![sikhs kept out of their own temple for shab e barat sikhs kept out of their own temple for shab e barat](https://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/211531-PolicemanPHOTOABDULMANAN-1310851039.jpg)
The Sikh community in Lahore have been prevented from observing a religious celebration at a gurdwara, their musical equipment thrown out and their entry barred, after a religious group persuaded the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) that celebrating the Muslim holy day of Shab-e-Barat was more important than the Sikh religious festival.
Police have been deployed outside the temple to prevent the Sikhs from conducting their religious ceremonies until the end of Shab-e-Barat, which falls on July 18 this year. The Sikh community wanted to commemorate an eighteenth-century saint on July 16.
The Gurdwara Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh, in Naulakha Bazaar, Lahore, is built to honour the memory of a Sikh saint who was executed in 1745 on the orders of the Mughal governor of Punjab, Zakaria Khan. Every July, the Sikh community has held religious ceremonies to commemorate his sacrifice in the service of humanity.
While the temple was taken over by the ETPB after Partition, the Sikh community had been allowed to continue using it with relatively few restrictions.
Until four years ago.
It was then that a gang of young men from the Dawat-e-Islami, a Barelvi proselytising group, claimed that the gurdwara was located on the site of the burial place of a fifteenth century Muslim saint, Pir Shah Kaku. The group claims that Kaku was the grandson of Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar, an implausible claim since Ganjshakar died in 1280, while they claim that Kaku died almost 200 years later, in 1477.
The Sikh community had approached the ETPB, which had then allowed both communities to observe their religious rituals according to their own beliefs at the temple. The group used it every Thursday for prayer services while the Sikh community used it once a year for the anniversary of Taru Singh’s martyrdom.
This year, however, when young men from the Sikh community went in to set up their musical instruments on July 13, they were thrown out by the men from Dawat-e-Islami and prevented from re-entering.
Members of the Sikh community, many of whom fear to be identified, said that the leader of the group of men, Sohail Butt, claimed that the temple was now a mosque and that they would not be allowed to bring in their musical instruments any more.
Butt admitted to preventing the Sikhs from performing their ritual, claiming that the temple was inside the courtyard of the mosque.
“Shab-e-Barat is more important than the Sikh ritual,” Butt said, adding that the ETPB had accepted his group’s stance.
Officials from the ETPB admit that they have asked the Sikh community to postpone their celebrations until after Shab-e-Barat.
ETPB Deputy Administrator Faraz Abbas, who deals with Sikh affairs across the country, even admitted that they had been denied entry into the temple though denied that any musical instruments had been thrown out of the gurdwara.
ETPB Chairman Asif Hashmi was not available for comment as he is abroad.
The incident, however, has been highly distressing for the Sikh community.
Gurunanak Mission President Sardar Bishon Singh told The Express Tribune that the ETPB’s decision to bar Sikhs from entering their temple was against the constitution. He said that he approached the ETPB but was told to wait until after Shab-e-Barat.
“How can we postpone the rituals of our faith,” he asked, adding that the government was not paying attention to their cause.
Singh claimed that the ETPB is planning to gradually eliminate and sell all gurdwaras from Pakistan, alarming for Sikhs around the world. He appealed to Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo motu action over the violation of rights of minorities in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2011.
COMMENTS (136)
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yo dude itz me wissams brother lol if it iz actually u!!!!@sumeet:
This incident should not be used to judge Pakistan or it's people.On the whole the experience of Sikhs travelling to Pakistan on Pilgrimage is a very positive one.I am sure there is a happy medium iwhereby Sikhs can celebrate the Martdom of Bhai Taru Singh once a year and visit the Gurdwara as part of the pilgrimage without conflicting the Shab-e-Barat. one thing I would say is that The Sikh worship involves music so it would not be possible do without and nor should this be a condition.This is essentially a historical Sikh Gurdwara and needs to be regarded as such.
On the issue of the Babri Masjid almost every Sikh organisation in India and abroad quite rightly condemned the vandalism.
Could some of the '' Scholars of Islam '' who have been commenting clarify whom did Allah create first the HUMAN (Insaan) or ISLAM? So when Allah told his Angels to bow, was it to religion or to humanity. We in this country with our self-centered ego and bigoted mind have challanged the Omnipotent Creator on the issue of who is superior a Human or a Muslim?
chenzab...y will sikh do it without music..which is our and sikh people religious tradition!! your religion worth more than us??? its about tolerance which lack in akistani society...where shia sand sunnis are ecah others enemies..how will they tolerate hindus and sikhs? more than that u telling about muslim places..muslim have destroyed hindu place with govt suport...thousands of temples and gurudwars!! so beaware of condition be4 commenting..... dawate islami is a orthodox group always living in stories...they have no right to eliminate sikhs form playing music.....y wont muslim wont stop azan in india..?? every one has right to perfome in own way..... all hindus,sikhs chrisians are subjected to daily voilation of self respect and no harmony from majority!
