Comparison Islam/Sikhism - 1091 Words

My choice to compare two religions with so many similarities as Islam and Sikhism is mainly based on the fine, but very distinct differences and the interesting fact that they geographically meet in the Punjab Region between India and Pakistan. When comparing the factual data like number of followers and geographical distribution, it becomes clear that Islam is the heavyweight of the two. Islam with it’s over one billion followers of many different ethnicities and nationalities is the second largest religion in the world. Sikhism is the fifth largest with about 20 million followers. Geographically the difference is even bigger: while Islam is the dominating religion in an area reaching from North amp; Western Africa all the way to†¦show more content†¦Both were chosen by God to deliver the sacred message to mankind. Even though Islam was already established West of the Punjab when Sikhism developed, there are distinct differences such as the refusal of so-called â€Å"empty rituals† by Sikhs, while Muslims have a very ritualized form of prayer and refuse the display of huma n images in places of worship. A common theoretical characteristic is that both religions acknowledge the direct relation between man and God without the need of a mediator like a priest or other dignitary. An interesting aspect is that both religions have concepts or principles regarding war. Sikhs have a concept of â€Å"just war† called Dharam Yudh. In their view, war should be the last resort and needs to have a just cause like ending oppression for example. The Islamic Jihad can describe the internal struggle of every Muslim to live a decent life according to God or the military action to defend Islam. In Sikhism this warrior mentality is reflected by the carrying of a ceremonial sword or dagger over or under the visible clothing. Muslims identify the sword as Islam’s defender as reflected in the Saudi-Arabian flag. Even visually the followers of both religions are often mistaken for one another – mainly in the Diaspora where ignorance and lack of knowledge often are the cause for such false assumptions. SinceShow MoreRelatedWhat Is Spiritual Conditions May Impact The Success Of Patient s Treatment And How Helpful Human Faith?1394 Words   |  6 PagesThe aim of this paper is to share the spiritual perspectives of people with diverse faiths and to analyze those with Christian philosophy of faith and healing. People from distant beliefs, which include Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam were interviewed. Summary of the interview, comparison of diverse belief systems and writer’s personal insights gained from the interviews are discussed in the paper. 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