Guru Nanak

Founder of Sikhism

Early Modern influential 183 sayings

Sayings by Guru Nanak

The lowest among the low castes, lower than the lowliest, Nanak is with them: He envies not those with worldly greatness.

c. 15th-16th century — Context: Emphasizing solidarity with the marginalized
Controversial Unverifiable

The Dhoop (burnt incense), lamps and the Naivaed (an offering of eatables presented to deity or idol. All of them become false) by smell. (Then, O Rabb!) If Your Poojaa can be done only with these things, then by placing these false things before You) how will Your Bhagat do your Poojaa?

c. 15th-16th century — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 525
Controversial Unverifiable

If we worship stone idols of gods and goddesses (or any other kind of idol for that matter), they can't give anything, (so) I don't ask anything from them. Their Poojaa is like churning water and hoping for butter! (These idols) sink themselves in water — how can they save human beings from the world-ocean?

c. 15th-16th century — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 637
Controversial Unverifiable

One stone is lovingly decorated as a deity, while another stone is walked upon. If one is a god, then the other must also be a god. Namdev says I am not going to worship a stone installed as god. I worship One God who cannot be installed but permeates in all.

c. 15th-16th century — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 525 (attributed to Bhagat Namdev, aligns with Nanak's teachings)
Controversial Unverifiable

Hindus are getting Spiritually ruined by worshiping their idols all life and the Muslims by bowing their heads towards Mecca (believing that God exists only in Mecca); but both do not understand/realize YOUR true state.

c. 15th-16th century — Context: Critique of external religious practices
Controversial Unverifiable

Without genuine understanding, observing (Clergy-concocted) fasting, religious rituals and daily Poojaa lead only to the love of duality.

c. 15th-16th century — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1163
Controversial Unverifiable

Make mercy your mosque and devotion your prayer mat.

c. 15th-16th century — Context: Challenging superficial religious observance
Controversial Unverifiable

Bathing in holy rivers alone cannot wash away sins of injustice and greed; the most important thing is not ritual purity, but purity of words and deeds.

c. 15th-16th century — Context: Critique of Hindu rituals
Controversial Unverifiable

Required prayers alone would be ineffective if those who offered them had their minds on worldly problems, instead of on God.

c. 15th-16th century — Context: Critique of Muslim prayers
Controversial Unverifiable

Guru Nanak taught that depriving others of their rights is a serious moral offense.

c. 15th-16th century — Context: General teaching, often attributed as a core principle
Controversial Unverifiable

Injustice has no place in God's order because He is absolute just.

c. 15th-16th century — Context: General teaching, often attributed as a core principle
Controversial Unverifiable

There is no Hindu and no Musalman.

1499 (approximate) — Upon emerging from the Vein river, first utterance after enlightenment, Janam Sakhi tradition
Controversial Unverifiable

Religion consists not in words; He who looks on all men as equal is religious.

15th-16th century — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 6
Controversial Unverifiable

By the grace of the Guru, one obtains the treasure of the True Name.

15th-16th century — Japji Sahib, Pauri 38
Controversial Unverifiable

He who practices truth, contentment, and kindness, and who is free from ego, he is truly a Brahmin.

15th-16th century — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 470
Controversial Unverifiable

One cannot comprehend Him through reason, even if one reasoned for ages.

15th-16th century — Japji Sahib, Pauri 1
Controversial Unverifiable

The greatest wealth is to be without desires.

15th-16th century — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 222
Controversial Unverifiable

Those who have loved, have found God.

15th-16th century — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1362
Controversial Unverifiable

Why call her bad from whom are born kings?

15th-16th century — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 73
Controversial Unverifiable

He who is born, is bound to die. The only thing certain is death. All else is illusion.

15th-16th century — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1429
Controversial Unverifiable