Fellow Members,
What did Guru Nanak mean by his statement "Na Koi Hindu Na Koi Mussalman"?
Is it that,
1. He is neither hindu nor mussalman?
2. To God there is no differennce between a hindu and mussalman, or whoever ?
3. People should not call themselves hindu or mussalman?
4. He started a new religion - Sikhism?
Any one with some insight or personal views?
Regards
Rajs
As per daily practice Guru Nanak went for a bath in Vein River along with a helper. During bath Guru Nanak got orders from the True Lord to appear before Him. Nanak presented himself before God Who offered him a cup of nectar and ordered: “Nanak! This nectar is the cup of my Name. Drink it.” Guru Nanak obeyed and had the nectar. God was kind: “Nanak! I am with you. My pleasure is on you. Whosoever takes your name will have my pleasure. You go and recite My Name and get the people to recite. Keep unattached from the world. Remain reciting My Name, distributing alms, maintain cleanliness and serve mankind and meditate on Me. I have given you My Name. You do this service only.” …. “Nanak! Whomsoever you bless; they are blessed by Me. On whosoever you are pleased I am pleased too. My Name is Parbrahm Parmesar your name will be Guru Parmeshwar.”.‘
Agia Parmesar ki hoi, jo Nanak Bhagat Hoa tan amrit da katora bhar(i) kar(i) agia naal mili’[1]….. “Nanak Nirankari, You have been sent to redeem the humanity in this darkage (Kalyug). You must get them remember and meditate on Me so that who unite with Me, can be delivered from all the sins and are relieved from the circle of life and death.”…“Deliver the message of Truth, Unity of God, equality and brotherhood of humanity to one and all. [2] He had orders to deliver the message of truth to the entire universe. He thus had received instructions of ‘seva, simaran and human redemption’, during his enlightenment where now stands Gurudwara Antaryamta Sahib, Sultanpur in Kapurthala Distt.
Gurudwara Shri Antaryamta Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi
Guru Nanak did not come out from Bein for quite sometime causing the rumours that Guru Nanak has drowned. Guru Nanak’s return surprised all. On his emergence from the river, Guru Nanak called out: “There is no Hindu; no Muslim” People complained to Nawab Daulat Khan, who called Guru Nanak to his office. Guru Nanak declined this by saying that he is not now required to bother for anyone else other than God. At his audacity, people started calling him insane. The Guru asked Mardana to play rebec and sang:
Some call me a ghost; some say that I am a demon. Some call me a mere mortal; O poor Nanak! ||1 || Crazy Nanak has gone insane, after my Lord, the King. I know of none other than the Lord. || 1 || Pause || I alone am known to be insane, when I go insane with the Fear of God. I recognize none other than the One Lord and Master. || 2 || I alone am known to be insane, if I work for the One Lord. Recognizing the Hukam, the Command of his Lord and Master, what other cleverness do I have? || 3 || I alone am known to be insane, when I fall in love with my Lord and Master. I seemyself as bad, and all the rest of the world as good. || 4 || 7 ||[3]
On Nawab’s humble request Guru Nanak met him. Qazi sitting close the Nawab asked:”Nanak you say that there is neither any Hindu nor any Muslim; why do you say so? It may be right for Hindus but you cannot say this for Muslims.” Guru Nanak sang:
“It is difficult to be called a Muslim; if one is truly a Muslim, then he may be called the one. First, let him savor the religion of the Prophet as sweet; then, let his pride of his possessions be scraped away. Becoming a true Muslim, a disciple of the faith of Mohammed, let him put aside the delusion of death and life. As he submits to God’s Will, and surrenders to the Creator, he is rid of selfishness and conceit. O Nanak, when he is merciful to all beings, only then shall he be called a Muslim.”[4])
Qazi questioned: “What qualities a Muslim should have?” Guru Nanak replied:
“Let mercy be your mosque, faith your prayer-mat, and honest living your Quran. Make modesty your circumcision, and good conduct your fast. In this way, you shall be a true Muslim. Let good conduct be your Kaba, Truth your spiritual guide, and good deeds your prayer and chant. Let your rosary be the one is pleasing to His Will. O Nanak, God shall preserve your honor. || 1 || To take what rightfully belongs to another is like aMuslim eating pork, or a Hindu eating beef. Our Guru, our Spiritual Guide, stands by us, if we do not eat those carcasses. By mere talk, people do not earn passage to Heaven. Salvation comes only from the practice of Truth. By adding spices to forbidden foods, they are not made acceptable. O Nanak, from false talk, only falsehood is obtained. || 2 || First Mehl: There are five prayers and five times of day for the prayer; the five have five names. Let the first be truthfulness, the second honest living, and the third charity in the Name of God. Let the fourth be good will for all, and the fifth be the praise of the Lord. Repeat the prayer of good deeds, and then, you may call yourself a true Muslim. O Nanak, the false obtain falsehood, and only falsehood alone || 3 ||”[5]
