القول الحق

القول الحق — Page 229

۲۲۹ EXTRACTS FROM REVD, HUGHE`S DICTIONARY OF ISLAM, PAGES 583--591 The Janam sakhis or biographical sketches of Nanak and his associates contain a profusion of curious traditions, which throw considerable light on the origin and development of the Sikh religion. From these old books, we learn that in early life Nanak, although a Hindu by birth, came under Sufi influence, and was strangely attracted by the saintly demeanour of the Fakirs who were thickly scattered over Northern India and swarmed in the Panjab. * * * * * * * * * * * It is, therefore, only reasonable to suppose that any Hindu affected by Muhammadanism would show some traces of Sufi influence. As a fact we find that the doctrines preached by the Sikh Gurus were distinctly sufiastic, and indeed, the early Gurus openly assumed the manners and dress of faqirs, thus plainly announcing their connection with the Sufiastic side of Muhammadanism. In pictures they are represented with small rosaries in their hands, quite in Muhammadan fashion, as though ready to perform zikr. The traditions of Nanak preserved in the Janam Sakhi are full of evidence of his alliance with Muhammadanism. (In answer to a Qazi) Nanak replied. To be called a Mussalman is difficult, when one (becomes it) then he may be called Mussalman. * * * * * From the foregoing it is perfectly clear that the immediate successors of Nanak believed that he went very close to Muhammadanism; and we can scarcely doubt the accuracy of their view of the matter, when we consider the almost contemporaneous character of the record, from