Just like Hindus-Sikhs or Hindus-Muslims, who have lived together for centuries and have shared heritage, Muslims and Sikhs too have a shared history.
There are glorious examples of coexistence, common culture, love and sacrifice for each other.
In Punjab, all the three religious communities lived together and hence there was bound to be shared culture.
Unfortunately, many people tend to create an impression that Sikhs and Muslims were in conflict. This is completely wrong.
A king or emperor's unjust acts or oppression, just because he happened to be a Muslim, doesn't mean that those acts were sanctioned by Islam.
There are glorious examples of coexistence, common culture, love and sacrifice for each other.
In Punjab, all the three religious communities lived together and hence there was bound to be shared culture.
Unfortunately, many people tend to create an impression that Sikhs and Muslims were in conflict. This is completely wrong.
A king or emperor's unjust acts or oppression, just because he happened to be a Muslim, doesn't mean that those acts were sanctioned by Islam.
Similarly, a Sikh guru's fight against the oppressor doesn't mean that it was a fight against Islam--it was a fight against injustice, a fight for values.
A Muslim emperor was an emperor, not necessarily a role model for Muslims. In fact, on the ground, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, have lived in amity for ages. However, systematic propaganda causes conflict and portrays as if entire communities had enmity.
Just a few examples:
1. The closest companion of Guru Nanak was Bhai Mardana, a Muslim.
2. Miyan Mir, a Muslim saint, had laid down the foundation of Shri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)
3. The works of Muslims like Baba Farid and Sheikh Bhika, apart from Kabir, are part of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy text of Sikhs.
4. Once, Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib found that local Muslims in an area had no place to pray, he got a mosque built for them. It still exists.
5. Many Muslims were part of the army of Guru Gobind Singh, when he was fighting Aurangzeb. Badruddin Shah alias Pir Buddhu was executed for supporting Guru Gobind Singh.
6.When there was order to kill the Guru's sons, the Nawab of Malerkotla opposed it and protested. As a result, Sikh guru blessed him. During partition, entire Punjab was in bloodshed but not a drop of blood fell on Malerkotla's land.
[Harmony exists all around us but is often ignored. Instead, stories of hate, discord and communalism get spread easily.
There are a million examples in our daily lives across India but they don't get promoted, hence, news of hate and discord gets heard more. Let's change it, now.
This is a small attempt to change it through Communal Harmony Project]
For reading similar reports on this blog, Click the link HERE and also find out more about Communal Harmony Project]
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