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126ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH <strong>2006</strong> / 537-38 NSsupports his assertion that <strong>Sikh</strong>ism dubs other faiths as equally valid.On the contrary, Guru Nanak rejected all earlier religious traditions:– Neither the Vedas (four Hindu texts) nor the four Kateba [Semitictexts: the Torah, the Zabur (Psalms), the Injil (Gospel), and theQuran] know the mystery <strong>of</strong> the Creator <strong>of</strong> the cosmos. (GuruGranth Sahib * , p. 1021)– It is the teachings <strong>of</strong> Vedas, which has created the concepts <strong>of</strong>sin and virtue, hell and heaven, and karma and transmigration.One reaps the reward in the next life for the deeds performed inthis life – goes to hell or heaven according to the deeds. The Vedashave also created the fallacy <strong>of</strong> inequality <strong>of</strong> caste and gender forthe world. (p. 1243)– The Merciful One is the only Emancipator (maula), not the holymen (pir and sheikh), or prophets. The Master <strong>of</strong> every heart, Whodelivers justice, is beyond the description <strong>of</strong> the Quran and otherSemitic texts. (p. 897)Gurmat differs from other religions in the basic premise: theconcept <strong>of</strong> God. Sure, the concept <strong>of</strong> one God was known long beforeGuru Nanak. However, that God as described is nothing more than atribal god. In addition to millions <strong>of</strong> gods, Hindus also believe in agod who communicates only through the Brahmins and then there is agod for the chosen people, the Jews. The Christian god is approachablethrough His only son, Jesus Christ whereas the Muslim god, Allah, isaccessible only through Mohammed who is Allah’s last and finalProphet in a long line <strong>of</strong> Prophets.On the other hand, Guru Nanak preached about God who isaccessible to all seekers <strong>of</strong> “Truth” irrespective <strong>of</strong> their creed, caste,gender, color, ethnicity and geographical consideration. For GuruNanak the Creator is “One and Only One” and, mankind is also onewhereas earlier religions believed in various versions <strong>of</strong> “exclusiveGod” which caused balkanization or disintegration <strong>of</strong> mankind. Inthe compositions <strong>of</strong> Guru Granth Sahib, the thoughts <strong>of</strong> many sages<strong>of</strong> diverse backgrounds being compatible with Gurmat are incorporated;however, there are no quotes from the texts <strong>of</strong> Semitic and Hindureligions.Guru Nanak rejected the incarnation <strong>of</strong> God, the caste system,* All the subsequent references are also from Guru Granth Sahib
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