Islam And Sikhism Similarities

Islam and Sikhism are two major monotheistic religions of the world. While Islam emerged in the seventh century CE –more precisely the year 622 CE marks the beginning of the Muslim Era, Sikhism appeared later, during the fifteenth century CE. Comparing the number of believers, Islam is the second-largest and fastest growing major religion in the world with over 1.7 billon followers, while Sikhism is ranked fifth with only about 20 million followers.

The Islamic faith was founded by Muhammad, considered “the last prophet who came to restore the true religion” (Fisher, 2014) by Muslim devotees. Muhammad is not worshipped as a god, but his life and good deeds serve as models for Muslims. The prophet was greatly compassionate and caring and spent

Whereas Muhammad was the last prophet in Islam, Guru Nanak was the first of the ten enlightened Gurus in Sikhism. Despite his Hindu religion, young Nanak was more concerned with spirituality and helping the ones in need than respecting the conventionalism and rigidity of the caste system. At age 30, Nanak’s life was transformed after immersing into a river. It is said that he had not come out for three days and had been taken into the presence of God who fed him and sent him back to the world. Correspondingly to Nanak’s experience, Muhammad experienced the Night of Ascension, when, he ascended through the seven heavens, saw paradise and hell, and met the prophets before

In addition, Sikhs were sworn to wear the five symbols of their faith, also known as the “Five K’s”: “kes or kesh (uncut hair), kangha (comb), kachha (short trousers), kara (steel bracelet), and kirpan (ceremonial sword)” (Britannica, 2016), as symbols of power and equalitarianism. Also conflicting with the Muslim tradition that allows polygamy for those who can afford more than one wife, and doesn’t have strict rules against tobacco, Sikhs are required to abstain from tobacco, adultery, cutting their hair, and the meat of animals slowly bled to death specific to Islam. Influenced by the Hindu traditions, Sikhs believe in karma and reincarnation- elements not found in the Islamic