To all Pakistanis.. I seriously wonder y u ppl think der's a big discrimination against Muslims in India.. Maybe your media shows India dat way. U talk about Babri Masjid demolition.. While dat has been a very unfortunate happening, can u claim dat not a single temple or a gurudwara has been destroyed in Pakistan since 1947? I also read about Gujarat riots here.. Do any of u know anything abt wat actually happened den? No.. I can guarantee dat no living Pakistani knows anything abt dat. No muslim is stopped from praying in India and it never happens dat for a govt job, a hindu is given higher preference over a muslim just for his religion. Actually in India, minorities have more rights den majority has.. For example, Muslims or Christians can have der own educational institutes where dey have 50% quote for der own community students (eg. Jamia, AMU etc) whereas Hindus dont have right to have der own educational institutes based on religion. Also i read a lot about Orissa christians being atrocized. You ppl dont know much about dat too.. Des r too complex issues to talk about in a post but if anyone wishes to know about indepth truths, dey should research on des topic.. Nd research doesnt mean reading a few articles.. One has to come work on ground level to figure out wat da truth is for themselves..
issue is being exaggerated without any reason or with any reason.
The acceptance problem is a big one in Pakistan because of ego, and unfortunately it is primarily an ego trait. Our people, being a bit more emotional, tend to amplify this trait more so than other people who also have ego issues but at least are not emotional. Dealing with acceptance and tolerance stems from identity, which is a complex issue and any complex issue requires a complex solution. For Britain or France, it is easy to quantify identity because they are nation states that have been established for a long time, so they have had time to evolve. America on the other hand, may struggle with immigration and identity more, so it has continuous initiatives to establish identity, because it is a nation of immigrants finding their place in a frontier land. Pakistan is a land that is very new in the era of nation states (which is the era of our times after the era of empires) and is torn between 3 primary identity issues. a) identity with the old Islamic empire. b) identity with its place in the functioning and ancient sub-continent. c) existing as a post-colonial nation state. So, essentially, a pluralistic approach has to be adopted which validates all these 3 strands and does not look at any as inferior to the next at the stage of policy and development. Incorporation means establishing pride and acceptance of our highly complex and diverse roots of identity as opposed to being repulsed or confused by them. So my point is, if Islam is our past and India is our past, then so be it, they both have had long and diverse influence that has shaped what is modern day pakistan. We can not disentangle ourselves from either of the two, but instead, be pluralistic in our approach of combining these two identities and the many more which we have.
Where is the idea of Ummah (Community) - The constitution of Madinah gone that our Beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW taught us at the time when he migrated to Madinah to live in harmony and peace and respect everyone whether he is Jewish, pagan or Muslim. Very sad to know we have lost the right path. May Allah guide us to right path (Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqiim) (1:5)
Sorry to say, with no offence to my TRULY muslim brothers... We muslims are pathetic!
Shameful bigotry and injustice in the name of Islam.
@Amit Pal Singh:
God is not hearing our prayers, look at the sorry state that we are in. Shame on us Muslims and Shame on Pakistani Government to allow this type of unjustice to our Sikh brorhers.
Few days ago I read the story that "Dawat Islami" men beat 70 year old christian women because "allegedly" her daughter was involved in blasphemy. Dawat Islami is growing very quickly although they always pretend themselves as Peaceful people, since now they are getting power they are jut behaving like normal Muslim extremists.
As a pakistani muslim, my head hangs in shame every time i read of such incidents, but just condemning these heinous act will achieve nothing, in the past and even now when such incidents happen, they are given some media coverage and condemned by a section of society, but nothing is done to ensure that they dont happen again. its time to step up moderate pakistan!!! we need to do something to make sure that anyone who steps on the rights of minorties or any ethnic groups is severly punished. Lets talk about solutions now and make sure such incidents are not repeated!!!
So Pakistan belongs only to the muslims? Maybe India should remove all mosques and make this fair.
The fact that Sikhs are not being allowed to pray in their Gurudwara is a matter of real shame for Pakistan. Intelliegent people of Pakistan, wake up, and do something about bringing back a real democratic, secular and equality based constitution, and get rid of these idiots who are runnning your country.
There is no denying the fact that, in India, after the Babri Masjid episode, a few bad apples tried to taint our proud heritage and history of secularism. But they were thrown out of power. And admittedly, you hear about a few cases of relgious bigotory here and there. But, majority of Indians, believe in living peacefully and coexisting with other religions and cultures. And represent a true melting pot of a country. India wouldn't be a burgeoning power, if the majority didn't think like that.