The Qazi asked Guru Nanak Dev whether he was a Hindus or a Muslims. Guru Nanak Dev replied: “I am common to both.” “In case you are common to both them then come with us to offer Namaaz”. Qazi said. The Guru went along. Everyone stood in the Mosque in order to offer Namaaz & started offering prayers Guru Nanak Devkept standing straight. After offering Namaaz, Qazi asked angrily,“Why didn’t you offer prayers?” Guru Ji said, “Did you?”Qazi said, “Yes. Every one has seen me offering Namaz.” “But I found your attention at yoouur house worrying for the new born to your mare. You were worriedto keep her off the well,” Guru nanak said. Surprised he bowed to the Guru. Nawabasked, “You sould have joined me then.” But you were not here. You were busy haggling for horses in Qandhar.” Nawab was flabbergasted at Guru Nanak’s reply. Everybody bowed to Guru Ji’s feet in adoration & said: “Nanak is a saint with divine powers. He knows every one’s mind.”Nawab declared: “After seeing this nothing more is needed to be enquired.” Everyone bowed towards Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak recited:
‘Make good deeds the soil, and let the Word be the seed;
Irrigate it continually with the water of Truth.
Become such a farmer, and faith will sprout.
This brings knowledge of heaven and hell, you fool! || 1 ||
Do not think that your Husband Lord can be obtained by mere words.
You are wasting this life in the pride of wealth and the splendor of beauty. || 1 || Pause ||
The defect of the body which leads to sin is the mud puddle,
and this mind is the frog, which does not appreciate the lotus flower at all.
The bumble bee is the teacher who continually teaches the lesson.
But how can one understand, unless one is made to understand? || 2 ||
This speaking and listening is like the song of the wind,
for those whose minds are colored by the love of worldly attachments (Maya).
The Grace of the Master is bestowed upon those who meditate on Him alone.
They are pleasing to His Heart. || 3 ||
You may observe the thirty fasts, and say the five prayers each day,
but ‘Satan’ can undo them. Says Nanak, you will have to walk on the Path of Death,
so why do you bother to collect wealth and property? || 4 || 27||[6]
Hearing the hymn, Nawab again fell at Guru Nanak’s feet. The people around said,”God speaks in Guru Nanak.” Khan said, “My kingdom, wealth and property is all yours.” Guru Nanak said, “It is all yours. I do noit need anything material. I hand over what was with me and I shall be leaving now.” He asked Mardana to play rebec and sang a hymn testifying this:
This body fabric is conditioned by Maya, O beloved; this cloth is dyed in greed.My Husband Lord is not pleased by these clothes, O Beloved; how can the soul-bride go to His bed? || 1 || I am a sacrifice, O Dear Merciful Lord; I am a sacrifice to You. I am a sacrifice to those who take to Your Name. Unto those who take to Your Name, I am forever a sacrifice. || 1 || Pause ||
If the body becomes the dyer’s vat, O Beloved, and the Name is placed within it as the dye, and if the Dyer who dyes this cloth is the Lord Master — O, such a color has never been seen before! || 2 |
Those whose shawls are so dyed, O Beloved, their Husband Lord is always with them. Bless me with the dust of those humble beings, O Dear Lord. Says Nanak, this is my prayer. || 3 ||
He Himself creates, and He Himself imbues us. He Himself bestows His Glance of Grace. O Nanak, if the soul-bride becomes pleasing to her Husband Lord, He Himself enjoys her. ||4 || 1 || [7]
All the present touched Guru Nanak’s feet including all the mendicants. Guru Nanak was very much pleased on them. Guru did not return to the store. Some persons complained that, “Nanak has distributed the goods from stores to the public causing a great loss.” The Nawab did not believe them but got his stores checked to clear general conscience. There was a gain rather than the loss which the nawab offered him to take. Guru Nanak asked these to be distributed among the needy. As the Guru prepared to leave, all Hindus and Muslims bowed to him to see him off. The Nawab and Qazi were also among them. Guru Nanak moved out on his journey along with Mardana.[8]