Shaheedi of Guru Gobind Singh's Younger SahibZadayz

[gabroo_shakeen]

2004-12-26

On this day SahibZadays Zarowar Singh and Fateh Singh (sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji) were bricked up alive for refusing to convert to to Islam.

INNOCENT CHILDREN MARTYRED

During the catastrophe that befell in crossing the flooded Sarsa river, the companions of the Guru and his family were scattered in different directions. Mata Jit Kaur, Mata Sahib Kaur and their two female attendants, Bhai Mani Singh, Dhana Singh and Jawahar Singh, were all together in one group. Jawahar Singh who was an inhabitant of Delhi, took this whole group to his house in Delhi. Guru's old mother and his two younger sons, went with Gangu Brahman to his village Saheri near Morinda. Gangu worked in Guru's kitchen for twenty-one years. Guru's mother, Mata Gujri was carrying money in a bag. Seeing Mata's money, Gangu got tempted forgetting that he ate Guru's salt for twenty-one years. As Mata Gujri was half-asleep, Gangu stole the money and shouted,"Thief, thief," to create the impression that some thief stole the money. Mataji encountered Gangu and told him that she did not see anybody else entering the house. Upon this he tried to defend himself by saying that he was being blamed because he had given shelter to the homeless and the outlawed. Instead of admitting his guilt, he ordered them to leave his house. Gangu finally handed them over to the police officer of Morinda who in turn took them to Wazir Khan, the viceroy of Sirhind. They were imprisoned in a tower.

Next morning the two children, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, were presented in the court of the viceroy. Wazir Khan reflected that if the children became Mohammadans, it would be a glory to his faith- Islam. He, therefore, told them that if they accepted Islam, he would grant them an estate, would marry them to the princesses and they would be happy and be honored by the Emperor. The nine years old Zorawar Singh replied," Our grandfather, Guru Tegh Bahadur, parted with his head but not with his religion and he ordered us to follow his example. It is best that we should give our lives to save the Sikh religion and bring down God's vengeance on the Turks," continued Zorawar Singh,"O viceroy, I spurn your religion and will not part with my own. It has become the custom of our family to forfeit life rather than faith. Why do you seek to tempt us with worldly ambitions? We shall not be led astray by the false advantages of your offer."

Wazir Khan could not endure such an outspokenness and got very angry. He decided that he must put these children to death. Sucha Nand, a Hindu minister supported Wazir Khan by implying that their arrogant words were uncalled for. He ignited Wazir Khan's anger by saying that when these children grew up, they would follow their father's foot steps and would destroy enemies. Therefore, this progeny of a cobra must be smothered in time. At that time, outspoke Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan of Maler Kotla," O viceroy, these children are still drinking milk in the nursery, and are too young to commit an offence and know not good from evil. The holy Quran does not allow the slaughter of innocent and helpless children. Therefore be pleased to release them." In spite of his appeal, the Qazi confirmed that the holy law would give the infidels the choice between Islam and death.

It is said that in order to bring the children to submission to Islam, they were made to enter, next day, through a very small door while the Quran was displayed on the other side. The idea was that as the children would enter the door with their heads down, they would then be told that they had bowed to the holy Quran and thereby to Islam. When the children saw that trap, the seven years old Sahibzada Fateh Singh threw his feet first instead of his head while entering through the small door. Throwing the feet towards the Quran meant an insult to Islam. Wazir Khan, therefore, could not conquer the nine and seven years old children of Guru Gobind Singh. When every effort failed to convert the children to Islam, it was finally ordered that they should be bricked alive in the wall. A wall was, therefore, built step by step on their tender limbs until it came up to the shoulders of Sahibzada Fateh Singh. The executioner advanced with his sword, and asked whose head he should chop off first? Upon this Sahibzada Fateh Singh said," Listen O executioner, since the wall has reached my shoulders first, therefore cut off my head first." Sahibzada Zorawar Singh exhorted,"No, you cannot cut off his head till you do mine, because I am the eldest and therefore, I have the right to go first. Cut off my head first." Hearing such a strange debate, the wholeassembly of Wazir Khan's court was stunned. The small children were ridiculing the angel of death. The chronicler states that Sahibzada Fateh Singh's head was cut off first. Therefore, that place is called Fatehgarh Sahib to commemorate the memory of the young children. When this news was delivered to Mata Gujri in the tower, where she was waiting for them, she breathed her last on the spot. This treacherous event took place on the 13th Poh, Sambat 1762 ( 27th of December, 1705). A rich Sikh called Todar Mal cremated the bodies of the Guru's mother and her grandsons. A Gurdwara stands to symbolize their memory.