I am from Pakistan and we really respect other religions and minorities. I traveled south and found Hindus there. Couple of them are friend of mine, who are very much part of our society and doing well. It is an isolated incident and will be investigated. There are courts and whole justice system to prove the ownership.
@Mariya
While not justifying killings of human beings for whatever resons, there are two things that stand out,
A, The Guardian report quoted by you says, after the murder of a Hindu leader last Saturday provoked the violence.
Can you tell me, what has 'provoked' the action against the Sikhs.
B. You further assert Thousands of christians have been killed and converted in Indian state of Orissa
Once again the Guardian report quoted by you says Up to 20 people were reported dead
The report is completely silent on 'conversions'.
Looks like you are 'inventing facts' right, left and centre. I am reminded of Fitna and fisad, are you aware of these concepts?
@All : Good discussion so far :) Glad to see my dear Pakistani and Indian friends sharing a common concern on religious intolerance. Peace to India and Pakistan,
If the comments on this article mean anything, it is only the strength of the secularists in Pakistan. May God bless them. Down with the religious bigots.
This act of denying local Pakistani Sikhs access to Gurdwara is really very sad, and gives a bad name to all muslims and of course one would automatically think that may be it's their faith which encourages some muslims to act like this....though in reality it may be opposite. I also thank all those muslims who have raised their voice against this foolish act of Sohail Butt and his associates.
@Rehan: I know there are good Muslims....99.99999999999999999999...... percent Muslims are good....this planet is surviving because of good people not because of misguided individuals od any religion. Regards, Raj
This is bad !
I am a Pakistani living abroad, and after reading this article, I feel nothing but shame. Islam is a beautiful religion which upholds the sanctity of all religious places and the granting of equal rights to people of all faiths to practice their religion peacefully. It is because of few idiots this religion is portrayed in bad light. My sympathies are with the Sikh community and I can only hope that this situation never happens again.
This is disgusting all religioius islamic fanatics need to be barred from any office of power they like to create tension and trouble for their own political ends.
I apologize on behalf of all Muslims for the actions of this bigoted group to all my Sikh brothers. We would give our lives for you because we are countrymen. My home is open to you to worship as you please. It is a long struggle but we must defeat bigotry and hatred. I am sorry you had to go through this experience.
What a shame and still we do not stop calling ourselves Muslims / infact biggest preachers of Islam. That is height of insanity what else one can say. On the top of it we complain about what happens to Muslims in France (Europe). You get what you do with others.
Condemnable.
@chanzeb.sikhs were gathering there for kirtan not for party.what do u want to state by saying without music there is no issue.
I dont think sikhs should form any opinion about islam. That guy is an extremist. U can find extremists anywhere and in any religion. But whatever happened wasnt good. What we expect from the government is justice. Islam certainly wont allow this sort of act. I am sure.
I am officially disgusted by the attitude of the officials. How dare we say our religion is universally more important than other religions. It's a personal thing. Everyone's religion is important to them, and we MUST respect this. Otherwise if you want to play this game then we better keep our indignation to ourselves when people are unjust to Muslims.
Shame on those of us who hang on to such arrogance.
We must let go of our stupidity and narrowmindedness now! Truly, like Amit said above: will God hear our prayers if we don't allow others to pray? It's called "Huqooq ul Ibaad", not "Huqooq ul Muslimeen". Get with the Divine program.
This is terrible! Bet u these r the typical ones who send meaningless sms during shab-e-barat 'apologizing for all acts which hurt your or cause problems', how very convenient, we sin throughout the year and apologize and expect everything to be honky dory
@my name is khan - " your name is khan and Islam is proud of you "
regards, harry singh
sohail butt, is a disgrace to Islam and it's teachings. Islam teaches tolerance which Mr. Butt does'nt seem to understand.
@Siraj first read hedgefunder review and then say some thing..In my first comment i condemned this in the most strong words...but this does not mean that it gives the luxury to inidans to ridicule pakistanis as the hedgefunder has done..a true example of prejiduce and sterotyping..so what I have done is to make him see the true face of indian secularisam..Siraj and sonam dont go that far with all the negativity around you about pakistan..nations do have ups and downs...with all happening around us and after this dark period there will be a dawn...dawn of progressive pakistan with all the peace and all the communities living together..we will realise soon after all this carnage that peace is the way forward....nations do go through these trouble times and this is the process which shapes the futures of the nation..you will not see a single comment here praising and justifying this act..dont you feel the change...see sikh brother's comment from canada in this article.....let this process go on...after all this we will see Inshallah the pakistan for which Jinnah and Iqbal have dreamed off..Vote for Imran khan.....
contradiction is already published. the story is pack of lies.
This is outrageous!
@Ali: What an idiotic argument....
@saeed: What has it got to do with what we did in Lahore?
