Question: Why don't Sikhs actively proseltyse like Muslims?

Below is a response to a Muslim gentleman who asked why don't Sikhs do "Dawah", i.e. publicly claim Sikh to be the Truth and invite others to join the faith, like Muslims do?

RESPONSE:

Gurbani says:

ਬੀਰ ਦਾਵੈ ਦਾਝਨੁ ਹੋਤੁ ਹੈ ਨਿਰਦਾਵੈ ਰਹੈ ਨਿਸੰਕ ॥ 
O Kabeer! Those who brag with claims, shall burn within. Those who do not brag with claims remain care-free. 

ਜੋ ਜਨੁ ਨਿਰਦਾਵੈ ਰਹੈ ਸੋ ਗਨੈ ਇੰਦ੍ਰ ਸੋ ਰੰਕ ॥੧੬੯॥ 
That humble being who does not brag with claims, looks upon a king and a poor person alike. ||169|| 
(Salok Kabeer Ji - Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Ang 1373)

A Sikh is not obligated to make claims that he or she knows the Truth or that they are saved in the hope of others converting. A Sikh is to remain humble and free of ego. When one brags and claims they have achieved the Truth etc, it is easy that they will get distracted from their own spiritual path and instead of getting closer to Vahiguru, get closer to feeding their ego.

The Sikh Gurus never pursued to mass convert people to make numbers. In Sikhi, quality is more important than quantity. Merely, getting someone to acknowledge or accept Sikhi as the Truth, as other religions do, does bring salvation. Guru Ji says:

ਬਿਨੁ ਕਰਤੂਤੀ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ॥
Without actions or effort, liberation is not obtained.

ਮੁਕਤਿ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
The wealth of liberation is only obtained by meditating on the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||1||Pause||
(Gauree M:5 - Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Ang 201) 

Changing someone's religion through debate could be quite easy, however, changing someone's behaviour, habits and how they are as a person within is difficult. People brag that they have converted so many people or there faith group is growing in numbers, however Guru Ji says, being a true Muslim is very difficult.

ਮੁਸਲਮਾਣੁ ਮੋਮ ਦਿਲਿ ਹੋਵੈ ॥
O person of God! An actual True Muslim is one who has soft kind heart,

ਅੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਮਲੁ ਦਿਲ ਤੇ ਧੋਵੈ ॥
and one washes away the inner pollution (of evil desires) from within their heart.

ਦੁਨੀਆ ਰੰਗ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਨੇੜੈ ਜਿਉ ਕੁਸਮ ਪਾਟੁ ਘਿਉ ਪਾਕੁ ਹਰਾ ॥੧੩॥
(That True Muslim) does not even go near the worldly pleasures, and lives with purity just like flowers, silk, ghee and deer-skin remain pure. ||13||
(Maaroo M:5 - Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Ang 1084)

Those who Dawah and preach to others, must look within and ask if they have achieved being a True Muslim first.

ਇਕ ਸੱਚੀ ਕਹਾਣੀ: ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਬਰਕਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਗਿਣੋ । A True Story: Count the blessings of life

One day, homeless orphan child, John Thuo, was begging on the streets of Nairobi, Kenya, when he approached a car to ask for money. When the driver rolled the window down, the young boy was shocked to see the person driving needed more help than he did. The driver was 32-year-old Gladys Kamande who was breathing through an oxygen tank as her lungs had stopped working. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji tells us:

ਜਿਸੁ ਮਾਨੁਖ ਪਹਿ ਕਰਉ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਸੋ ਅਪਨੈ ਦੁਖਿ ਭਰਿਆ ॥ 

jis maanukh pehi karo bentee, so apnai dukh bhariaa ||

“Whoever I approach to ask for help, I find them full of their own troubles (so how will they solve my troubles?).”

(Ang 497)

Seeing this child, thanked God that he has lungs and able to breathe. He held the hand of the lady and with tears coming down said, “God will provide for your treatment.” The child beggar than gave all the money he had made that today to the lady in the hope she could one day afford hospital treatment.  Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji says:

ਦੂਖ ਤਿਸੈ ਪਹਿ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਸੂਖ ਜਿਸੈ ਹੀ ਪਾਸਿ ॥੩॥ 

dookh tisai pehi aakhee'ehi, sookh jisai hee paas ||3||

"Tell your troubles to the One who is the Source of all comfort. (3)"

(Ang 16)

A passer-by took some photos of John’s selflessness, which lead to the news becoming viral. As a result, the public raised enough money for the lady to get a lung transplant, and the child was adopted and provided schooling. 

This story is a beautiful reminder to be grateful for the simple things you have, like being able to breathe. Being able to breathe is a priceless gift! Treasure this gift and always be grateful to God.  Thank God or your circumstance, and praise God through the storm. A grateful heart is all God needs to move on your behalf, just like He did for Gladys and John.

ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਨ ਅਤੇ ਉੱਤਰ: ਕੀ ਕੋਈ ਸਿੱਖ ਮਾਸ ਖਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ? । Question and Answer: Can a Sikh eat meat?

INTERVIEW WITH

SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI ON THE TOPIC OF SIKHS AND MEAT

Question: Guru Ji please tell me can Sikhs eat meat?

Answer:

ਕਬੀਰ ਜੋਰੀ ਕੀਏ ਜੁਲਮੁ ਹੈ ਕਹਤਾ ਨਾਉ ਹਲਾਲੁ ॥
ਦਫਤਰਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਮਾਂਗੀਐ ਤਬ ਹੋਇਗੋ ਕਉਨੁ ਹਵਾਲੁ ॥੧੮੭॥
kabeer joree kee-e zulam hai, kehta naa-o halaal.

daftar lekha maangee-ai, tab hoe-go koun havaal. ||187||

"O Kabeer! To forcefully kill something is tyranny (cruelty), even if it considered acceptable (by others). Think, what will be their state when they have to go to God’s Court and God asks for the account of their actions? (187)"

(SGGS - Ang 1374)

Question: But my friends told me that I should eat meat because it is good for me and will make me strong. Is it that bad if I have meat now and again?

Answer:

ਕਬੀਰ ਖੂਬੁ ਖਾਨਾ ਖੀਚਰੀ ਜਾ ਮਹਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਲੋਨੁ ॥
ਹੇਰਾ ਰੋਟੀ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਗਲਾ ਕਟਾਵੈ ਕਉਨੁ ॥੧੮੮॥
kabeer khoob khaanaa keecharee, jaa mehi amrit lo-n.

heraa rote kaarne, galaa kattaavai koun. ||188||

"O Kabeer! The dinner of beans and rice is excellent, even if it is just flavoured with salt. For the sake of having meat with one’s bread, who would be willing to have the same fate as the animal (when paying off Karmic debt in the next life)? (188)"

(SGGS - Ang 1374)

Question: But Guru Ji, why can't Sikhs eat meat?

Answer:

ਦੂਖੁ ਨ ਦੇਈ ਕਿਸੈ ਜੀਅ ਪਤਿ ਸਿਉ ਘਰਿ ਜਾਵਉ ॥ 
dookh na de-ee kissai jeea, pat sio ghar jaavo.

"Do not (intentionally) cause suffering to any living being, and your soul shall go to its true home with honour and respect."

(SGGS - Ang 322)

Question: That's all good, but I heard Sikhs have their own religious way of slaughtering animals called ‘Jhatka’. So is this okay to eat?

Answer:

ਜੀਅ ਬਧਹੁ ਸੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਪਹੁ ਅਧਰਮੁ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਤ ਭਾਈ ॥
ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਮੁਨਿਵਰ ਕਰਿ ਥਾਪਹੁ ਕਾ ਕਉ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਸਾਈ ॥੨॥
jeea badh-hu su dharam kar thaap-hu,

a-dharam kahahu kat bhaa-ee.

aapas ko muni-var kar thaap-hu,

kaa kou kasaa-ee. ॥2॥

"You kill living beings and call it a righteous action. Tell me, brother, what would you call an unrighteous action?  If (being cruel and unnecessarily killing animals) you are a religious person, then who do will we call a butcher? (2)"

(SGGS - Ang 1103)

Question: But Guru Ji, some animals like chickens are not intelligent animals, so is it okay for me to eat them?

Answer:
ਜਉ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਏਕੁ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਕਹਤ ਹਉ ਤਉ ਕਿਉ ਮੁਰਗੀ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੧॥ 

jou sabh mehi eyk kudhaa-e kehat hou,

tou kyo murgee maarai. ||1||

"If in all is the one God, then why kill a chicken? (1)"

(SGGS - Ang 1350)

Question: Some people say that eating meat does not affect them. Guru Ji, is that true?

Answer:

ਗਲਾ ਉਪਰਿ ਤਪਾਵਸੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ਵਿਸੁ ਖਾਧੀ ਤਤਕਾਲ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਏ ॥
ਭਾਈ ਵੇਖਹੁ ਨਿਆਉ ਸਚੁ ਕਰਤੇ ਕਾ ਜੇਹਾ ਕੋਈ ਕਰੇ ਤੇਹਾ ਕੋਈ ਪਾਏ ॥
galaa upar tapaavas na hoee, 
vis khaadhee tat-kaal mar jaa-e.

bhaa-ee vekhahu niaa-o sach karte kaa, 
jehaa koee kare tehaa koee paa-e.

