SHABAD
Literally: Word, sound, speech, dialogue.
In the context of Guru Granth Sahib, Shabad means a stanza of any verse.
SHABAD GURU
It has two meanings: 1. Word of the Guru: Guru’s writings, Guru’s teachings as revealed in history 2. Word as Guru. For a Sikh Word (hymns) of the Gurus too have the status of Guru:
Shabad (Baani) is Guru and Guru (his sayings) is Shabad.
Within the Bani, al the Amrit (nectar of spiritual life) is contained.
(Guru Granth Sahib, pp. 982)
The True Guru is the Word, and the Word is the True Guru,
(the Word) teaches the Path of Liberation.
(Guru Granth Sahib, pp. 1309)
The Word of the Guru and spiritual teacher, profound and unfathomable;
without the Shabad, the world is insane. (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 635)
From the air came the beginning.
This is the age of the True Guru’s Teachings.
The Shabad is the Guru, upon whom I lovingly focus my consciousness; I am the disciple. (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 943)
From Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikhs received Gurus’ teachings from their mouth and through their Baani (Shabad, Word). On 6 October 1708, Guru Gobind Singh ended the chain of human Guru and asked the Sikhs to seek instructions from Guru Granth Sahib (which contained the entire message revealed to the Gurus by God). As Guru’s Shabad is revelation, Gurbaani is message of God.
In Sikhism, Shabad as Guru did not begin from October 6, 1708. Even Guru Nanak had proclaimed that Shabad was his (Guru Nanak Sahib’s) Guru. In Sikhism, philosophy is everything, and the Gurus, through whom God gave the Baani (Shabad, Word), are to be respected, but it is only the Baani (Shabad, Word) that matters.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)