@sonam: I agree with you. We will be because we live in a religious understanding that is completely wrong. We consider TTP somehow right by saying all extremist are indian agents forgetting they are all from within us. We will continue to be laughing stock till we start accepting faults within.
@Mariya: So if thousands have been killed in India makes stopping minorities perform their right some how acceptable. Why worry and score points with India. We have to fix our problems irrespective of what happens across the border. Dont change focus of the discussion to India. Issue is us and our pathetic record on minorities.
@Sonam Kapoor....only shame on you...you have become a laughing stock on this article for every one...
We Pakistanis have become the laughing stock of the world. For these reasons we dont get any respect any where we go. Shame on us .
@sumeet:
so ur saying two wrongs can make it right.. and just because u hear news of a sleect few extremists its okay to assume wer all this way? pls stop with the hypocracy.. if we even begin to comapre the numbers b/w the two coutrnies minorities in india are far worse off.. for instance no lives lost here.. had this been india (and it has been inthe past) blood would have shed long time back...
@Hedge..I think you should be ashamed of giving lessons of human rights and minority protections to Pakistanis...those who live in the house of glass can not throw stones on others houses...Sikh holocaust of 1984..burning of Christians and there churches in Orissa and other parts on India...Gujarat riots where your acting chief minister massacred the Muslims..Hindu extremists destroyed the Babri mosque with there own hands in two days where people like you were eating popcorn in there houses looking at the mosque getting ruined..where were your secularisam..not a singel..not a single person is convicted of destroying the babri mosque..even then you can see all the footage..Narinder Modi is named by the wife of your slain congress leader ahsan jaffer..who was killed by Hindu extremists..can you elaborate that also for us please..in this 21st century dalits are not even allowed to pray in the temples belonged to the upper class..is this your secularism you are proud off..Last but no the least...the whole worlds know you Human rights record on Kashmir..how you have killed 85 thousands innocent Kashmirs..even you forces in return of stone pelting youths in Kashmir fire live bullets to kill them..the story can go and on and on..so make sure you see your face first in the mirror before you give any lecture to Pakistanis
Punjab rocks when it comes to lynching members of minority communities. I fail to understand what type of Islam is being practiced in Pakistan, specially in Punjab. Totally unacceptable by all standards. Our whole country is in the tight grip of these intolerant elements. The other day I went to Radio Pakistan - Karachi with a friend. There most of the artists were complaining that their salaries are too low for survival. Some were saying that if 4 - 6 molanas can block main M. A. Jinnah road for unknown purpose then why don't you people come out with your Tablas and Bajas and block the main road so that government also hears your problems also?????? Their reply was in a particular marasi type of joke which I can not pen down. It is for the reader to decide.......
It is very good to note the strong condemnation expressed by all the Pakistani posters here on the ill-treatment done to the Sikhs. This proves that there are many secular and progressive minded Pakistanis still left. I hope that their numbers will grow strongly and rapidly to take back the country from violent Islamists who want to take Pakistan back 1300 years in time.
Hope you will publish my blog which is a fact and same will only spread harmony and love between the two communities. Thanks and regards
Last time I visited pakistan, We went to chawali mashaikh, a religious place near burewala city in south PUNJAB. This is the birth place of baba farid ganj shakar, whose verses are important part of our holy book. Near that place was an old gurdwara related to the visit of our first guru nanak dev to this place. The gurdwara was in bad condition and illegally occupied . Obviously, nobody was aware of its importance and no sikh lived in that region. Later, my friend and our host sanaullah ghumam, a young farmer almost with single handed efforts persuaded the government and the authorities to rennovate and reopen the gurdwara. Within an year the place was given a new look and sanctity restored with a cost of 15 lac rupees. The point to narrate this story is that good and deranged elements exist in all societies. Bad one get instant publicity good one remain in oblivion
There will come a day when there will be Religious Minorities left in Pakistan. That day Pakistan will realize the futility and stupidity of its Ideology.
This is a systemic problem in Pakistan. I agree that these kind of things happen in India too, but there is a difference. In India the Institutions protect you and they are supreme. There is only 1 Institution in Pakistan and that is the Army and it is in no way secular.
There can never be the kind of plurality in Pakistan which can match India. There can never be a A.R.Rahman convert from Hinduism to Sufi form of Islam, who is respected and garlanded all over India.
@Mariya:
I think you are mistaken; Gojra where Christians were burnt alive is in Pakistani Punjab.
