Hinduism,

Islam,
&
Sikhism
Danielle Hamilton
HUMA 2300

Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism are both eastern and western traditions. They all have
similarities and differences in their histories, and beliefs.
Hinduism is the oldest recorded religion (1200 BC). However, there is no
founder/prophet/teacher. Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak. Islam was led by the
prophet Muhammad. Muhammads and Guru Nanaks revelations both came between the
ages of 30 and 40 (Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.:
Pearson, 2014. Print). Hinduism is thought to be a cross pollination of many different
cultures. Sikhs, had a succession of 10 Gurus, and Islam had a succession of caliphs. Islam
developed out of Christianity, and Sikhism is believed to be a mix between Hinduism and
Islam.
Islam and Sikhism have one sacred site. Hinduism has many different temples but no
one in particular that is the most sacred. Islams sacred site is located in Mecca, Saudi
Arabia. Muhammad designated Mecca as the holy city (Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions.
9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2014. Print). This is where Muslims make there
pilgrimage to the Kabah which was built by Abraham. Sikhs Golden temple is located in
Amritsar, India. Now known as Harmindir Sahib. Both Hinduism and Sikhism originated in an
area known today as India. Islam, however, originated in the Middle East. Islam began in an
area of nomadic polytheistic tribes (Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle
River, N.J.: Pearson, 2014. Print).
Islams sacred text is the Quran. Sikhisms holy text is the Granth Sahib, or the Adi
Granth. Hinduisms texts are the Smriti and the Shruti. Smriti is the book of folklore, and

Shruti is the book of revelation. Smriti is also that which is remembered, and Shruti is
that which is heard. Similar to the Quran, and Sunnah. The Quran is revelation, where
the Sunnah is example and tradition (Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper
Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2014. Print).
Islam and Sikhism are monotheistic religions. Whereas, Hinduism is polytheistic.
Meaning that Muslims and Sikhs both believe in one God, and Hindus believe in many
different manifestations of their God. Muslims call their God Allah, and Sikhs call theirs
Nam. Not all Hindus worship the same deities. There are many different sects that worship
many different deities. There are 330 million different deities in Hinduism (Fisher, Mary Pat.
Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2014. Print). Hindus believe in
Brahman, the all pervasive energy of the universe.
Brahman has three main manifestations: Brahma the creator, Vishnu, the preserver,
and Shiva the destroyer. Both Islam and Sikhism believe their Gods to be the ultimate
Creator of the universe. Muslims believe that Allah has four purposes: creation,
sustenance, guidance, and judgment (Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper
Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2014. Print).
Hinduism believes in dharma, meaning duty. By following your dharma, you
accumulate good karma. Eventually you will you will reach Samadhi (enlightenment).
Samadhi will then lead to moksha, which is liberation from samsara (reincarnation). Sikhs
also believe in samsara and karma. Muslims believe in judgment day, resurrection, heaven

and hell. They also believe in Angels and Jinn. Sikhs do not believe in heaven or hell (Fisher,
Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2014. Print).
Unlike, Islam and Hinduism, Sikhs have specific qualifications that they must meet
to be considered a Sikh. To be a Sikh you must believe in the one God. Second, they must
believe in the holy text, the Adi Granth. Next, is the belief in Khalsa. Khalsa is a community
of Pure Ones pledged to a special code of personal discipline. Last is the belief in the ten
gurus.
Sikhs must also live by the 5 Ks. First is Kesh. This is unshorn hair, and symbolizes
hygiene, and a connection to Guru Gobind Singh. Second is Kanga. This is the comb tucked
into their hair, it represents discipline. Next is Kach. This is the shorts they wear for fighting.
They symbolize agility, and chastity. Fourth is Kara. This is the steel bracelet that is worn on
their sword arm. It represents defense, and moral action. Last is Kirpan. This is the sword
that they carry around. This symbolizes dignity and justice (Fisher, Mary Pat. Living
Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2014. Print).
Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism all have stages of life. Islams stages of life is called the
Sufi Way. It has seven different stages. The stages are: repentance, abstinence from worldly
pleasures, detachment or isolation from the world, solitude, poverty, patience, selfsurrender to God. The seven stages are comple when ego leaves and divine love enters
the human soul (Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.:
Pearson, 2014. Print).

Hinduism has four different stages of life. The first stage is Student, this lasts
between 8-12 years of age. It includes: initiation, dharma (respectful, celibate, and nonviolent), and lives with a teacher (guru). The second stage is the Householder stage. This is
marriage age, where you pay off your debts. This is a superior stage, principle dharma is
performed, and the community comes first. Guru Nanak was born a householder. The next
stage is Retirement/Forest Dweller. This is where you dwell in the forest as hermits, and
gradually detach yourself from the physical world. The last stage is Sannyasin. This is the
world renouncer. This is where there is no responsibility, object of worship, and shed
physical body for liberation (Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River,
N.J.: Pearson, 2014. Print).
There are four stages of Sikhhood. Stage one is Manmukh. This is a person that is
self-centered, and is oblivious to God. Their focus is on the material world. Stage two is
Sikh. Anyone who sets out on the path of learning and meet the specific definition of a sikh.
The third stage is Khalsa. This is a total dedication to Sikhism. One who has shed his ego and
personality and truly honors the memory of Guru Gobind Singh through his actions and
deeds. Stage four is Gurmukh. This is one who has achieved mukhti (salvation) and is totally
God-centered (Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson,
2014. Print). Both stages from Islam and Hinduism involve renouncing the world. Sikhism on
the other hand does not believe in asceticism, they believe in making an honest living. This
is a part of the three central teachings of Guru Nanak.

Sikhism is the only out of the three religions to have central teachings. The first of
the central teachings is hard work/honest living. You must live a disciplined life, no begging,
and no asceticism. The second is sharing your earnings. Their social order is based on
equality, justice, and service. Another part of sharing earnings is charity and langar, which is
a community meal. The last teaching is remembering God through meditation and devotion
(Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2014. Print).
A big difference between Hinduism and Sikhism is the caste system. Hindus believe
in a caste system with has five different classes. The Brahmins is the highest caste, it
includes the priests and philosophers. The next class down is the Ksatriyas. These are the
warriors, administrators, and government. Next is the Vaishyas. These are the skilled
laborers. Shudras are the next class. This includes the manual laborers and artisans. The
lowest of the castes is the Dalits. Otherwise known as the oppressed or untouchables. Sikhs
do not believe in a caste system. Guru Nanak got rid of the castes and decided and believed
that there should be equality (Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River,
N.J.: Pearson, 2014. Print).
The equality of women is another similarity and difference between Islam, Hinduism,
and Sikhism. Sikhs have egalitarian view, and believe that women be seen as equal in the
eyes of God and in the eyes of men. They can do all that the men can do religiously, but
cannot be priests. However, sons are honored over daughters. For Hindus, women are
highly venerated in the spiritual system. Women have been marginalized in society with
very low status since the 18th century. There has been a rise in female gurus and saints.

Islam women are respected and protected by men. Women must dress modest. The
hijab differs from culture to culture. The heavy cover and veil are not a religious
requirement. They have the right to: vote (citizenship), inherit, work, earn, keep their own
money, keep their own name in marriage, initiate divorce, and refuse additional wives
(Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2014. Print).
This paper and class has really made me think differently and more in depth about
religions. I feel that I am better experienced, and that it has challenged me to broaden my
views and ways of thinking. This class has encouraged me to study a few of the religions on
my own time. It has really peaked my interest for learning. I am now more aware and notice
some of the things that we learned in class in my daily life throughout the community.

Citations
Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2014. Print.