Sayf Udeen

Please note that there is a major difference in the definition and practice of equality between 'male/female' gender (and 'human race' equality in general) as mentioned in the quran/haddith and that in Sri Guru Guru Granth Sahib ji.

[http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_Granth_Sahib]

There is.

Whilst it may not be followed as it should be in some cases it is certainly there though, this goes for any way of life.

You can say Sat Sri Akal or Vaheguru Jee Kee Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh. No disrepect either way. They might assume you were Sikh just as you may assume a Christian saying the Islamic Greeting was Muslim. Or you could just say Hello

True, I have assumed someone saying "Salamu alaikum" is Muslim based on that.

Maybe Hello is a better option.

It says Vaheguru in Gurmukhi / Punjabi, what Sikhs call 'God'.

Oh Thank you for this.

hi yea am from melbourne

Best city on Earth, am I right?

While the emphasis is not on how the world was created and making it better. But in Gurbani it states that first Vaheguroo (God) created the double edged sword, and then with his name created the whole world. The big bang theory seems to fit within sikhism, as scientists believe that it was a large sound which set off the big bang, and is causing the universes to constantly expand. This fits in with Sikhism's concept of the naad, the sound of God's name running through the universe.

So you do have beliefs on the origins of the universe but they are not to be dwelled on and there is more of an emphasis on bettering what we have been blessed with?

The Big Bang theory is also mentioned and noted in the Qur'an.

about the sikhi and cultural thing. Well the way it worked out was that most Panjabis were sikhs, as in any religion there will be people who don't want to follow it. So they stopped following most of the Guroo's teachings, but some sikhi teachings stayed with them.

Sikhi and panjabi culture clash in many respects, When Guroo Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa, he created a new, distinct nation, with its own distinct ways.

Understood. So while some people choose to leave the religion a lot of things they liked they'll keep thus where culture and religion cross over.

Making the culture influenced by the religion rather than the religion influenced by the culture? Good.

Hello BeirutBoy, i've tried to answer your questions below. Hope it helps.

Hello Tera and thank you for your answer.

Preference is given for the second greeting to be used all the time. However, both of these are often used whenever and to whoever, there is no seperate greeting for Sikhs and non-Sikhs.

So would it be permissable for me to use one to a Sikh I see? Or would that be disrespectful? (Just wondering cos I don't want to do something stupid hehe)

Would he/she assume I to am a Sikh?

Our Tenth Guru (Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji) also formalised the Baptism Ceremony. When one wishes to become baptised, Men and Women alike would use the new surname Singh (for males) and Kaur (for females). One would then not be recognised by the traditional Indian/Hindu caste system by surname. All are equal and as Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji says "There is only one race, the Human Race".

Agreed there is no race but the human race.

A baptised Sikh is joined into the Khalsa also known as Akal Purakh Dee Fauj (Gods Army) and are Saint-Soldiers. Therefore it is our duty protect the weak from tyranny, oppression and slavery. Hence all baptised Sikhs (men and women) will carry a Kirpan as one of their 5ks. The word Kirpan can be broken down to "Kirpa" means "mercy" and "Aan" means "bless". It is only ever to be used as a last resort and even then only in defense. Please do not refer to it as a dagger.

My apologies. I had no idea what to call it and had read a news article about it earlier in the year in which it was refered to as such. I will refrain from the word "dagger" in future.

The prayers can be done in your mind, out loud, standing up, sitting down etc. However is best for the person. The prayers above are just the prayers that must be done as our daily routine. However in Sikhism, we are to strive to constantly remember God with each and every breath so essentially praying 24/7.

So you don't change positions during the prayer?

Also what does the text on this emoticon mean?

:vaheguru:

Just incase I wanna use it in my time here.

sat sri akal is used by non-amritdhari (non-baptised sikhs). Its actually derived from our war cry, and moved into general panjabi culture.

So Sikhism is heavily cultural?

What is the difference between a baptised Sikh and a non-baptised Sikh?

Must a practising Sikh be baptised?

How is a Sikh baptised?

amrtidhari sikhs or those working towards it say Vaheguroo Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguroo Ji Ki Fateh- The Khalsa (sikh army) belongs to God, Victory belongs to God. Generally more religious ones say Vaheguroo Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguroo Ji Ki Fateh

"those working towards it"...is to say there are pre-requisites for baptism? What are they?

We have Gurus. Prophets have the connotation of telling prophecies and telling the future and the Gurus were not into this. Their mission was to come into this world and show us the path to God which had been obscured.

Same with Prophets on that they were sent to guide mankid where we had gone astray.

