Hukam

HUKAM

Hukam (literally: order) means the Command.

In Sikhism, everything and all phenomena occur under God’s Order, hence hukam is regarded as God’s Command; it is also known as natural order.

The creation, life, birth, joy, sorrow, pain, pleasure are all under His Order.

One comes in Order, dies in Order.

The seen world is created in Order.

Obeying Order one wears the robe of honour in His Court;

He unites with True and merges. (Guru Granth Sahib, p.1037)

The whole world is created in Order.

Those who obey Order, get happiness,

Order rules over the kings of kings. (Guru Granth Sahib, p.1055)

He creates in Order, destroys in Order.

It happens lacs of times in one moment. (Guru Granth Sahib, p.1289)

Guru Nanak Sahib, in Japji Sahib, while answering the question: “How to become Sachiaar (truthful person)?” says that one can become Sachiar “by living according to His Will and Order.” Hukam is writ on every phenomenon.

When one understands His Order, one does not suffer from the delusion created by ego.

In Sikh philosophy, self-realization/liberation, too, can be achieved by His Will. One can strive, by living life according to His Hukam but, still, it is His Hukam, which grants us even realization for understanding His Hukam.

Living life according to His Hukam does not entitle one to liberation, but it is fulfillment of one’s requirements to become a candidate for His Grace.

Everyone is within the fold of Order,

None is outside (His) Order.

Nanak says, “If one realizes the Order,

He will not fall prey to ego”. (Guru Granth Sahib, p.1)

This mind has no form, no design,

It is from Order, will realizing be in Order. (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 330)

If reflecting-over Order is accepted,

Then one can get into the home of Master. (Guru Granth Sahib, p.471)

Hukam also means permission, sanction.

Hukam, in the Sikh culture, is used in another sense too. It also means a hymn read from Guru Granth Sahib, at random, in order to find the Command (Sanction or Approval) of God, on a particular occasion. Reading of Guru Granth Sahib at random, to seek instructions, before beginning any job by a Sikh is also called Hukam. Another term for reading hymns for such a purpose is Vaak Laina (to seek a sentence i.e. instruction, from scriptures).

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)