It is wrong to say that Babri Masjid was demolished by the Hindus. It was demolished by a narrow minded political party for political gain. But the Hindus of India have never supported this demolition. Proof: 1. After a short gain the political party has been shunned by Hindus and have bitterly lost even in the elections held last month on every seat of 800 contested. 2. Leaders like Advani and his chelas who planned this heinous crime are undergoing trial. And the same God will see that he will be punished. 3. What is happening to the perpetrators of crime in Gujarat? Supreme court and every organisation including media of India is after their blood. If you want to see the attitude of majority Hindu go to Kwaja saheb Ajmer, Go to Haji Ali Bombay or go to Hazrat Bal Shrinagar. Come to India on Ed and see what secular India looks like and thinks.@Ameer Hamza:
Hi, to suhail butt; if this place is burial site of sufi saint then why his ancestor allowed Zakria Khan to kill innocent Sikhs? It is extremely sad. Whenever I meet with the people who visited the Pakistan, they say that the people of Pakistan are very nice people and the welcome the Sikhs visiting there. I think suhail and his group should not be allowed to damage the reputation of Lahori people.
Rightly said Usman Ahmed!!
Here is the answer how Sikhs r treated in Pakistan...as V.I.P http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le1_AOM0T4M&feature=related
@Hedgefunder: Your argument is Miserably Flawed. As I said Ayodha was a property issue so as this is. Matter be resolved on property ownership rule. Who held the property trust right on Babri Masjid. Muslims did. Case was simple. Whoever owned the property at that time is the owner of that place. Indian court should have decided on simple property law ruling. They did it? No. So you can always invent something that so and so was born here or there. But remember what constitution of India says? Do you believe in constitution or now court must start deciding on spiritual Basis too. And If you think they can then put that clause in the constitution so that rest of the modern world should also enlightened by this new development. Your ancient civilization argument is Bogus. If Hindu civilization existed few thousands years back and thats the only reason that you have the right to supercede the constitutional rights of the people, then we can always find somebody who is more ancient than you are. Let them have that land and all other religious sites of your own worship because they are more ancient than you. Bottom line is you can not have both sides of the coin. You will have to select just one. Your supreme court ruling is a travesty of Justice and will go down as a dark day in the history of modern Judicial system around the world where Property dispute is resolved on Supernatural assumptions by the highest court in democratic India. Not only you but rest of your fellow majority Hindu population should be ashamed of this wonderful Judgment . I am glad that when you can not find an appropriate argument to counter your own supreme court decision ( The travesty of Justice) , you look for ways like Ghairat, Haram Halaal, Kafir , non-Kafir. Stick to the subject and don't try to run away. Be ashamed and improve then go into shameful denial Mode lie majority of your countrymen. I Know rest of your time wasting countrymen will bombard this site after reading my this mail and like you, invent ten thousand fake names either Muslims. Sikhs , English and vagues like yours and will try to post their opinions here. Most welcome all of you. But a simple and a fair advise is that You belongs to such a big nation. Can not you have a little courage to speak and reveal a very little truth? I mean reveal your true identities rather than hiding behind Fake Muslims, Sikhs and Christian names.
ETPB is a Pakistan govt body. If the Islamist group mentioned the article is doing some nonsense, I can understand where they come from. But ETPB as a govt body is siding with this Islamist group just because they are Islamic and not based on factual evidence clearly shows the fault line of Pakistan and the ideology behind it's creation. Pakistan is intrinsically non secular by it's ideology. Now don't spin jinnahs quotes about secularism on me. For every secular quote from Jinnah, I can give two fanatical quotes from the same Jinnah. Pakistanis need to learn to lie comfortably in the bed that their founders have prepared for them.
Give the gurdwara back to the Sikhs what moral highground do we have about muslims in India if we treat Sikhs like this
Why would any sane Sikh with self respect live in the Islamic republic of Pakistan? Any nonmuslim in a country with Islam as state religion will be a third class citizen. I hope these people are allowed to migrate to India and given Indian citizenship.
@Raj: If you do get a fatwa, we will be in the same boat unfortunately. TC
The more you hate us, the more we love you.
Let's see whether we both win or no one remains to claim the victory! :)
@Mariya: if you fear for Christians in India, move to Pakistan, they are safe there. I still maintain that Islam is a relion of peace.
Did Babur feel ashamed of what he did to Ram Mandir? Then why should I feel ashamed of what happened to Babur-i-Masjid?
One sohail butt doesnt speak for the whole pakisyani nation..... We as pakistanis are ashamed of such religious bigots..... The first speech the founder of this nation gave was u r free to go to ur temples u r free to go to us mosques....no one has right to remove our sikh bretheren from their temple..... Sorry bros...
@Jahangir Khan: Don't confuse yourself, with this blatant disregards for Human Rights of Minorities in today's Pakistan and don't further bring the issue of Ayodhya, as that was an Ancient civilisation that existed well before Islam was even created, hence the arguments, but rest assure that i did never support either party in the dispute as they both had flaws in their respective arguments !! In fact the People of Pakistan should be Ashamed ! That the very idea of accepting Aid from Non Muslims is Halal and yet mess around with their own minority communities !!! So much for their Ghairat !!!
