In the fourteenth century,
India was ruled by a king who would kill if anyone refused to accept the Islamic faith. Kabeer Ji was a true devotee of God and would recite His praises eternally. Kabeer Ji would worship God and none else. Kabeer Ji considered himself neither a Muslim nor a Hindu.
He says, “I do not keep fasts, nor do I observe the month of Ramadaan. I serve only the One, who will protect me in the end. The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah. He administers justice to both Hindus and Muslims. I do not make pilgrimages to Mecca, nor do I worship at Hindu sacred shrines. I serve the One Lord, and not any other. I do not perform Hindu worship services, nor do I offer the Muslim prayers. I have taken the One Formless Lord into my heart; I humbly worship Him there. I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim. My body and breath of life belong to Allah - to Raam - the God of both. Says Kabeer, this is what I say: meeting with the Guru, my Spiritual Teacher, I realize God, my Lord and Master” (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1136)
The king came to know about Kabeer Ji and told him to accept Islam but Kabeer Ji refused. He was tied up with the chains by the order of the king. The king’s men brought Kabeer near the bank of the river Ganges. There was not a single person with Kabeer but God.
Kabeer Ji says, “The River Ganges is deep and profound. Tied up in chains, they took Kabeer there. My mind would not shake; why should my body be afraid? My consciousness remained immersed with God” (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1162)
The king’s men threw Kabeer’s body tied up with chains in the river Ganges to drown. Kabeer Ji describes this situation as follows,
“The waves of the Ganges broke the chains and Kabeer was seated on a deer skin. Says Kabeer, I have no friend or companion, on the water, and on the land, the Lord is my Savior” (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Ji Ang1162)
God raised Kabeer Ji from the water to protect His devotee. The chain broke as Kabeer’s body touched the water of the Ganges and Kabeer was raised from the water and was sitting on the deer skin on the surface of the water. Watching this, the king was amazed and full of embarrassment. The King begged Kabeer Ji for an apology.
