The True Savior

By: Bijla Singh

Reforming the Society

Guru Nanak Sahib rejected many of the backward practices and revived the womanhood and their rights as human beings. Equality, right to life and freedom were nowhere to be found in the prevalent Indian society until Guru Nanak Sahib. It is nearly impossible to list every accomplishment of Guru Sahib but we shall list few points that clearly distinguish Guru Sahib being far more superior to Mohammad.

Keeping slaves and their sexual exploitation were common practices during Mohammad’s time. It is absolutely shocking that Mohammad not only advocated but engaged himself in such practices.  

Muhammad had many male and female slaves. He used to buy and sell them, but he purchased (more slaves) than he sold, especially after God empowered him by His message, as well as after his immigration from Mecca. (Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, Zad al-Ma'ad, Part I, p. 160)

It is astonishing that Mohammad himself took part in slave trade after he was “declared” the prophet. One then wonders whether he truly was a prophet who had come to save humanity, preach equality and show one true path to humans or further solidify the practice of slavery and rape in the name of religion by claiming it to be the “law of Allah”. How could such person be a role model let alone a prophet? Therefore, he was not a prophet for everyone but only for savage individuals who wanted to keep female slaves for sex exploitation.

He encouraged the rape of captured women in front of their husbands. Muslims need to explain why sex with slaves, as clearly mentioned in the following passage, is anything less than savage:

“Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) sent a military expedition to Awtas on the occasion of the battle of Hunain. They met their enemy and fought with them.  They defeated them and took them captives.  Some of the Companions of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) were reluctant to have intercourse with the female captives in the presence of their husbands who were unbelievers. So Allah, the Exalted, send down the Qur'anic verse: "And all married women (are forbidden) unto you save those (captives) whom your right hand possess." [Surah 4:24] ...Sunan Abu Dawud, Book V, Chapter 711, Number 2150”

You can have sexual intercourse with two slave girls at a time without ghusl (bath) but can’t do like this with free women. (Malik’s Muwatta 2.23.90)  

These poor women who had been taken prisoner were authorized to be raped by Mohammad in FRONT of their still living HUSBANDS!  How is this just?  How is this even human? 

Muhammad himself had a Coptic slave that was presented to him by the ruler of Alexandria in Egypt. When the delegate from Muhammad visited this Coptic head of Egypt (Muaqaqis) with an invitation for him to convert to Islam he politely refused to do so, but knowing the taste of Muhammad, he presented Muhammad with two beautiful slave-girls who were sisters.  Muhammad took for himself Mariya, the most beautiful one and gave her sister, Sirin, to his poet friend, Hassan ibn Thabit for him to enjoy her.  Please note that neither Muhammad nor Hasan b. Thabit married these slave-girls. 

The example of Saffiyah is also shocking.  This Jewish woman whose father had just been killed by the Muslims and husband had just been TORTURED to death was taken by Mohammad as his wife.  Would she have happily married him?  Could this have been a marriage free from fear and compulsion?  What kind of woman could see her husband tortured to death and then happily marry the torturer?

Enslaving the captives of war was further practiced by the followers of Islam. Many Caliphs kept sex slaves and Muslim invaders like Ahmad Shah Abdali, Babar, Nadir Shah and Tamur Shah invaded India, killed innocent people and enslaved thousands of women and children who were later either sold in the flesh market or kept as slaves and maids. Such practice is acknowledged by Muslim scholars.

"Islam does not prohibit slavery but retains it for two reasons. The first reason is war (whether it is a civil war or a foreign war in which the captive is either killed or enslaved) provided that the war is not between Muslims against each other - it is not acceptable to enslave the violators, or the offenders, if they are Muslims. Only non-Muslim captives may be enslaved or killed. The second reason is the sexual propagation of slaves which would generate more slaves for their owner." (You Ask and Islam Answers, Dr. 'Abdul-Latif Mushtahari, pp. 51-52).

"The root of the beginning of slavery is prisoners of war; the bounties have become lawful to the nation of Muhammad." (Ibn Timiyya, Vol. 32, p. 89).

If Mohammad was “true messenger” and slavery is clearly wrong, he would have forbidden it outright. There were many things prevalent in the world but the job and duty of a messenger of God is to reveal the truth.  Slavery is wrong and must be stopped. But Mohammad allowed it which gives Masters permission to have sexual relations with them (which implies raping them. If something is wrong, it is wrong. Neither did Mohammad abolish slavery nor did he oppose rape of slave women by their masters.

