Q1: How did the city of Amritsar take its name? Who constructed Gurudwara Harminder Sahib?

Ans: The city of Amritsar derives its name from Amrit Sarovar (‘Pool of Nectar’), a sacred reservoir dug by the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das. The grand Gurudwara Harminder Sahib (Golden Temple) in the centre of this pool was constructed by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjun Dev Ji, who invited the revered Muslim Sufi saint Hazrat Mian Mir to lay its foundation stone in 1589 CE.

Q2: When did Prophet Mohammad attain revelation and how?

Ans: Prophet Mohammad attained divine revelation around 610 CE at the age of forty. While deep in prayer and solitary contemplation inside the Cave of Hira near Mecca, the Archangel Gabriel (Jibril) appeared before him and commanded him to recite the divine revelations of Allah, which were later compiled as the Holy Quran.

Q3: What was the way to realise God according to Guru Nanak?

Ans: According to Guru Nanak, God is One (Ik Onkar), formless, eternal, and all-pervading. God cannot be realized through pilgrimages, external rituals, or renouncing the world, but through:
1. Continuous remembrance of God’s Name with devotion (Naam Japna).
2. Leading an honest, moral family life with hard labor (Kirat Karo).
3. Sharing wealth and food with the hungry and needy (Vand Chhako).

Q4: Give the meaning of Bhakti and name four prominent Bhakti saints.

Ans: The word ‘Bhakti’ is derived from the Sanskrit word Bhaj, which means intense, passionate love, personal devotion, and complete surrender of the soul to God without ritualistic intermediaries. Four prominent Bhakti saints were: Sant Kabir, Guru Nanak, Mirabai, and Sant Tulsidas (or Chaitanya Mahaprabhu).

Q5: State the practices of Sufis which are similar to Hinduism or Buddhism.

Ans: Practices of Sufis similar to Hinduism or Buddhism include:
1. Ascetic Renunciation & Simplicity: Leading an austere life detached from worldly materialism.
2. Meditation & Breath Control: Practicing deep spiritual contemplation and breath regulation (Habs-i-dam) similar to Yogic Pranayama.
3. Devotional Music: Singing hymns and chants (Sama / Qawwali) to attain spiritual ecstasy, similar to Hindu Kirtan.
4. Reverence for Spiritual Preceptors: Surrendering completely to a spiritual guide (Pir / Murshid), similar to the Hindu Guru tradition.

Q1: Explain the teachings of Islam with special reference to its principles.

Ans: Islam is a strictly monotheistic faith based on submission to the will of Allah. Its foundational teachings are embodied in the Five Pillars of Islam (Arkan al-Islam):

• 1. Shahadah (Profession of Faith): Sincere belief and declaration that “There is no god but Allah, and Mohammad is His Prophet.”
• 2. Salat (Namaz): Offering ritual prayers five times every day facing the holy Kaaba in Mecca, cultivating constant spiritual mindfulness and discipline.
• 3. Zakat (Charity): Giving a fixed annual charity of 2.5% of one’s accumulated surplus savings to help the impoverished, widows, and orphans.
• 4. Sawm (Roza): Observing strict fasting from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramadan to foster spiritual purification, self-control, and empathy for the poor.
• 5. Hajj (Pilgrimage): Undertaking the pilgrimage to the sacred shrine of Mecca at least once in a lifetime for every Muslim who possesses physical and financial capability.

Q2: Mention the features of Islam that make it a humane religion.

Ans: Several core tenets and ethical practices reflect the deeply humane nature of Islam:

• Universal Equality and Brotherhood: Islam firmly rejects all forms of caste hierarchy, racial superiority, and social discrimination, proclaiming that all humans are equal children of Allah. In a mosque, king and pauper stand shoulder-to-shoulder in prayer.
• Mandatory Social Justice (Zakat): Islam institutionalized welfare through compulsory charity, ensuring economic redistribution so no community member starves.
• Protection of the Vulnerable: The Quran repeatedly commands special care, benevolence, and legal protection for orphans, widows, destitute individuals, and travelers.
• Emphasis on Forgiveness and Peace: The Arabic root of Islam means ‘Peace’. It preaches kindness towards neighbors, humane treatment of animals, honoring contracts, and prioritizing reconciliation over retribution.

Q3: Explain the contribution of Guru Teg Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh to Sikhism.

Ans: The ninth and tenth Sikh Gurus played historic, transformative roles in shaping Sikhism:

• Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (Ninth Guru):
  • He traveled widely spreading the message of fearlessness: “Frighten not, and be not frightened of anyone.”
  • When Aurangzeb unleashed forced religious conversions in Kashmir, Guru Teg Bahadur stood up to defend the Kashmiri Pandits’ fundamental human right to practice their religion freely.
  • He was publicly beheaded at Chandni Chowk, Delhi in 1675 for refusing to renounce his principles, earning the immortal title Hind di Chadar (Shield of India) for laying down his life for universal freedom of faith.
• Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Tenth Guru):
  • On Baisakhi day in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib, he created the Khalsa Panth—a casteless fraternity of saint-soldiers dedicated to righteousness, defense of the weak, and resisting tyranny.
  • He introduced the baptism ceremony (Amrit Sanchar) and prescribed the Five Ks: Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (wooden comb), Kara (steel bracelet), Kachera (cotton undergarment), and Kirpan (ceremonial dagger).
  • He abolished human Guruship and compiled the final volume of the Guru Granth Sahib, declaring it the eternal, living spiritual Guru for all generations to come.

Q4: State the importance of Bhakti movement in reforming and uniting the Indian society.

Ans: The medieval Bhakti Movement was one of the most powerful socio-cultural reform movements in Indian history:

• Destruction of Caste Distinctions: Bhakti saints rejected untouchability and declared that devotion alone, not birth, determines nobility. Disciples came from all strata—Kabir was a weaver, Ravidas a cobbler, and Sena a barber.
• Democratization of Religion: By rejecting complex Sanskrit rituals, sacrificial fires, and priestly monopolies, the saints made spirituality accessible to ordinary peasants, women, and artisans.
• Development of Regional Languages: Saints composed devotional hymns, dohas, and abhangas in everyday vernacular languages (Hindi, Braj, Awadhi, Punjabi, Marathi, Bengali), sparking the growth of Indian regional literature.
• Hindu-Muslim Harmony: Sages like Sant Kabir and Guru Nanak emphasized that Rama, Rahim, Allah, and Ishwar are names of the same Divine reality, laying the bedrock of composite secular Indian culture.

Q5: Enlist the similarities between Islam and Sikhism.

Ans: Islam and Sikhism share profound philosophical and practical similarities:

• 1. Strict Monotheism: Both believe in One Supreme, Formless, Omnipresent, and Eternal God who is the Creator of the universe (Allah in Islam, Ik Onkar / Waheguru in Sikhism).
• 2. Condemnation of Idol Worship: Both religions categorically forbid idol worship, animal sacrifices, and superstitious rituals.
• 3. Universal Equality of Humankind: Both reject caste distinctions and untouchability, practicing complete social equality in worship (congregational Namaz in mosques / community Pangat and Langar in Gurudwaras).
• 4. Institutionalized Charity: Both mandate sharing earnings with the poor: Muslims give Zakat (2.5%), while Sikhs practice Dasvandh (donating one-tenth of income) and Vand Chhako.
• 5. Supreme Sanctity of Scripture: Both revere their holy scriptures—the Quran in Islam and the Guru Granth Sahib in Sikhism—as direct divine revelations and ultimate moral guides.