Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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them was that they were required to pay Jaziya which was designed to
humiliate them. ‘No other religious authority except the great Imam
(Hanifa), whose faith we follow, has sanctioned the imposition of the
Jaziya on Hindus. According to all other theologians, the rule for
Hindus is ‘Either death or Islam.’ 21
The Sikh thesis aimed at the total emancipation of man. It did
not regard religion as a ritual or ceremonial obligation, or as a mere
quest for spiritual bliss, which could be at the same time compatible
with political slavery or religious dictation. Hence, confrontation with
the Muslim State based on the interpretation of the Shariatic law, as
indicated above, was inherent in the Sikh thesis itself. How this
confrontation developed was a question of time and circumstances.
Emperor Jahangir wrote in his autobiography : “A Hindu named
Arjan lived at Govindwal on the bank of river Beas in the garb of a
saint and spiritual guide. As a result many of the simple-minded Hindus
as well as ignorant and foolish Muslims had been persuaded to adopt
his ways and manners and he had raised aloft the standard of sainthood
and holiness. He was called Guru. From all sides cowboys and idiots
became his fast followers. This business had flourised for three or
four generations. For a long time it had been in my mind to put a stop
to this vain affair (Dukan-e-batil) or to bring him in the fold of Islam.” 22
it is clear that the fact of some Muhammadans having become followers
of the Guru had irked Jahangir. Sheikh Ahmad Sarhindi, the head of
the Naqshbandi Sufi order, was the leader of a revivalist movement
of Islam. He had raised a standard of theological revolt against Akbar’s
religious liberalism and was given the titles of ‘Reviver of the second
millennium’, and the ‘Godly Imam’. 22a When he heard the news of
Guru Arjan’s execution,he was very much delighte. This is what he
wrote to Murtza Khan, the Governor of Lahore: ‘The execution at
this time of the accursed Kafir of Govindwal… is an act of the highest
grace for the followers of Islam.’ 23 In other words, the Sheikh, who
was not a politician and looked at the situation from his religious point
of view, regarded the Guru a great hurdle in the way of Islam, because
be calls his execution as an act of the ‘highest grace’. It could be for
three reasons. The Shariat law forbade the conversion of Muslims