Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

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to other faith. It advocated the forcible conversion of non-Muslims
to Islam and, failing that, their reduction to second-rate citizens
(Zimmis).
The confrontation between the Sikh movement and the
Muhammadan power bent upon enforcing the Shariat was, therefore,
inevitable. It was a clash between two opposed ideologies. It was not
a question of mere conversion from one sect to another. Nor was it
merely because the state happened to be a Muhammadan state. It was
rather an irony of fate that the followers of the two religions, which
were so close to each other, at least in their social approach, were to
be locked in an unavoidable collision. Had there been a Hindu state
at that time, and had it tried to impose caste regulations on the Sikh
movement, the conflict between that Hindu state and the Sikh
movement would have been as inevitable as it became in the present
case. The basic principle of creating a free society was involved. The
Sikh Gurus could not remain indifferent when religious freedom was
denied.
4. Religion and Politics Entwined
The struggle of the Sikh movement against the Muslim State
based on the Shariatic law was as much political as it was religious. In
the theocratic Muslim State, politics could not be separated from
religion. ‘Civil law is completely subordinated to Religious law and,
indeed, merges its existence in the latter. The civil authorities exist
solely to spread and enforce the true faith.’ 23a One Brahmin was put to
death simply for saying that as is Islam true, so is Hinduims, 24 and the
penalty for apostasy according to the Shariat was death. This part of
the Shariatic law and other injunctions for the suppression or the
forcible conversion of non-Muslims could not be enforced without
political power. Also, the Muslim rule in India, which was an
imposition on non-Muslim who were in a great majority, depended
mainly on the support of the Muslims who were rallied around on the
plea that the Muslim rulers were the upholders and propagators of the
Shariat. The imposition of the Shariatic law on non-Muslims and the political
power of the Muslim State were, therefore, inseparably related to each other.
Consequently, any movement, which stood for complete human freedom