Why don’t Sikhs get a haircut and trim their beards?

There was a case in Canada where a Sikh showed up at home clean shaven and with a haircut, and when asked why, said that a bunch of Canadians beat him up and cut his beard and hair from various places. In order to fix that he was left with no option but to get a haircut and shave. The parents went to the police, and after investigation it was found that the guy was lying, to which he later admitted.

This is the height of desperation that can be found among modern Sikhs. I’m sure hair in a turban does not feel comfortable, so the question is, why do Sikhs not get a haircut and shave or at least shape their beards properly. Is it because Guru Nanak said so. Even if he did, he was only a Guru and not a Prophet, so why does what he says have so much importance. Another question is that why are Sikhs allowed to remove hair on the body if they are not allowed to do so elsewhere. One version I have heard is that Guru Nanak said, “Take care of your ‘bal’ as in ‘bal-bachche’ (kids) and not hair. What do Sikhs have to say about this?

Is there some kind of punishment in Sikhism for getting a haircut and trimming the beard. Will Sikhs burn in hell for doing so?

Posted

April 17, 2009

Lifestyle

Mohammad Yusha

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58 responses to “Why don’t Sikhs get a haircut and trim their beards?”

Singh

September 17, 2009

@Mohammad Yusha: I agree that there is no need for harsh language or anger. But in their defense (I don’t think they were the same person, btw), some of your and other’s criticisms (ie, Guru Nanak was ONLY a guru; keeping hair is unnatural and gross; etc) were somewhat offensive, even though they came from ignorance when (though they should not have been taken as such).

Though my response is quite late, I’ll still respond to some of the earlier comments.

@Adeel Shahid: It was Guru Nanak who first started keeping his hair as a way of preserving the appearance that was given to mankind by God. Believing it was ideal to live in the manner (and appearance) that God intended, he encouraged his followers to keep their hair, but there was no mandate until the foundation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh.

Additionally, there is no set time of the week at which Sikhs must wash their hair. In Sikhism, one’s body (including hair) must be washed sufficiently regularly to maintain cleanliness – thus, the body is to be washed daily and the hair at least once a week to keep it clean.

Religions that enter different regions keep current traditions to make the transition for the people easier. Sikhism, however, was born surrounded by Islam and Hinduism and so while its principles are based on and are similar to those of other religions of the sub-continent, the Gurus condemned and disagreed with many practices and traditions of the time (ie, the caste system, inferiority of women, sati, purdah, superstitious rituals, etc).

@Shakir Lakhani: Sikhism is a philosophy and a way of life – it is not public law. The Gurus had no control over people and their ways, and thus issued no such punishments. Indeed none of those crimes listed are appropriate actions for any Sikh, but violating the prohibitions does not lead to any kind of reprimanding or punishment by the Gurus or the Sikh community.

Sikhism does not preach revenge or hatred. As for dealing with thieves and murderers, I’m honestly not sure what Gurbani says about the matter. There is a janam sakhi about Guru Nanak, however, which tells of a meeting with Sajjan Thug, who owned an inn where he would rob and kill his wealthy guests in their sleep. Nanak is said to have known what Sajjan’s intentions were, but instead of revealing it he convinced Sajjan to join him in a hymn in praise of God before he went to rest in his inn. After finishing, Sajjan realized that the hymn was a metaphor for his deeds and requested forgiveness from Nanak, after which he became a disciple.

Thus, my impression from the story, and of what I have learned of Sikhism, is that all people have in them the ability to change and be good people. So we should not judge and look for this goodness in all people.

Hopefully that answers your question partially.

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Mohammad Yusha

September 17, 2009

@Avtar Singh a.k.a. Harjit Kaur: There is no need to comment pretending to be two different people. Also, where did anyone disgrace Sikhism? All that was asked was simple and straightforward questions. I only bothered to read the beginning of your second comment and trailed off because someone who whines pretending to be two different people is not worth my time.

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Lt. General Ayub Khan

September 17, 2009

I like the Sikhs. We enjoy their company when they come from hindustan to Lahore to visit their holy places.

Some of them own properties here. Even in Kurram Agency FATA, sometimes we used to have Sikh traders come.

They are closer to Pakistan than to india. We should encourage more Sikhs to join Pakistan Army.

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Avtar Singh

September 16, 2009

Almost each and every person who has commented/attacked the sikh faith in this article has a muslim name, so im assuming U QUITE CLEARLY DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE SIKH RELIGION SO DONT WRITE SHIT ABOUT IT INCLUDING THE ARTICLE WRITER. SO MR SHAHID, MR KHAN AND MOHAMMAD YUSHA I DONT REMEMBER ANYTHING IN THE QUARAN SAYING U R ALLOWED TO DISGRACE SOMEONES RELIGION.
Let this be a lesson…..
the most important and fundamental point of the existence of our religion was to teach people to treat each other equally, NO MATTER WHAT RACE, GENDER, COLOUR, RELIGION THEY WERE, NO MATTER THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY EARNED EVERYONE SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY ONLY HIS/HER ACTIONS DETERMINE HOW THEY SHOULD BE TREATED.

Back in the day when we had a huge division between the rich and the poor, the rich were singled out and noted for wearing the turban. So GURU NANAK DEV JI said that everyone of his followers shall wear the turban, to eliminate the class system, and thus everyone would look equally rich, and be treated equally. everyone would be treated equally under gods eyes.