It is clear that Mohammad made no attempt to free the slaves, uplift womanhood and provide them the freedom to live an independent life and achieve salvation. They always remained subordinate and subservient to free men.

Guru Nanak Sahib on the other hand condemned slavery which was being practiced in a form of caste system. Low caste people were subjected to humiliation and life of poverty. Guru Sahib rejected caste system, gave people equal rights and took many steps to reform their lives.

Pride in social status is empty; pride in personal glory is useless. The One Lord gives shade to all beings. (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 83)

Recognize the Lord's Light within all, and do not consider social class or status; there are no classes or castes in the world hereafter. ||1|| (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 349)

God does not ask about social class or birth; you must find your true home. That is your social class and that is your status - the karma of what you have done. (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1330)

Further, Guru Sahib established ‘Langar’, a community kitchen, in which everyone was allowed to sit and eat food. No separate food was prepared for high caste Brahmins or the ‘momans’ (Muslims). Every person including women ate the same food and sat at an equal level. Even Akbar, king of India, was no exception to the rule. Guru Gobind Singh Ji, tenth Nanak, took a final blow at the caste system by introducing ‘Singh’ as a last name to males and ‘Kaur’ to females. This eliminated the caste of the person. Thus, shackles of slavery were broken.

Before the advent of Guru Nanak Sahib condition of women in India was deplorable. She was equated with a she-wolf or serpent and lived a wretched life of degradation. Only a revolutionary like Guru Nanak Sahib could raise a woman to a high pedestal, as early as the 15th century. He highly respected women, strongly spoke against their suppression and elevated them to the equal status. Guru Sahib condemned rape and brutalities committed against women by the Mughal invaders and preached equality and respect of womanhood. Guru Nanak Sahib felt the pain of suffering women who were helpless, defenseless and had no men to defend and protect them from the invaders.

Modesty and righteousness both have vanished and falsehood moves about as the leader, O Lalo. The function of the Qazis and the Brahmins is over and the Satan now reads the marriage rites (rape). The Muslim women read the Quran and in suffering call upon God, O Lalo. The Hindu women of high caste and others of low caste, may also be put in the same account, O Lalo. (Ang 722)

Guru Sahib rejected the old tradition of ‘Sati’ (burning of the widow) and advocated women’s right to life. He also allowed women to remarry after the death of their husbands. This was a great reform to the society and a complete break off from the cultural norms. It was the great influence of Guru Amar Das Ji, third Nanak, that Akbar passed a law abolishing ‘Sati’ practice.

They cannot be called satis, who burn themselves with their dead husbands. They can only be called satis, if they bear the shock of separation. They may also be known as satis, who live with character and contentment and always show veneration to their husbands by remembering them. (Ang 787)

To free women from dependency they were encouraged to join the congregation and participate in religious activities. They were appointed as missionaries and taught self-defense. They were armed and given the opportunity to join the Sikh army. Hence, defenseless women of India became brave warriors who could defend their honor and country from the Muslim invaders. Sikh woman has the right to be a granthi (one who conducts religious ceremonies), a preacher or a ragi (one who sings hymns from Guru (Granth Sahib). She can take Amrit and lead congregation but in Islam a woman cannot utter the call to prayer (Azan) or become an Imam (priest) in the mosque and she is not allowed to lead the holy congregation in prayer.

Guru Sahib’s teachings set a high moral standard for the Sikhs. Sikhs are directed to be sincere and faithful to their spouses and look at other women as if they were their mothers, sisters and daughters. It is obligatory for Sikhs to desist from adultery, illicit affairs with another woman and rape. Sikhs are not allowed to exercise proprietary rights over women captured in battle. It is on record that in a battle the Begum of the Governor of Bassi Pathan had fell into the hands of the Sikhs. Ajit Singh, the Guru's son himself escorted her back to the enemies' camp and so long as she stayed with the Sikhs, she was treated as a sister. Numerous Sikhs like Bhai Jassa Singh, Nawab Kapoor Singh and Sardar Baghel Singh freed thousands of women enslaved by Muslim invaders.

Guru Sahib saw slavery, rape and ‘sati’ as wrong practices and rejected them outright and took steps to reformation of the society. Mohammad on the other hand advocated and practiced evil practices of slavery and rape. He led a life of corrupt and immoral practices and encouraged his followers to do the same. Hence, it is clear that Guru Sahib is the true role model who cared for all, dedicated His life to lessen the sufferings and pains of those who lived the life of humiliation and freed them from the oppressive laws of Hinduism and Islam.

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