Thus our [Muslims] beliefs of the unchanged revelations to God's (Subhana wa ta'ala) final messanger the Prophet Muhammad [sulallahu alayhi wasalam),

Thanks for the breifing on Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Most of us who are so engrossed within our daily affairs and have no time for God, or who reject Him outright are destined to transmigrate from life to life, until either we make an effort to haul ourselves out of this mire or are blessed by the grace of God who then sets us on His path.

You mean those who do not obtain being one with God are born again here?

If should checkout www.sikhitothemax.com for translations of shabads (hymns)

I'll do that.

Thank you.

It is in our code of conduct that a Sikh must rise very early in the morning (anytime from 1.00 am to 4.00 am) bathe, and recite the morning prayers, then pray in the evening and before bedtime.

We also Bath before prayers or touching the Qur'an (our holy text). High five for similarities amongst our differences. :D

Also we have a special prayer called Ardaas with, if you like, is a personal conversation with God ,where you can tell Him your woes and ask for forgiveness of all the wrongs one has done the previous day.

Similar to our du'a.

Thank you. From what I know so far Sikhism seems like a very open minded, loving, religion. Whilst our beliefs are miles apart I do respect your faith and thank you all for sharing what you have thus far.

Truly learning about all we can in this world will make us better people insha'Allah (God willing).

Oh.

*Hides from you*

Thank you for that Sony.

Is that how one greets non-Sikhs, though?

Did the Lakers wind up winning?

lol its NOT sat sri akaal

its:

VAHEGUROO JI KA KHALSA VAHEGUROO KI KI FATEH

and welcome : )

Thank you for the welcome.

I can assume you're female based on "Kaur" in your username?

"Veheguroo ji ka khalsa vaheguroo ki ki fateh" is how Sikhs greet each other? What's that mean in English?

theres lots u can read : ) will post later

Thank you in advance.

both, best is sitting in sat sangat...the true congregation who sings vahegurus praises :WW:

So are there times you must pray?

Do you pray outloud?

What you have posted. Is this what you say at times of prayer?

I'm confused by the intro...is Satriakal for non-Sikhs?

SATSRIAKAL means ´God is Truth´ and this way normally Sikh greet each other & people around them.

So it's like Muslims greating each other with "Salamu alaikum" (which we don't say to non-Muslims, but acknowledge when they say it to us). Is it permissable for you to say "Satriakal" to non-Sikhs? What is the answer to "Satriakal"?

Could I say "Satriakal" to a Sikh I see in the city?

All Amrithari Sikhs(Baptised) both males and females carry Kirpans(what you are calling as daggers). These Kirpans are of all the shapes & sizes, it depends where they are to be used.

Is it all based on personal preference what size Kirpan someone carries? Or is there more to it? (Age, for instance?)

Sikh philosophy considers Sikh women equal to Sikh men. Neither of these genders are superior or weaker.

Logical thoughts.

Islam agrees.

Kirpan is used for both self protection & defending weak, helpless people.

Would it be offensive upon meeting a Sikh to ask to see it?

Is Sikhism an Abrahamic religion?

Do you have Prophets?

What do you believe to be the fate of those who lived before Nanak?

Do you believe in the hereafter?

Do you believe there were Prophets?

What is your holy scripture? Are there English translations I could read?

Do you attend prayer congregationally or pray alone?

When do you pray? How do you pray? (Or acknowlegde God)

What is your story of creation?

~BeirutBoy.

Thank you. What is "Satsriakal"?

Also my question was more on the significance of these two names. I love the meanings and I'm gathering that the significance of the female last name is to suggest their husbands should treat them as such?

There's one thing I hate, and that is the atheist (Don't drill me any Atheists here - I'm not generalising, I just see it regularly. I'm not saying all Atheists think this way) claim that there is no gender equality in religion, when there clearly is. Islam is scutanised for the hijab [veil] blindly for example. So it is great to see an apparent reference to respect for women in Sikhism.

Does the man being the lion refer to him being a protector of sorts?

Also, is it true males carry daggers? Is this for self defense or as a monument?

I saw a pic of the dagger while looking for a forum. It was curved. Thought it looked cool.

Sorry if I'm coming off as ignorant, I am here to learn and broaden my horizons so it could be expected in ways.

Any Aussie Sikhs here?

~BeirutBoy.

Hello all.

So, I'm new. I come from Melbourne, Australia.

I'm a proud Muslim, alhamdulillah. But open minded and wish to learn more about the beliefs of others.

So the main reason I joined here is because I have a few questions about Sikhism...Mainly surrounding the Turban and the last names. I also wish to get to know Sikhs but am too shy to say Hi when I see them on the street! :umm:

Do note, I'm not here to convert or be converted. I'm here to learn.

~BeirutBoy.