“Justice is not passed on mere words; if someone eats poison it will end up killing them. O brother! Look at the justice of the True Creator; as people act, so they are rewarded.”

(SGGS – Ang 308)

Question: But Guru Ji we are supposed to be ‘Singhs’. ‘Singh’ means lion and lions eat meat, so what do you say to that?

Answer:

ਸਿੰਘਚ ਭੋਜਨੁ ਜੋ ਨਰੁ ਜਾਨੈ ॥
ਐਸੇ ਹੀ ਠਗਦੇਉ ਬਖਾਨੈ ॥੨॥
singhach bhojan jo nar jaanai.

aise hee ttag-deo bakhaan-ai. ||2||

“If someone considers a (blood-thirsty) lion’s food as the diet of humans, then they are a master of deception. (2)”

(SGGS - Ang 485)

Question: Guru Ji some people don’t eat meat and think they are superior to meat-eaters and put others down. Is just being vegetarian alone good enough to get to God?

Answer:

ਮਾਸੁ ਮਾਸੁ ਕਰਿ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਝਗੜੇ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਣੈ ॥ 
maas maas kar moorakh jhagarrai,

giaan dhiaan nehee jaanai.

"If someone has no spiritual wisdom and does not meditate upon God, then arguing about meat is foolish.”

(SGGS - Ang 1289-1290)

Question: Guru Ji some people say just being vegetarian alone makes them religious. But they don’t do religious actions and do bad things. So what do you say about that?

Answer:
ਹਕੁ ਪਰਾਇਆ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਉਸੁ ਸੂਅਰ ਉਸੁ ਗਾਇ ॥
ਗੁਰੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਹਾਮਾ ਤਾ ਭਰੇ ਜਾ ਮੁਰਦਾਰੁ ਨ ਖਾਇ ॥
hak paraayaa naanakaa, us soo-ar us gaa-e.

gur peer haamaa taa bhar-e, jaa murdaar na khaa-e.   

“To take what rightfully belongs to another is as serious as eating pork (for Muslims) or eating beef (for Hindus). Our Guru, our Spiritual Guide, stands by us, only if we do not eat dead carcasses (i.e. stealing and taking what belongs to others is just as sinful as eating meat).”

(SGGS – 140)

Question: Guru Ji can you make it clear please… So are you saying we should have a cruelty-free diet but also make sure our behavior and actions are good and reflect that of a man of God?

Answer:
ਜੇ ਰਤੁ ਲਗੈ ਕਪੜੈ ਜਾਮਾ ਹੋਇ ਪਲੀਤੁ ॥
ਜੋ ਰਤੁ ਪੀਵਹਿ ਮਾਣਸਾ ਤਿਨ ਕਿਉ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਚੀਤੁ ॥

je rath lag-ai kaparrai, jaamaa ho-e paleet.

jo rath pee-vehi maansaa, tin sio nirmal cheet.

"If one's clothes are stained with blood, the garment becomes polluted. Those who drink the blood of others (whether of dead animals or living humans, i.e. causing harm to others) - how can such people's consciousness be pure?"

(SGGS - Ang 140)

Question: Guru Ji, I understand now that a Sikh doesn't eat anything that causes unnecessary suffering and cruelty to animals whether it be meat, fish, or eggs. I now know a Sikh should choose to eat a cruelty-free, compassionate, spiritual and healthy diet that helps us to connect with God. But please clear, if just becoming a vegetarian doesn't make a person religious, then what does make someone ‘religious’?

Answer:

ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਰਤ ਮਿਟੇ ਸਭਿ ਭਰਮਾ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਲੈ ਊਤਮ ਧਰਮਾ ॥
har har karat mitt-e sabh bharmaa.

har ko naam lai oo-tam dharma.

"Chanting the Name of God all doubts are cleared.  Connecting with ‘Naam’ (the Name of God) is the highest religion."

(SGGS – Ang 874)

Question: Guru Ji do you have any last message before ending this interview?

Answer:

ਜੋ ਜੀਇ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਉਗਵੈ ਮੁਹ ਕਾ ਕਹਿਆ ਵਾਉ ॥
ਬੀਜੇ ਬਿਖੁ ਮੰਗੈ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਵੇਖਹੁ ਏਹੁ ਨਿਆਉ ॥੨॥
jo jee-i hoe su ug-vai, muh kaa kehi-aa vaa-o. 

beeje bikh ma^Ngai amrit, vekhahu e-hu niaa-o. ||2||

“Whatever is in someone’s heart, it ends up coming out and being seen; just talk alone is useless. Look at the justice of humans! They sow the seeds of poison (i.e. thinking and acting in a way that causes harm to their soul) and yet demand the output of their actions to be ‘Amrit’ (i.e. which brings life and positivity to the mind and soul). (2)”

(SGGS – 474)