IDOLATRY (Idol/Statue Worship)
Idolatry is worship of idols of gods/deity.
Sikhism strictly prohibits idolatry. A Sikh must not worship idols in any form. A Sikh should have devotion for the One and the only God and His Word (as contained in Guru Granth Sahib).
Sikhs don‟t worship even Guru Granth Sahib (but respect and love the Word in it). It is out of sheer ignorance that some writers have used term „Sikh Temple‟ for Gurdwara; or to call it „Sikh place of worship‟; Gurdwara is a “Sikh place for congregation”.
A Sikh can‟t worship even the pictures of the Gurus or Sikh personalities (even if one could find real photographs).
Sikhs do show respect to and love for their Guru Sahib, the martyrs and the leaders, but don‟t worship them:
Those who call a stone god;
Their service goes in vain.
One who runs to the feet of a stone (idol); his labour goes waste.
Our Master ever appeals.
A stone neither speaks nor gives any thing.
Thus all actions are waste and one’s service is fruitless.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p.1160)
Strange, you love one stone;
And place your foot on one, second one. (Guru Granth Sahib, p.525)
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)