@Chanzeb: Why? When we are stopped in the west from performing anything we are up in arms branding everyone anti islam what are we doing here..... you can celebrate shab barat in your home no need to be so loud and they are doing it in their religioius building why stop them. Can we be sure there will be no music in Pakistan on that day?
This is un-acceptable...
Extremely sad. Sikh community should immediately contact supreme court. This issue could only settle in court.
We should log the FIR, reach SC or CJP
@raj: get lost and speak for the christians being killed and converted in your country.
Islam enjoins protection of all places of worship, even of those who worship idols. By preventing the Sikhs from using their temple (and also by claiming that it is the burial place of a Muslim), the Dawat-e-Islami is just like the Hindu zealots who demolished Babri Masjid. The Sikhs should get their gurdwara back, and the Muslims thrown out of it.
@Changzeb
gt has a question for you regarding 'azaan' from mosques. What's your take on that?
To all Indians First sort out the issue of Babri Masjid.... thn talk about other things
To Dawat-e-Islami, No mess anymore..... show tolerance to others. that's wht Islam preaches
Thank you Everyone
I may not be able to comment on the controversy of Sikhs not allowed entry into the Sikh Temple since both sides have their own versions of this episode. However, I would like to share an important information with my Muslim friends in Pakistan which may not be known to them ie that the foundation-stone of the * Most Holy Shrine Of Sikhs* Harmandir Sahib Amritsar also popularly known as Golden Temple was laid by Sai Mia Mir a Sufi Muslim Saint in 1588 who resided in Lahore was requested by Guru Arjan Devji Sikhs fifth Guru to come to Amritsar for this noble cause. Even today, a huge garlanded portrait of Mia Mir along with the Sikh's fourth Guru Ram Dassji is displayed in the Langar Hall of GT where free food is distributed to people belonging to any religion for 24 hrs.
The message which the Sikh Guru conveyed to his Sikhs and people of other religions is that there is only One God and the Sikh Shrine didnt belong to Sikhs only but to people of all faiths. Gurbani recited by Baba Faridji a Muslim saint is also included in the holy book of the Sikhs ie Guru Granth Sahib. Hope those who are looking after the temple understand the sentiments of the Sikhs whose Gurus gave so much respect to Muslims.
This is not right, Sikhs deserve to have their space given back to them, this is unjust. Pakistan is not just for Muslims.
Will GOD hear your prayers if u dont allow others to pray???? Plz think about this....
Land mafia in the religious garb. Pakistan: Shame, shame, shame on you.
Is this what Islam or Sufism are about? Religious places of worship need to be respected, whether Sikh, Hindu, Christian, Jain, Buddhist, Jewish or of another tradition. If we do not respect them, how on Earth can we complain when they turn around and do not respect us? Allah sees all that we do, and always stands with the just. If we are not being just, do you think Allah will send us any barakah? We complain about others, but more often than not, are the cause of our own troubles. - Paul Salahuddin Armstrong, Co-Director, The Association of British Muslims.
Shame ful and disrespectful. How can we (Muslims) in USA ask for freedom of speech / religion when in our own land of pure, minorities are at unease due to stupid people like Mr. Butt. I am all out for Sikh communities, if by law it was set to be their day of religious ceremonies, so be it. Mr. Butt should pay for all the damages and banned from enterring the premises or even coming close to it.
Tell me Butt move kilometers away, and there is infamous diamond bazaar - try your luck there and see how many of our fellow muslims will listen to you..... shame on us as Pakistanis and shame on us as muslims too.
PS: the very place which we should be proud of, is always putting us to shame - May Allah give us peace and education so we can respect others views.
@Javed: Hope I will not get a Fatwa for a satire
And all muslims actions don't represent their true religion,In my city there is neither sikh nor hindu but there are temples which are still here
I m pakistani muslim and i condemn this act,It happend in Lahore which is another shock,but it is better for all you people out there just ask any of sikh who live here and if he deny that he is not treated like V.i.P's Then will cm to know that how they live here,In pakistan,the rare things are more valuable and sikhs are one of that example
Acts like these make it extremely difficult for Muslims to chant "Islam is the religion of peace".
Hi, Another note; Sikhs did not participated in the demolition of babri Masjid. In my village and the neighboring villages in east punjab, the mosques are still there.
Hi, The Sikh who visited the Pakistan are telling that people of Pakistan are very nice and they welcome the Sikhs vising the Gurwaras. My question is to Suhail Butt that if this place is a burial site of s sufi saint then why the his great grand parents did not protest the killings of the Sikhs on this holy place by the Zakria Khan? To me Suhail butt is a leader of a gang (like in every big city) who just want to take control of the land for his personal interest and should be stopped by locals.
