Quick facts about the Sikh Religion

Sikhism was founded in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is a monotheistic religion founded as a form of compromise between Hinduism and Islam although neither religion accepts the Sikh religion as legitimate and have persecuted the Sikhs for centuries. The Sikh religion worships one god Akhal Purakh.

Sikh Religion Founded:

1496 A.D. in Punjab, India with the idea of compromise between Hinduism and Islam. Sikhs were persecuted by both.

Sikh Founder:

Guru Nanak founded Sikhism as a method to reconcile the warring belief systems of Islam and Hinduism. As such, he chose to retain the Hindu concept of reincarnation.

Estimated Adherents:

23 Million worldwide with the largest concentration found on the Indian subcontinent.

Primary Writings of Authority:

Guru Granth Sahib Writings

Theological position

Monotheistic - The Sikh considers Akhal Purakh to be their only god

The Sikh religion was further developed by nine successive Gurus who each contributed to the overall appearance, beliefs and practices of the modern Sikh:

1. Guru Angad Dev Ji (1504–1552)

Guru from 1539 to 1552

Introduced the Gurmukhi script, which became the standard script for writing Punjabi and Sikh scriptures.
Promoted physical fitness and set up schools and centers for learning.
Strengthened the institution of Langar (community kitchen) started by Guru Nanak.

2. Guru Amar Das Ji (1479–1574)

Guru from 1552 to 1574

Instituted the system of Manjis (preachers) to spread Sikh teachings.
Elevated the status of women by opposing practices like sati and purdah.
Made Langar compulsory for all visitors before meeting the Guru, emphasizing equality.

3. Guru Ram Das Ji (1534–1581)

Guru from 1574 to 1581

Founded the city of Amritsar, which later became the spiritual center of Sikhism.
Composed hymns included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
Laid the foundation of Sikh wedding rituals (Anand Karaj).

4. Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563–1606)

Guru from 1581 to 1606

Compiled the Adi Granth, the precursor to the Guru Granth Sahib.
Constructed the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, promoting inclusiveness.
Became the first Sikh martyr, executed by the Mughal emperor Jahangir for refusing to convert to Islam.

5. Guru Hargobind Ji (1595–1644)

Guru from 1606 to 1644

Introduced the concept of Miri and Piri (spiritual and temporal authority).
Wore two swords symbolizing religious and worldly power.
Transformed the Sikh community into a martial and self-defensive faith.

6. Guru Har Rai Ji (1630–1661)

Guru from 1644 to 1661

Emphasized compassion and healing, maintaining a large herbal medicine dispensary.
Continued to strengthen the Sikh community and spread the faith peacefully.
Maintained diplomatic relations with the Mughal court without compromising Sikh principles.

7. Guru Har Krishan Ji (1656–1664)

Guru from 1661 to 1664

Became Guru at just 5 years old and is known for his humility and wisdom.
Served people during a smallpox epidemic in Delhi, where he ultimately died at age 8.
Revered as a symbol of purity and selfless service.

8. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (1621–1675)

Guru from 1665 to 1675

Advocated freedom of religion and human rights.
Martyred by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb for defending the religious freedom of Kashmiri Hindus.
His sacrifice is a cornerstone of Sikh identity and defense of justice.

9. Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1665–1708)

Guru from 1675 to 1708

Founded the Khalsa in 1699, a community of baptized Sikhs committed to purity and courage.
Introduced the Five Ks (Kesh, Kara, Kanga, Kachera, Kirpan) as symbols of the Khalsa identity.
Declared the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru, ending the line of human Gurus.
He was the last human Guru and passed the Guruship to the Guru Granth Sahib.

Practices of the Sikh religion

The Sikh religion seeks to practice the equality of all people regardless of caste, creed, or gender and this is where they depart from Hinduism which does not do so.
The Sikh places a value on honest living and selfless service
Naam Japna: spiritual remembrance
Sikh teachings are compiled in the Guru Granth Sahib, the central religious scripture and eternal Guru of the Sikhs.
The faith rejects ritualism and idol worship which is where it departs from both Islam and Hinduism
The Sikh religion advocates for a mystical connection with their god through meditation (like the Hindu), community service (Seva), and righteous living.
Key Sikh practices include maintaining the Five Ks (Kakars), participating in congregational worship at Gurdwaras, and the pursuit of justice and social welfare.

Orders or Sects of the Sikh religion

Udasis:

This is an ascetic order of the Nanakshahi Sikhs

Nirmalas:

This is a celibate order (comparable to Buddhist monks)

Akalis:

Are considered a ‘fanatical’ Sikh order and wear a distinctive dress of blue with a black turban

How The Sikh Answers The Problem of Evil:

It is important to compare and contrast how the Sikh religion approaches the topics of who God is and how they propose to solve the problem of evil – why do good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people.

Reincarnation:

The Hindu process of reincarnation (multiple rebirths of the same person) was carried over to the Sikh faith. This process attempts to solve the problem of evil via an elaborate system of incessant rebirths whereby good or bad Karma are administered to perfect a person resulting in an enlightened (while on Earth) person and one who achieves Nirvana upon death.

Karma:

With each new “life” or “birth” an individual experiences either suffering at the hands of victimizing evil, or blessing at the hands of benevolent good. Both of which are believed to be working off or “paying for” the evil, or being rewarded for the good which that person committed in a past life or “incarnation. This law of Karma works both progressively and regressively

Problems:

Sikhs & Hindus believe that Reincarnation and Karma should motivate a person to live a ‘less evil’ and a more “generously good” life so as to avoid coming back in the next life and suffering the negative Karma, or missing out on the good Karma of their actions in the past incarnation.

The problem with this solution is that it doesn’t really solve the problem of evil at all, it simply perpetuates it.

Consider this:
Every person that comes back to ‘work off’ evil requires another individual to inflict the evil upon them

That person then needs to come back and have evil inflicted upon them by someone who needs to come back and have evil worked off… and so on and so on…ad infinitum.

In short, reincarnation and Karma require evil to vanquish evil. So evil must and will (according to Hindus and Sikhs) be present for all eternity to work off past evil.

What The Sikh religion Believes About The Afterlife

Heaven and Hell

Sikhs do not make mention of Heaven and Hell which are therefore, not a core belief of the Sikh Faith

Endless deaths and rebirths

Reincarnation is the primary belief held regarding life after death. However, in the Sikh religion, at one point an individual may obtain intervention by the god Akhal Purakh which eliminates the rebirth process.

Purpose of life

Life is considered to be an opportunity to seize a union or closeness to god (Akhal Purakh)

In my travels in India and Sri Lanka, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with many Sikhs (pictured) and I can say that I have only ever had friendly experiences and exchanges with them. They are a kind people in general but because they embrace a god that doesn’t exist, they reject the One and Only true God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ.

This means that upon death, they will come face-to-face with Him in judgement which will result in their being separated from God eternally because they have rejected Jesus’ payment on the cross for their sins against God.

No one receives eternal life and eternal presence with God (from Whom all good things come – James 1:17), by belonging to the right church, denomination, world religion, or by having a particular world view. Rather only those who trust in the Lord Jesus (preached by the Apostles in the Bible) for their own sin. We will not trust in a Savior for sins that we either don’t believe we have or that we think aren’t deserving of hell.

But the Bible says that ALL have sin and the wages of that sin is eternal separation from God (death). The good news is that the Bible says that you can know that YOU have eternal life. Click the button below to see if you are genuinely saved from your sins according to the Bible:

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