The greatness of the word Shahadat in Sikh history

The words ‘Shaheed’ or ‘Shahadat’ seem to have come from Arabic. In the holy book of Islam, the martyr has the highest status. The martyr is considered to be the closest to Allah. The literal meaning of Shaheed is, to be a Shahid, to be a witness. What does the martyr bear witness to? To understand this, if we try to know and understand the reasons for the martyrdoms that have taken place around the world as well as the effects on society, then the main reason for every martyrdom will come to light that the martyr, breaking the arrogance of a ruler and testifying to the existence of the true God, sacrificed his life helplessly.

The martyrdom of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, gave a new turn to the history of Sikhism. This great and unparalleled martyrdom inspired such a spirit among the Sikhs to fight against tyranny and oppression by taking the refuge of the Satguru that the sacrifices of the Sikhs shocked the world. To understand the principle and concept of martyrdom in Sikhism, any martyrdom will not have to be seen as just an unexpected event, but martyrdom will have to be seen as an important phenomenon happening according to the philosophy created by Guru Nanak Sahib. Just as the 20 rupee langar organized by the first Guru Nanak Sahib Ji for the hungry saints is continuously running, in the same way, Guru Nanak Patshah’s decree:

”Jau tau prem khelan ka chaau¨

Siru dhar tali gali meri au¨

Itu margi paru Dharijay

Siru Dijay Kaani Na Kijay

While standing guard, raising voice for truth, challenging the tyrannical ruler, Sikhs will continue to accept martyrdom with a smile for the rest of the world. After the martyrdom of the fifth emperor, martyrdoms must have occurred in the beloved armies of the Gurus during the battles fought with the Mughals, but in the pages of history, the martyrdom of the ninth emperor, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, after the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, and the Sikhs who were martyred with him, among whom Bhai Matidas, Bhai Satidas and Bhai Dayala Ji are prominent, hold special significance. Before moving on, it is extremely important to talk about the ruthless methods adopted by the oppressors for these martyrdoms. Guru Arjan Dev Ji was made to sit on a hot pan and after pouring buckets of hot sand on his naked body, he was thrown into the Ravi River. Bhai Satidas Ji was wrapped in cotton and set on fire while alive, Bhai Matidas Ji was cut in half with a saw, Bhai Dayala Ji was boiled in a cauldron, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, the defender of human rights and values, was beheaded.

The sky is full of dust

The field is full of mandarins, the warriors are fighting for it

The song is known to those who are in the cause of the religion

The parts of the parts are cut off, the dead are never left in the field

(Part 1105)

The five beloved ones who offered their heads to the voice of the king, Hearing the echo of the chants of Chardi Kala at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, the sky bowed down and saluted the land of Anandpur. In the swamp of superstitions, casteism, and rituals, the people, who were victims of inferiority complex, embraced the five pillars of the Guru’s Khalsa and became rebels or kings. The martyrdom of the elder Sahibzadas during the unequal battle of the fort of Chamkaur and the blood of the younger Sahibzadas spilled in the walls of Sirhind colored the pages of history in such a color of religious determination and love that the martyrdoms of the Sahibzadas made the Khalsa a nation of brave martyrs.

Death is the right of the sun

Whatever happens, let it be allowed (579)

If we look at the window of history, then the reasons for martyrdom that come to mind are as follows – The main reason and purpose of Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s martyrdom was to break the arrogance of the arrogant Emperor Jahangir. The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was like this, who was taking away the right to enjoy religious freedom and other basic human rights from his subjects. Guru Sahib challenged him by becoming the protector of these human rights and became a martyr speaking for the rights of the oppressed. The martyrdom of the ninth emperor shook the foundation of the tyrannical government to such an extent that the Mughals could not establish that empire again.

When Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji, having received five arrows from Guru Gobind Singh Ji, set out to conquer Sirhind, he wrote letters to the Sikhs saying that we have to march on Sirhind in obedience to the order of Guru Sahib Ji. You are invited to join the army, but you will not get a salary if you join the Khalsa army, but you may be blessed with martyrdom due to the grace of the Emperor. The desire for martyrdom was such that Sikhs from Majha, Malwa, Doaba and Punjab and even from far away places came with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji to conquer and gain martyrdom. These pages of history clearly explain that a martyr is fully dedicated to the cause for which he is going to be martyred.

Death is the measure of life

So my Lord, my Lord (Part 1059)

According to this great verse of Gurbani, those who accept the will of God with sincerity and who consider life and death to be the same are dear to God. Death does not frighten those who drink the cup of martyrdom, they even mock death and talk about it. A martyr often has not only one, but many chances to stay alive before becoming a martyr.

All options are available, but he chooses to become a martyr, defending the truth and right. In the eyes of a martyr, the purpose is great and life or death are both small.

Kabira marta marta jagu mua

Mari bhi na jaanai koi¨

Aeesi marani jo marai bahurin

na marana hoi¨ (Part 555)

Bhakt Kabir Ji says that the whole world is dying, but no one has the understanding of the true death of death, but those who understand this, they do not die again and again, that is, they are freed from the cycle of life and death. The beloved of God who become a martyr has such divine grace that they choose martyrdom with the understanding of life beyond death and by sacrificing their lives for a special purpose, they become immortal forever.