@Raj Dont judge ISLAM by individual MUSLIMS instead judge a MUSLIM on the teachings of ISLAM...if a muslim is not adhering to the teachings of islam it means that the indvidual is not correct..stop this prejiduce and stereotyping..
These all jali mulahs are the true disease of our society...they built pressure groups and after that use that to influnce it in there politics...ISLAM fully protects the minorites and gives them all the rights they deserve..but these MULLAHS have made the life of common pakistani be it muslim or no muslim a living hell....
what celebrations they are talking about? those crackers and 'phuljaris' and other things like that.....??...if so....at-least Sikhs' music is better than that......
This is truly a shameful act. And shame on the people using the cruelties perpetuated in India on Muslims as a justification. The destruction of Babri Masjid was indeed an atrocity but it does not justify repeated atrocities being perpetuated as a result. How is Islamic to allow the powerful to prey on the weak and to stop them from worshipping at their holy sites?
These Sikhs are our Pakistani brethren and it is sad they're being treated in this shoddy manner. I hope the Punjab Govt. takes the necessary steps to correct this injustice.
@Raj: I fully support your satire. That was the reason for the"HaHa". We dont seem to have the ability to practice what we preach.
@Chanzeb: Music is a central part of their religion, stop being so narrowminded for god's sake!
@Javed: "Raj: HaHa..why are you reacting this way..as a Muslim perhaps you know your religion better....if Islam is not a religion of peace, advise me otherwise so that I change my opinion about Islam.
Who are these people? Who told them that Sikhs can not pray at their religious place? They must have some economic gains attached to this issue. Department of Trust must investigate this and open these doors to Sikh community back. Remember , Islam is all about Justice. Therefore, no injustice be done to any religion within Pakistan. Govt. must go after these culprits who are laying claims on Sikh religious site under the false pretext of a Muslim Saint there. Even if its so, let this Property be given to Sikhs and request them that on certain days they be allowed to visit their saint's Grave. I don't think Sikhs will have any objection.But if they don't allow , then those people can Pray for that Saint from distance . I hope Allah will listen everyone's Prayers no matter its from a certain place or not. The Issue here is of Property and we must not give a shameful decision which was given by the Supreme court of India about Babri Mosque after 19 long years that it has given the more than half of the property to Hindus under a false pretext. It was a property issue which was made Political to usurp the Muslim religious property, laying this case as pretext to Usurp other Muslim religious properties across India. We must not take that kind of Travesty of Justice decision. It was a Sikh Place and Gurdawa. Give it to Sikhs. Thats the Justice . Thats the Property case and it be resolved that way. Those who are laying claims on it Must be Investigated and Those Maulvis must be exposed to the Media and People of Pakistan. Govt of Punjab and State of Pakistan must act quickly and establish true Justice. Thats what is according to the true Islamic Law. Fair Justice.
At most the only "protest" against this has been in the form of comments here, and perhaps a few tweets or likes. . How is this protest going to reach where it is needed? Can someone please fax a copy of the comments to all mosques and madrassas in the country?
We (ISLAM) address the PEACE.
Disgusting. Yet another moment of shame for civil Paki's and yet another moment of ignorance for our impotent government.
I can assure any of these pakistanis and their Ghairat Brigade that India definately treats its not only Muslim minority, but other minorities far better than this !!! In fact i would like my Govt in UK, to start acting like its an Anglo-Saxon Country too ! Why allow the Muslims even to build more Mosques ?? Perhaps even to shut down the ones that exist !!! How would the Pakistanis and the state react to that?? Some secular society this Hypocrates talk about !!!!
People must know a historical fact that sikhs consider Baba Farid Ganj Shakar(RA) one of their fifteen bhagats and for Muslims he is a Sufi of Chisti order whose grandson the organization claims is burried there. If it is a place of respect for both communities then there should be no issues. Both can practice their faithat the same time.
The Prophet of Islam said: “Whoever hurts a non Muslim, I shall be his complainant and for whoever I am a complainant, I shall ask for his right on the day of Resurrection.” (Hadith) He also said: “ Whoever persecutes a non Muslim or demands work from him beyond his capacity or takes something from him with evil intentions, I shall be a complainant against him on the day of Resurrection.”(Hadith)
This is from the "supposed followers" of the GREATEST MAN that ever walked this Erath, ALLAH's Last messenger Muhammad SAW, who actually opened up his own Mosque, Masjid E Nabwi for the visiting Christian delegation to pray !! Shame on US all..
Dear Mr Sohail Butt,
Please learn to respect the minorities in Pakistan and thereafter express your worries if any for Indian minorities.
May god bless you and your friends and help you all to learn to live in peace.
