Gurdwareh holding Iftar
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
As most will be aware, this month is currently Ramadan, a month of fasting, for Muslims around the world. It recently came to light, through media, that Gurdwareh in places like Pakistan and Dubai were holding Iftar, the evening meal eaten after Muslims break their fasts. There's been controversy over this topic since it was publicised on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, with media outlets highlighting this great deed being done by Sikhs in countries which they are, as usual, minorities in. Showing again, the concept of compassion which has been taught to us through the Gurbani which we have been blessed with.
This image shows people from over 30 different nationalities at an Iftar, held by Guru Nanak Darbar in Dubai, the largest Gurdwara in the Gulf region.
The first point which I want to highlight is that as Sikhs, we do not believe in the concept of fasting . Guru Sahib taught us that fasting doesn't bring any spiritual to a person.
Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj writes:
ਬਰਤ ਨੇਮ ਸੰਜਮ ਮਹਿ ਰਹਤਾ ਤਿਨ ਕਾ ਆਢੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
Baraṯ nem sanjam mėh rahṯā ṯin kā ādẖ na pā▫i▫ā.
Fasting, daily rituals, and austere self-discipline - those who keep the practice of these, are rewarded with less than a shell.
These actions are worthless for Sikhs, and with spiritual progression being our primary goal in life, these aren't going to get us anywhere.
ਵਰਤ ਨ ਰਹਉ ਨ ਮਹ ਰਮਦਾਨਾ ॥
varaṯ na raha▫o na mah ramḏānā.
I do not keep fasts, nor do I observe the month of Ramadaan.
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1136)
Although as Sikhs, as compassionate servants of our Guru Sahib and Akal Purakh. We need to remember that we should respect other religions and we shouldn't say bad about others because they follow different paths. However, we should not be holding Iftar in our Gurdwareh. It is completely against our faith and our religion. We go to the Gurdwara to listen to our Guru's words, and to follow the path which Guru Sahib set out for us. It contradicts for us to do this, and then be holding events such as these within our Gurdwareh. It would be the equivalent of Muslims allowing us to hold the Bhog to an Akhand Paath in a Mosque. It wouldn't happen because they don't believe in it.
As seen in the picture, everyone is sitting around tables and the food is laid out like a feast. The cutlery, the plates, everything is upper class. Even if we were to compare this to Langar, which we shouldn't, as the intention of Langar is to feed those who need it, not to hold feasts for people breaking their fasts. In a Gurdwara, we should all sit on the floor, it shows equality and fairness for all. We should eat from sarbloh trays not fine dining plates. The fact that everyone is sitting on such well dressed tables, resembles a wedding in a banqueting hall, not a Langar in a Gurdwara.
The spokesman for the Gurdwara said that it was promoting interfaith relationships and building bonds, at a time where extremism is trying to separate us. Although I agree with this, there are appropriate ways in doing this, and hosting Iftar in a Gurdwara is not one of them. A few weeks ago, we were all upset that our wedding ceremony, the Anand Karaj, was being adopted by Bollywood stars as an exotic alternative to a Hindu wedding ceremony. We were saying that it shouldn't be allowed, but when it comes to this, everyone is cheering the people who organised it. The sevadaars of these Gurdwareh, the committees of these Gurdwareh need to wake up and realise that this is anti-Gurmat. We as a Panth, should always try to stay true to our teachings and not give them up so that the media portrays us as peaceful people, at a time where our image is being tarnished by anti-Sikh media outlets. We should trust our Guru Sahib and give them the upmost respect by listening to them! Langar is open to everyone and anyone, and I feel like if this was just a regular Langar rather than what appears to be a feast, it would have been acceptable, but the way it was hosted was perhaps one of the main issues with it. This is something that we can all think about and have different viewpoints on, and so I thought I'd share my opinion.
- Daas
As most will be aware, this month is currently Ramadan, a month of fasting, for Muslims around the world. It recently came to light, through media, that Gurdwareh in places like Pakistan and Dubai were holding Iftar, the evening meal eaten after Muslims break their fasts. There's been controversy over this topic since it was publicised on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, with media outlets highlighting this great deed being done by Sikhs in countries which they are, as usual, minorities in. Showing again, the concept of compassion which has been taught to us through the Gurbani which we have been blessed with.
The first point which I want to highlight is that as Sikhs, we do not believe in the concept of fasting . Guru Sahib taught us that fasting doesn't bring any spiritual to a person.
Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj writes:
ਬਰਤ ਨੇਮ ਸੰਜਮ ਮਹਿ ਰਹਤਾ ਤਿਨ ਕਾ ਆਢੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
Baraṯ nem sanjam mėh rahṯā ṯin kā ādẖ na pā▫i▫ā.
Fasting, daily rituals, and austere self-discipline - those who keep the practice of these, are rewarded with less than a shell.
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 216)
These actions are worthless for Sikhs, and with spiritual progression being our primary goal in life, these aren't going to get us anywhere.
ਵਰਤ ਨ ਰਹਉ ਨ ਮਹ ਰਮਦਾਨਾ ॥
varaṯ na raha▫o na mah ramḏānā.
I do not keep fasts, nor do I observe the month of Ramadaan.
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1136)
Although as Sikhs, as compassionate servants of our Guru Sahib and Akal Purakh. We need to remember that we should respect other religions and we shouldn't say bad about others because they follow different paths. However, we should not be holding Iftar in our Gurdwareh. It is completely against our faith and our religion. We go to the Gurdwara to listen to our Guru's words, and to follow the path which Guru Sahib set out for us. It contradicts for us to do this, and then be holding events such as these within our Gurdwareh. It would be the equivalent of Muslims allowing us to hold the Bhog to an Akhand Paath in a Mosque. It wouldn't happen because they don't believe in it.
As seen in the picture, everyone is sitting around tables and the food is laid out like a feast. The cutlery, the plates, everything is upper class. Even if we were to compare this to Langar, which we shouldn't, as the intention of Langar is to feed those who need it, not to hold feasts for people breaking their fasts. In a Gurdwara, we should all sit on the floor, it shows equality and fairness for all. We should eat from sarbloh trays not fine dining plates. The fact that everyone is sitting on such well dressed tables, resembles a wedding in a banqueting hall, not a Langar in a Gurdwara.
The spokesman for the Gurdwara said that it was promoting interfaith relationships and building bonds, at a time where extremism is trying to separate us. Although I agree with this, there are appropriate ways in doing this, and hosting Iftar in a Gurdwara is not one of them. A few weeks ago, we were all upset that our wedding ceremony, the Anand Karaj, was being adopted by Bollywood stars as an exotic alternative to a Hindu wedding ceremony. We were saying that it shouldn't be allowed, but when it comes to this, everyone is cheering the people who organised it. The sevadaars of these Gurdwareh, the committees of these Gurdwareh need to wake up and realise that this is anti-Gurmat. We as a Panth, should always try to stay true to our teachings and not give them up so that the media portrays us as peaceful people, at a time where our image is being tarnished by anti-Sikh media outlets. We should trust our Guru Sahib and give them the upmost respect by listening to them! Langar is open to everyone and anyone, and I feel like if this was just a regular Langar rather than what appears to be a feast, it would have been acceptable, but the way it was hosted was perhaps one of the main issues with it. This is something that we can all think about and have different viewpoints on, and so I thought I'd share my opinion.
Bhul chuk maaf karni (forgive me for my many mistakes).
- Daas
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