Mool Mantar

Golden Threefold Path

Attitudes to Other Religions

Attitudes to Women


Sikhism index

BELIEFS AND VALUES

Attitudes To Other Religions

Attitude to Hinduism

The Gurus disagreed with Hindu worship because they believed:

• that there was only One God and not 33 million deities.
• that God has no form and, therefore, idols cannot represent God.
• that God is in everyone so there is no need for a brahmin (Hindu priest).
• that God is in everyone so the caste system is wrong, especially the exclusion of the lowest castes, the untouchables. They were not allowed to enter temples.

Attitude to Islam

The Gurus disagreed with Muslim worship because they believed:

• that God is everywhere so that there is no need to visit any particular place or pray in a particular direction, e.g. Mecca.
• that God is in everyone so that there is no division between Muslim (believer) and kafir (unbeliever).
• that God is in everyone so that dhimmis (non-Muslims in a Muslim controlled country) should have the same rights as Muslims.
• that God judges people on their moral actions (e.g. compassion, faithfulness, modesty), rather than ritual actions (e.g. prayer times, washings, fastings). "Let compassion be your mosque, faith your prayer carpet and righteousness your Qur'an. Let modesty be your circumcision, and uprightness your fasting. Thus you will become a true Muslim" (Guru Granth Sahib).