As Nura Mahi narrated the tale of woes, Rai Kalla and other listeners were torn with grief and wept bitterly. The Guru was unruffled and remained as composed as ever. When Mahi finished his distressing story, the Guru thanked God for the glorious and triumphant end of his sons. He then addressed to the Almighty," O God, Thou gavest me father, mother, and four sons. They were all Thy trust to me. Today I have been successful and happy in restoring that entire trust back to Thee." While the Guru was listening to Mahi's story, he was digging up a shrub. He then pronounced,"As I dig up this shrub by the roots, so shall the Turks be extirpated." The Guru also remarked," No, my sons are not dead. They have returned to their Eternal Home. It is Sirhind that shall die."





Pictures of the Gurdwara which stands on the spot where the two SahibZadays were martyred.

May they rest in peace. Waheguru.

[GABHRUbaby]

Give us back ‘chuna wali diwar’, say devotees
Tribune News Service

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 25
The ‘darshan’ of the ‘bhaura’ (basement room in the gurdwara here) in which the young sons of Guru Gobind Singh were bricked alive is a must on the itinerary of 70-year-old Amrik Singh of Sultanpur village during the three-day Jor Mela.

However, it is a ‘darshan’ which is twinged with pain. Pain at the manner in which the original character of the ‘bhaura’ has been changed beyond recognition by successive ‘kar seva’ conducted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

“The walled enclosure in the basement of the gurdwara here is nothing like it was when I first came here in 1955 after my matric examination,” says Amrik Singh. “The stress on modernity and flashiness has robbed the shrine of its original character,” he says.

Marble hides the lower part of the wall as well as the upper part, where decorative floral patterns have been made. Some parts of the wall have been painted with a dark shiny paint.

“Wheras the entire room glitters of gold and marble, it was not always like this,” say devotees. Amrik Singh claims when he first saw the wall it has a two-inch crack on one side. Others like Swarn Singh of Gopalan village, near here, said he remembered the wall for its small “Sirhindi” bricks which had been joined with lime mortar. “We referred it to as ‘chuna wali diwar’ or ‘suki diwar’ because it was difficult to make out the lime mortar.”

Swarn Singh says the first changes took place in 1971 when during a “kar seva” part of the wall was repaired with cement. “After that there were many additions on the wall, including painting it red and the latest being a horrific shiny paint which hides the character of the original bricks.”

Swarn Singh says the ‘kar seva’ in the shrine has not only changed the character of the original wall, but also led to uprooting of a huge tree which Moti Mehra used to climb to offer milk to the sahibzadas, when the latter were incarcerated in the ‘thanda burj’.

Though many other devotees are ‘pained’ at the development and want that all “add ons” in the walled enclosure be removed, others are not surprised.

“We have a history of doing away with heritage,” says Hargopal Singh Fatehgarh Sahib. “See what has been done at Machhiwara, Patna Sahib, Damdama Sahib and other historic gurdwaras,” he adds.

The Sikh ‘sangat’ seems to be somewhat steering towards protecting whatever is left of its heritage after decades of enthusiastic ‘kar seva’ under the late SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

Mr Badal said kar seva heads would be told in future not to demolish old structures. “It is to be seen whether Mr Badal moves to restore the character of the ‘bhaura’ here,” says Hargopal.

[typeOnegative]

Touching story. But I am kind of uncomfortable with the way reference has been made to Islam and the 'Hindu' 'traitors'. Do we really require this? Now?

[Cunard]

Originally Posted by typeOnegative

Touching story. But I am kind of uncomfortable with the way reference has been made to Islam and the 'Hindu' 'traitors'. Do we really require this? Now?

i just skimmed through it, but where does it call somone a traitor?

sorry if i missed it

[typeOnegative]

Originally Posted by Cunard

i just skimmed through it, but where does it call somone a traitor?

sorry if i missed it

Well no one is called a traitor but the implication is that Gangu was. It may be the truth but I am not comfortable with the way the article is written thats all.

[Khal]

U shouldn't be offended at all. If a person calls himself a Muslim and kills innocent children, then Islam is not responsible for that. I've done some research on Islam for 6 years so i hope this will cheer u up.

A man shall not take the burden or another’s sins.
006.164
Say: Shall I seek another than Allah for Lord, when He is Lord of all things? Each soul earneth only on its own account, nor doth any laden bear another's load. Then unto your Lord is your return and He will tell you that wherein ye differed.