And in response to Adeel Shahid it is not historical fact What you are stating because other historic books state otherwise. GROWING HAIR STARTED FROM THE VERY FIRST GURU TO THE VERY LAST. OUR ANCESTORS ARE THE EVIDENCE FOR THAT WHO HAVE PASSED DOWN THE KNOWLEDGE. READ THE “HISTORY OF SIKHISM” NOT THE “HISTORY OF PUNJAB” BECAUSE THE FIRST GURU GREW UP IN WHAT IS NOW PAKISTAN.

We as sikhs do not stress wearing the turban and growing hair, we stress that u should understand importance of it, when u do understand it, it is your decision to make a comittment to it.

MR lakhani we consider other types of things to be more sinful than not wearing a turban, for example one of the most forbidden acts in our religion, is the act of LYING which many people have done in this article.

FOR THE LOVE OF WAHEGURU BEFORE ANYONE REPLIES BACK, PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!!!

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH !!!

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Adeel Shahid

September 10, 2009

I wrote what i read in a book “History of Punjab” in urdu by some author whose name contains Laal so I am not stating my opinion but historical fact.

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Lt. General Ayub Khan

September 9, 2009

I like the Sikhs a lot. Good people. I have many saardar friends. Many sikhs come to Lahore from Amritsar as it is a holy city for them, some even decide to stay. In Pakistan’s history –sikhs were the biggest curse because of what they did in NWFP and in the Punjab. Even they were using Badshahi as a barn for their horses and ammunitions. But thats all in the past. Sikhs are hard working and loyal people, i often call them the “Pakhtuns” of india

I do hope that at some point, hindustan govt. would have the courage and manhood to create an investigation uncovering the genocide from Bluestar operation. Many sikhs were needlessly slaughtered and their temple was almost destroyed.

the Khalestan Rifles should

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Harjit KAUR Tutt

September 9, 2009

You should actually get all the facts together before you write an article like this and some of the people who have posed to.

It was not the 2nd guru after Guru Nanak Dev Ji who kept all his hair, it all started from Guru Nanak Dev Ji, HIMSELF.

And I just want to ask what was meant by Adeel Shahid’s comment : ‘and how there history associated with things like this like the name of Sikhs preceding with Singh’s etc.’___EXPLAIN PLEASE.

Shakir Lakhani- you talk as if you’ve studied Sikhism for years and year. And i tell you what, you don’t have the slightest bit of knowledge about it, we as Sikhs DO NOT STRESS in keeping our body in the form that Waheguru Ji (GOD) has made it, but in total fact we pleasure it. And, their is punishment for cutting your hair. Guru Ji never said anyone should be flogged or stoned to death when a person has cut his/her hair he/she should learn to keep it and learn the importance of it.

The reason why Guru Gobind Singh Ji made ‘keeping the sacred kesh’ offical was because all of the Guru Ji’s believed in the holiness of the hair.

And for the sake of the person who said that ‘it’s not like Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a prophet he was only a Guru, UNDERSTAND what Guru means and then come back. A prophet in Sikhism is nothing a Guru is sent by God to teach us about Sikhism and spread the knowledge so more people can improve their lives by following the path of it.

Last of all this so called story about that canadian boy is probably made up because people can’t bear that the Sikh community is getting stronger so they like to makeup stories to seperate such strong communities. How about get a life and judge where you are in your religion rather than making PATHETIC articles that have no use.

Other infact near enough all of the comments made by people are AGAINST Sikhism, so i would just like to say watch your mouth and think before you write or say anything about another religion.

NOTE: ALL OF THIS IS MY STRONG OPINION AND I AM TOTALLY AGAINST PEOPLE TRYING TO SEPERATE THE SIKH NATION, SO NEXT TIME IF YOU WANT TO ARGUE, ATLEAST GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT.

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH!!!

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Adeel Shahid

May 11, 2009

It was there 2nd Guru after guru nanak that grew hair on his body and did’nt cut it, while about the one in 7 days in a week sikh must wash there hair has a interesting story,

when guru gobind singh wanted to invade dehli he has issued some orders to shiks as not wash there hair heads daily as if a muslim army attacks them and the sikhs are washing there hair they won’t be able to fight as the hair would be wet.

any how there is history associated with things like this like the names of sikhs preceding with Singh’s etc.

It’s been part of sub-continent that all religions that came here change people’s religion but did’nt change there customs and tradition.

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Shakir Lakhani

May 3, 2009

@ Singh: what punishment is there in your religion for someone who steals or kills a human being? How did the Gurus deal with thieves, dacoits and murderers? What about adultery? Does Sikhism say that those who indulge in illicit sexual intercourse should be flogged or stoned to death?

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Sikh

May 3, 2009

@ Singh: I agree with what you said earlier, that the reason Guru Gobind Singh chose the turban is because it was a symbol of high class and respectibility. I was just saying that in the 5 K’s (Kesh, Kanga, Kara, Kahcha, Kirpan) there is no mention of the turban, so if a Sikh were to find another method of keeping his hair clean and covered, technically it would not be wrong. However, this should not undermine the importance that the turban has in Sikhism because it has become a part of our image. “Khalsa mero roop hai khas”, I believe in that strongly.

@ Shakir Lakhani: There is no outlined punishment for cutting your hair. However, if you come from a very religious family, then they might throw you out of the house or something like that, but there is nothing specified in Guru Granth Sahib.

@ Mohammad Yusha: No offense was taken, it is good for us to learn about each other. These small differences that we have are irrelevent. What is most important is that we recognize that there is only one true lord, whether we call him Allah, Waheguru, God, etc…we are his humble servants.

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