Sikh scriptures entrusted to Gurdwara Sahib

In a bid to strengthen Muslim-Sikh alliance, Mitr Sanjh Punjab, a local Sufi association, had recently agreed to transfer 110-year old copies of rare Sikh manuscripts to the administration of Gurdwara Baba Di Beri in Sialkot.

Following decision, the ancient Sikhi Saroop, which had remained in the possession of a Sufi family in Gujrat, has now been safely handed over to Granthi Sardar Jaskaran of the said Gurudwara.

According to Mitr Sanjh Punjab head Iftikhar Warraich Kalravi, the two manuscripts of Guru Granth Sahib had long been in the safekeeping of Pir Syed Munir Naqshbandi, a revered Sufi elder from Kalra Dewan Singhwala village of Gujarat.

“Apart from sheltering the family, he had also salvaged some of their religious scriptures and kept them from being desecrated. Among them were the two manuscripts of Guru Granth Sahib. When the Sufi elder passed away in the year 1950, he had left the scriptures in the safekeeping of his children and since then they have remained with the family,” said Kakravi. Per details, Guru Granth Sahib is the central religious scripture of Sikhism.

It is regarded by the religion’s followers as the final, sovereign and eternal living Guru, following the lineage of the ten human gurus of the religion.

While the Granth Sahib itself is composed by six Sikh Gurus, it also contains the poetic teachings of thirteen Hindu Bhakti movement and two Sufi Muslim poets. Yet however, although the Granth acknowledges and respects scriptures of Hinduism and Islam, it does not imply any moral reconciliations with either.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Kalravi said that Pir Sufi Munir Naqshbandi had always campaigned for Muslim-Sikh brotherhood, while also campaigning for interfaith harmony in general.

“He was known for his kindness and this what led to the revered Sikh manuscripts coming into his possession. After over 90 years of safekeeping within the Pir’s family, we have now decided that the manuscripts should now be rightfully transferred to Gurdwara Sahib. This is a great example of Muslim-Sikh friendship and will help further strengthen our relationships.”

However, in 2015, the Evacuee Trust Board and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee restored the building, after which it once again started welcoming Sikh pilgrims and devotees from near and far.

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