was one of the first I came across a few months ago when I first started researching Sikhism. Of course I didn't believe it, but all the Sikhs I was interacting with did believe it, which made me think that perhaps this religion wasn't for me. However, since my time on SPN, I have found a different 'brand' of Sikhism, one which is more appealing to me because it rejects the rituals/susperstitions I have found in other parts of the Panth.
The problem I have come across is that the story of Guru Nanak going to Mecca and making it spin around is not just any other story, it is actually recorded in the work of Bhai Gurdas. For those of you who may not know, he is considered to be the premiere SIkh historian, or at least that's what I have heard from other Sikhs. In his Vaars, Bhai Gurdas records:
ਬਾਬਾ ਫਿਰਿ ਮਕੇ ਗਇਆ ਨੀਲ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਧਾਰੇ ਬਨਵਾਰੀ।
Baabaa Dhiri Makay Gaiaa Neel Basatr Dhaaray Banavaaree.
बाबा फिरि मੴके गइआ नील बसत्र धारे बनवारी ।
Donning blue attire then Baba Nanak went to Mecca.
1 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੧
ਆਸਾ ਹਥਿ ਕਿਤਾਬ ਕਛਿ ਕੂਜਾ ਬਾਂਗ ਮੁਸਲਾ ਧਾਰੀ।
Aasaa Hadi Kitaab Kachhi Koojaa Baang Mousalaa Dhaaree.
आसा हथि किताब कछि कूजा बांग मुसੴला धारी ।
He held staff in his hand, pressed a book under his armpit, caught hold of a metal pot and mattress.
2 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੨
ਬੈਠਾ ਜਾਇ ਮਸੀਤ ਵਿਚਿ ਜਿਥੈ ਹਾਜੀ ਹਜਿ ਗੁਜਾਰੀ।
Baitdaa Jaai Maseet Vichi Jidai Haajee Haji Gujaaree.
बैठा जाइ मसीत विचि जिथै हाजी हजि गुजारी ।
Now he sat in a mosque where the pilgrms (hajis) had gathered.
3 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੩
ਜਾ ਬਾਬਾ ਸੁਤਾ ਰਾਤਿ ਨੋ ਵਲਿ ਮਹਰਾਬੇ ਪਾਇ ਪਸਾਰੀ।
Jaa Baabaa Soutaa Raati No Vali Maharaabay Paai Pasaaree.
जा बाबा सुता राति नो वलि महराबे पाइ पसारी ।
When Baba (Nanak) slept in the night spreading his legs towards the alcove of mosque at Kaba,
4 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੪
ਜੀਵਣਿ ਮਾਰੀ ਲਤਿ ਦੀ ਕੇਹੜਾ ਸੁਤਾ ਕੁਫਰ ਕੁਫਾਰੀ?
Jeevani Maaree Lati Dee Kayharhaa Soutaa Kudhar Kudhaaree.
जीवणि मारी लति दी केहड़ा सुता कुफर कुफारी ।
The qazi named Jivan kicked him and asked who was this infidel enacting blasphemy.
5 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੫
ਲਤਾ ਵਲਿ ਖੁਦਾਇਦੇ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਪਇਆ ਹੋਇ ਬਜਿਗਾਰੀ।
Lataa Vali Khudaai Day Kiu Kari Paiaa Hoi Bajigaaree.
लता वलि खुदाइ दे किउ करि पइआ होइ बजिगारी ।
Why this sinner is sleeping his legs spread towards God, Khuda.
6 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੬
ਟੰਗੋਂ ਪਕੜਿ ਘਸੀਟਿਆ ਫਿਰਿਆ ਮਕਾ ਕਲਾ ਦਿਖਾਰੀ।
Tangon Pakarhi Ghaseetiaa Dhiriaa Makaa Kalaa Dikhaaree.
टंगों पकड़ि घसीटिआ फिरिआ मੴका कला दिखारी ।
Catching hold of the legs he lynched (Baba Nanak) and lo and behold the miracle, the whole of Mecca seemed to be revolving.
7 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੭
ਹੋਇ ਹੈਰਾਨੁ ਕਰੇਨਿ ਜੁਹਾਰੀ ॥੩੨॥
Hoi Hairaanu Karayni Juhaaree ॥32॥
होइ हैरानु करेनि जुहारी ॥३२॥
All got surprised and they all bowed.
8 ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੩੨ ਪੰ. ੮
Source: http://searchgurbani.com/bhai_gurdas_vaaran/vaar/1/pauri/32
There appear to be two issues with the above recording (I have put them in bold):
1) Muslims do not believe that Allah resides in the Kabbah, so even if Guru Nanak was pointing his feet towards the Kabbah, no one would have said "why is this infidel pointing his feet towards God." They may have been annoyed, but surely they must have known enough about their own religion to be aware that nothing in the Qur'an or Sunnah says that Allah resides in the Kabbah. I do not know why that is in there.
2) The second issue, a miracle. Bhai Gurdas says "lo and behold the miracle", it was as if Mecca was spinning around.
I have seen Bhai Gurdas' work be used in discussion on SPN before, so clearly he is a respected figure in the religion, even on this forum.
How do the Sikhs on SPN reconcile the notion of no miracles with the miracle described above by Bhai Gurdas? Why would a Qazi, someone who is supposed to be a judge/expert on Islamic law and philosophy, make such a novice mistake by suggesting that Allah resides in the Kabbah?