Shaheedi

Shaheedi means when a Sikh or a person sacrifices their life for a just and noble cause. It is an act of heroism for the betterment of humanity and one may die fighting for the righteous principles he/she stands for. Bhai Gurdas ji was a close Sikh o Sri Guru Arjan dev Ji, he describes a shaheed (martyr) as a person who has faith and love in the one lord and his creation, but also a person who has valour, fortitude and fearlessness.

Sikhs cherish their shaheeds that gave their lives to uphold the rights of Sikh people as well as general human rights for non-Sikhs. A shaheed has no discrimination; as long as the cause is just the Sikh will take a stand to overcome oppression. Sikhs remember the shaheeds in the Ardas-which is repeated daily by practicing Sikhs. We ask Guru Ji to give as the strength which the shaheeds had. So that when the time comes like past shaheeds we too can resist oppression, even if it means death.

Sikh Gurus not only commanded the Sikhs to make all types of sacrifices for the common welfare of the people. The Gurus made al types of sacrifices for humanity even giving their lives to their cause. A Sikh is to give a tenth of their earnings for a noble-charitable cause. The Langer (free food) for the whole community is just one of the ways in which Sikhs help others (langar is available at every Sikh temple and is open to everybody). Sikhs have carried out immense acts of courage, bravery and died on the battle field against evil-doers. The bhakti (Sikh prayers) give the Sikh a strong spirit which allows them to endure torture, imprisonment and even death, but the Sikh will not alter from the path of righteousness. Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Sri Guru Teg bahadur Ji both laid down their lives for noble causes. These sacrifices gave every Sikh; the desire to follow in the same path of their Guru. Sri Guru Gobind singh ji sent his sons out on the battlefield to fight against the evil-doers.

“Death is not an evil; there is a kind of dying which gives permanent life devoid of any pain. For those who fight against tyranny for a noble cause without forgetting the lord, death cannot have any terror for them and their death is approved by god” Sri guru granth sahib Ji.

In sikhi holy war means, a battle between good and evil forces, i.e., the Good stand up for justice, truth, humanity and the evil stand up for crime, cruelty and commit inhumane unjust acts.

“Blessed is the person whose tongue chants the lord’s name and whose mind contemplates holy war” Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

After the Shaheedi of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, his son Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji started the “Dharam yudh” a war to defend truth and justice. The Khalsa army was created, the soldiers are known as God’s warriors, they seek the protection of God and fight for god’s victory. They used the sword when needed; in sikhi the sword represents Gods glory (resistance against evil) as a form of protection for the saints, weak and oppressed.