It is very important to practice the preachings as directed by holy Quran, just merely reading them will make you a fake muslim. Try to be a true muslim and be an example for others.
You seem to be a locally powerful man. Use your power for the upliftment of all the members of society.
Breaking musical instruments in no way make you a brave person.
Too many Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan have suffered directly due to the demolition of Babri masjid, an important historical monument of India in 1992/93. The aftermath of Babri masjid demolition was extreme stress on local Muslims as well as murder of over 4000 of them in various parts of India. Then came the Black Friday bombings, perhaps perpetuated by Dawood Ibrahim. The bombings were hailed across some parts of India and Pakistan. Even today, whenever I travel to Hindu dominated parts of Sindh, I can see the scars of the demolitions carried out by fanatical Muslims of many historical and beautiful Hindu and Jain temples (most of the Muslims of Pakistan cannot differentiate between a Jain and a Hindu). Similar stories of destruction were and are still heard across Pakistan. It is rather unfortunate that we, the Muslims of Pakistan, have to take revenge from our Pakistani Hindus for the misdeeds committed by fanatical Hindus of India. I am sure people who claim that Islam is a religion of peace will try to make peace themselves first.
@Ali: yes Mr. Ali we felt the same about the babri mosque. that place was not demolished by some "hindus" or not even that matter was only between hindu n Muslims. that was made worse to deal with by our politicians. they just acted in the manner that was to benefit them only.
I just read about this incident, this is really shameful. No one could even try to stop others to practice their religion, every one has a right to practice their religion in what so ever manner they follow that. I request the authorities to come forward n take some concrete action to maintain peace and mutual harmony.
this problem should br solve amicablly.in delhi,muslims are not allowed to pray in half of their mosques by delhi heritage department.etpb is acceptheir ur instance.2200 muslim mosques are still in control of punjabi hindu/sikhs in state of punjan/haryana..though few of them were released recently. when u go to europe u learn english dont insist on gurumukhi..adjustment is best for everybody.
Isn't Shab-e-Barat the night of forgiveness? Will Sohail Butt and clan be forgiven for this ?
At Ali: I'm unsure if they did, but in what way does it justify this? Also if it is believed to be a burial site, then it should be proven before action is taken.
No different between Muslim and Hindu. both attacked on Innocent Sikh.Pakistan need freedom soon from these Idiots soon. Other wise history will never for forgive Islam.
@ali,babri masjid demolition was indeed a blot but things change with time,it's been nearly 20 yrs.the photograph of pakistan team praying in mohali cricket ground 4 months ago should tell you where we stand today regarding secularism and religious tolerance.
I really like to know that did Sikh brother & sisters react in the same way when fanatic Hindus demolished the Babri mosque?
Its not in Islam to stop other religions celeberating their ceremonies during islamic holy days,
@Raj:HaHa
Sad and disgusting. Throw the extremists out. Give the Gurdwara back to the Sikhs.
Very sad. Chanzeb, u cant tell anyone to not use musical instruments. Its a part of there religion and last time i checked everyone was free to practice their religion in Pakistan. U cant talk about Muslim persecution in India if u cant protect religious minorities in Pakistan. Get the dawate islami out of the Gurdwara. Its a Sikh Gurdwara. Give it back to them.
Sick. We are a worthless country for allowing this mistreatment of Sikhs. The very fact we can say our religion is more important makes me want to vomit. So much for our Deobandis being the liberal ones.
When Sikh pilgrims came here for the samadhi of Ranjeet Singh, Muslims were barred from entering Badshahi Moaque for Zohar prayer...strange this 'newspaper' never published a single line about it!
Cha nzeb,
Since you are so brilliant, using your logic, you should not be unhappy if Muslim shrines are removed from historically Hindu places of worship and azaans from mosques are not allowed to disturb any Hindus or Hindu localities in India. You should write such a letter giving your advice and permission and send it to Deoband and all major Urdu dailies. Maybe they will make you head of Pakistan Defense Forces yet, given your brilliance.
Sad...People need to mind their own business and let others worship and celebrate whatever it is that they want.
look at the hypocrisy in the land of the pure.yet they shed crocodile tears for minorities in india.
What are we? Animals or Humans? I think neither as they both behave within the norms set by either group.We have transcended into the lowest form of Invertebrate challanging the Omnipotent Creator to face our Egotism. Perhaps here the Punjabi Leadership no matter which political or religious party the belong to must accept or reject publicly the creations of Allah which adheres to their whims and not their senses.
This is shocking.
Maybe Sohail Butt needs to be thrown out of the Indian subcontinent, since his religion is imposing itself on the cultural space of the Hindus, which is throughout the Indian subcontinent.
Whatever hapes, everyone has its right ,but sikh must asure Dawat Islami that they wil do ther things without music then this could not b a big isue!
Islam is a religion of peace..