The Quran condemns forced conversions..
002.256
Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

What the Quran says about taking the life of one innocent soul.
005.032
if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our messengers with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.


Guru Granth Sahib orders us to respect the Quran..
[color=green]byd kqyb khhu mq JUTy JUTw jo n ibcwrY ] (1350-5, pRBwqI, Bgq kbIr jI)
bayd katayb kahhu mat jhoothay jhoothaa jo na bichaarai.
Do not say that the Vedas and the Quran are false. Those who do not contemplate them are false.




Guru Nanak defines a Muslim in the Guru Granth Sahib ..

muslmwxu khwvxu musklu jw hoie qw muslmwxu khwvY ] (141-10, mwJ, mÚ 1)
musalmaan kahaavan muskal jaa ho-ay taa musalmaan kahaavai.
It is difficult to be called a Muslim; if one is truly a Muslim, then he may be called one.

Avil Aauil dInu kir imTw mskl mwnw mwlu muswvY ] (141-11, mwJ, mÚ 1)
aval a-ul deen kar mithaa maskal maanaa maal musaavai.
First, let him savor the religion of the Prophet as sweet; then, let his pride of his possessions be scraped away.

hoie musilmu dIn muhwxY mrx jIvx kw Brmu cukwvY ] (141-11, mwJ, mÚ 1)
ho-ay muslim deen muhaanai maran jeevan kaa bharam chukhaavai.
Becoming a true Muslim, a disciple of the faith of Mohammed, let him put aside the delusion of death and life.

rb kI rjwie mMny isr aupir krqw mMny Awpu gvwvY ] (141-12, mwJ, mÚ 1)
rab kee rajaa-ay mannay sir upar kartaa mannay aap gavaavai.
As he submits to God's Will, and surrenders to the Creator, he is rid of selfishness and conceit.

qau nwnk srb jIAw imhrMmiq hoie q muslmwxu khwvY ]1] (141-12, mwJ, mÚ 1)
ta-o naanak sarab jee-aa mihramat ho-ay ta musalmaan kahaavai. ||1||
And when, O Nanak, he is merciful to all beings, only then shall he be called a Muslim. ||1||

The article posted above is very significant to our history. The Sikh Gurus had to go through a lot of sacrifices to help humanity. Standing up against a political movement is not an easy job, so the article is pointing out that in order to bring a reform u have to make many sacrifices. However, there is something i don't like about this author and few sikh scholars. They use the term "Mohammadan" a lot. Is that even an Islamic term ? I I think the Sikhs should stop using such terms. I hope that changes over the years
Guru Granth Sahib also shows respect towards the Gurus of every religion.
kbIru pUMgrw rwm Alh kw sB gur pIr hmwry ]5] (1349-17, pRBwqI, Bgq kbIr jI)
kabeer poongraa raam alah kaa sabh gur peer hamaaray. ||5||
Kabeer is the child of God, Allah, Raam. All the Gurus and prophets are mine. ||5|


P.S Usually the thread locks up as soon i come and reply..

[typeOnegative]

Hey Khal, nice post. I understand your viewpoint and appreciate that you can think straight. However articles like the one above are used irresponsibly quite often. For example Christian leaders justifying the holocaust against Jews based on an incident that happened 2000 years ago.

[Khal]

The reason behind that is most Sikhs don't read the Guru Granth sahib these days. To be a Sikh means to looks at everyone equally. Just because my religion is newer than yours, that doesn't mean its greater. If i think like that then I am not satisfying God, but instead i am only satisfying my own ego. Is there a point towards that ? I don't think so. Besides if someone is going to talk about another religion, then i think it’s important for that person to learn about that religion first. And in my years of research Islam, I have concluded that Islam is a peaceful religion. It’s just that they were many Muslim tyrants rulers in the past that never represented Islam in any way. And Guru Granth distinguishes between these so called Muslims and what is the real Islam or the what message of God is.

[gabroo_shakeen]

Originally Posted by Cunard

i just skimmed through it, but where does it call somone a traitor?

sorry if i missed it

Nobody is called a traitor, but its probably referring to Gangu, and he was a traitor.

[typeOnegative]

Originally Posted by Khal

It’s just that they were many Muslim tyrants rulers in the past that never represented Islam in any way. And Guru Granth distinguishes between these so called Muslims and what is the real Islam or the what message of God is.

I think the Guru Granth Sahib is faultless there. I am more concerned about how people go about interpreting things thats all. Not everyone really researches their religion and that of others.

And yes what you said about Islam is very true. Respect.