Dos & Donts for a Sikh

DOs & DON’Ts FOR A SIKH:

Four major Prohibitions for a Sikh

[to be strictly followed by a Sikh]:-

Must not cut hair.
Must not eat Halaal (meat).
Must not use tobacco (or drugs) in any form.
Must not commit adultery.

[The one who violates any one of these four, becomes a Patit (apostate)].

Some secondary prohibitions for a Sikh:

Should not enter into brotherhood with any member of the recalcitrant groups: Minas, Masands, Dhirmallias, Ramraiyas, Nirankaris or those who, having once embraced Sikhism, take to shaving, smoking, or committing female infanticide.
Should not dye or pick out any grey hair.
Should not receive money in return of a daughter’s hand in marriage. It includes giving/accepting dowry as well.
Should not use any drug or intoxicant.
Should not perform any ceremony, which violates any of the Sikh principles.
Should not break any vow taken at the time of Khande Di Pahul.

(One who violates of any of these seven prohibitions becomes a Tankhaahiya and he/she is liable to disciplinary action).

A Sikh must :

* have faith One God.

* believe in “one-ness” of the Ten Gurus

* live his/her life according to the teaching of the Gurus

* take Khande-di-Pahul (initiation) as early as possible

* worship (i.e. have faith in) God alone. (Sikhs don’t worship God in ordinary sense of the term)

* always use Singh as last name of a male and Kaur of a female.

* learn reading, writing and speaking Punjabi language and script

* acquire maximum knowledge of the Sikh history and the Sikh philosophy

* impart knowledge of Sikhism to his/her children

* teach Punjabi language and Gurmukhi script to his/her children

* perform family ceremonies as per Gurbaani and the Sikh culture

* visit Gurdwara and join Sangat frequently

* earn livelihood by honest means

* offer Daswandh (tithe) of his earnings for the community

* participate in community service

* believe in equality (of caste, colour, creed, gender etc.)

* protect the weak and the oppressed; oppose injustice

* participate in the welfare of the Sikh Motherland

* remain conscious of the perseverance of the Sikh identity

* perform family functions as simple as possible

* have simple food habits (no intoxicants/tobacco/drugs etc.)

* get up early in the morning, as early as possible (a Sikh should not be a lazy being).

* purge one’s mind of five vices i.e. Kaam (lust), Krodh (anger), Lobh (avarice), Moh (attachment) and Hankaar (vanity) etc

* purge oneself of Haumai (ego)

A Sikh MUST NOT :

* bow before any one except Guru Granth Sahib.

* pray/worship in a temple, mosque, church, synagogue or any place of worship of any religion other than Sikhism. A visit for other purpose is, however, not prohibited. But, a Sikh must respect the faith/religion of the others.

* worship or bow before idols, statues or pictures (even of Guru) etc. (There is no real picture of the Guru Sahib; but even if there was a real picture, it is still against Sikh philosophy to bow before it).

* believe in magic, occult power, superstitions etc.

* seek auspicious moments, eclipses.

* practice infanticide or Sati (widow burning).

*observe fast e.g. Karva Chauth, Ramzaan etc. (fasting otherwise for health reasons is not prohibited). Sangraand (first day of the Hindu Bikrami calendar), Massya, Pooranmaasi etc. have nothing to do with Sikhism and to observe these days is against the Sikh ideology.

* believe in wearing of the (so-called) sacred thread, other symbols or similar rituals.

* observe Sharaadhs (annual rituals for the dead).

*have socio-religious relations with Radhasoamis, Nirankaaris, Kookas (Naamdhaaris) and the other cults or the other groups of the saadhus and (so-called) sants etc (they are all impostors).

* move in public without Dastaar (the Sikh turban).

* renounce the world (should lead an householder’s life i.e. active life).

* use tobacco, drugs, intoxicants etc.

* observe purdah (veil). (But, Beauty Contests are not in consonance with the Sikh ideology).

* abort a child in womb.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)