Author: Muhajer Azizi
Sikhism; Its Origins and Fundamental Beliefs (Part 18)
Beliefs of Sikhism and a Critique
3. Resurrection (The Hereafter and the Day of Judgment)
Another important belief in Sikhism is their view of resurrection and the afterlife. However, the Sikh perspective on the afterlife and the soul is evidently misguided and erroneous. This is because Sikhism, in this regard, has been influenced by the teachings of false religions, particularly Hinduism. As such, their belief in the afterlife is more rooted in Hindu teachings than in monotheistic doctrines.
Accordingly, we shall first define resurrection and its related concepts, and then examine and critique the Sikh viewpoint in light of Islamic teachings.
A. Definition and Importance of Resurrection (The Day of Judgment)
The term Ma‘ād (resurrection) is derived from the root “ʿawd,” which means the place of return. In Islamic terminology, it refers to the return of humans to life after death—that is, the belief that after death, humans will be resurrected and judged in another world known as the Hereafter for their deeds in this worldly life.
Belief in resurrection and the Day of Judgment is one of the six fundamental pillars of faith. Whoever denies the Day of Resurrection and life after death is considered a disbeliever and will enter Hell, even if they believe in the other pillars of faith.
Allah the Almighty says: “وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْیوْمِ الْآخِرِ” Translation: “But righteousness is in one who believes in Allah and the Last Day.” [2:177]
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), in response to Jibril (peace be upon him), said: “أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللهِ وَ مَلآئِكَتِهِ وَ كُتُبِهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ وَ الْیوْمِ الآخِر وَ تُؤْمِنَ بِالقَدَرِ خَیرِهِ وَ شَرِّهِ” Translation: “To believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in divine decree, both its good and its evil.”
B. Sikh Belief Regarding Resurrection
1. Reincarnation of Souls
Sikhs believe in the reincarnation of souls—meaning that after death, the soul is transferred into another human or animal body, and this cycle continues until the soul reaches salvation or ultimate liberation. This belief is borrowed from Hinduism, as Hindus also adhere to the concept of soul reincarnation.
Belief in reincarnation, in essence, denies the unseen world, judgment, Paradise and Hell, and other fundamental elements of resurrection. According to this belief, if a person has performed good deeds in this world, their soul will be reborn into a virtuous being; but if they were sinful and immoral, their soul will be transferred to a lower and more wretched form.
Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, explains the process of rebirth and reincarnation with the following analogy: “Just as a bucket is lowered into a well, fills with water, is raised, emptied, and lowered again—so too is life. This is the pastime of our Lord.” [4]
Definition of Reincarnation
In Arabic, tanasukh (reincarnation) refers to the transfer of a soul to another body after death. In earlier times, Arabs used the word tanasukh to refer to succession and repetition—they believed that eras, centuries, and governments repeat. In other words, things undergo tanasukh, meaning they replace one another, as in the case of governments and historical periods. The term naskh (abrogation) was also used to denote the nullification of one thing and its replacement by another, such as the succession of prophets, who come one after another without interruption. [5]
According to lexicons: “Tanasukh al-ashya” means the replacement of one thing by another, while “tanasukh al-arwāḥ” (reincarnation of souls) means the transfer of a soul from one body to another—be it human or animal—as a reward or punishment for the soul’s actions in its previous life. [6]
In philosophical terminology, tanasukh refers to the migration of a soul after death from one body to another, whether human or animal. [7]
Some scholars also refer to it as tafassus, meaning division and separation, with the soul as the active agent. According to this belief, the soul is an eternal and constant essence, whereas the body is merely a mortal vessel. The soul abandons the old vessel and moves into a new one. [8]
From the viewpoint of reincarnation theory, the soul is the core of continuity and recurrence. Therefore, the term “reincarnation of souls” is used rather than “reincarnation of bodies”, as the theory centers on the soul, while the body merely serves as a container for the soul’s journey—it is not the focus of continuity.
This theory is based on the repeated cycles of a soul’s life on Earth and its transfer from one body to another. In each cycle, the soul receives a reward or punishment based on its past actions. If the soul was virtuous in its previous life, it is transferred to a body that enjoys comfort and ease; but if it was immoral, it moves to a body destined for hardship and suffering. [9]
Continues…
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References:
[1] Ibn Manẓūr, Lisān al-ʿArab, vol. 3, p. 317.
[2] Al-Baqarah: 117.
[3] Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, vol. 1, p. 36.
[4] Fayāz Qarāpī, Religions of India, p. 464.
[5] Transmigration of Souls: Its Principles and the Ruling of Islam Regarding It, p. 231.
[6] Al-Muʿjam al-Wasīṭ, Academy of the Arabic Language, Cairo, p. 55.
[7] Al-Muʿjam al-Falsafī, Academy of the Arabic Language, Cairo, p. 55.
[8] Amīn Ṭalīʿ, Al-Taqammuṣ, p. 11.
[9] Muṣṭafā al-Kīk, Transmigration of Souls, p. 2.
