IS MEAT EATING ALLOWED FOR THE SIKHS ?

Many Sikhs give arguments for eating meat, while others give arguments against it. We should not be
swayed by their individual statements, but we should try to understand everything keeping in view of
our Guru Sahiban’s orders. We cannot find even a single verse, where Guru Sahiban have allowed
us to take meat. The persons, who favor meat eating give examples by misquoting various verses to
prove their idea, but as one speaks a lie a hundred times, it still remains a lie. It cannot become a
truth.

They argue that water and corn all contain so many living creatures. So if we consume those, then it
is ok to eat meat.

They quote this verse of Gurbani:--

jy kir sUqku mMnIAY sB qY sUqku hoie ]

If one accepts the concept of impurity, then there is impurity everywhere.

gohy AqY lkVI AMdir kIVw hoie ]

In cow-dung and wood there are worms.

jyqy dwxy AMn ky jIAw bwJu n koie ]

As as aas are the grains of corn, none is without life.

pihlw pwxI jIau hY ijqu hirAw sBu koie ]

First, there is life in the water, by which everything else is made green
( SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI ANG 472)

These people give the argument that Guru Sahib has clearly stated, if we eat corn, drink water, which
have so many living beings, then meat eating is allowed, but they knowingly close their eyes, when
Gurbani says that :--

Cofih AMnu krih pwKMf ]

One who discards this grain, is practicing hypocrisy.

nw sohwgin nw Eih rMf ]

She is neither a happy soul-bride, nor a widow

( BHAGAT KABEER JI ANG 873 )

So we are allowed to take the corn. And those people who do not eat corn, which is allowed, are
fools according to GURU SAHIB. GURU SAHIB forbids us to take meat by killing animals, as
mentioned by GURBANI.
ieik AMnu n Kwih mUrK iqnw ikAw kIjeI ]
Some refuse to eat grains; what can be done with these fools?
( SRI GURU AMAR DAAS JI ANG 1285 )

Guru Sahiban clearly mentions again and again that The Supreme Lord abides in every heart. Are
these people not afraid of Guru Sahib, when they eat their meat? Just have a look :--

Gt Gt mY hir jU bsY sMqn kihE pukwir ]

The Dear Lord abides in each and every heart; the Saints proclaim this as true.
( SRI GURU TEG BAHADUR JI ANG 1427 )

Can you even imagine that Guru Sahib can ask us to kill these animals and eat their meat, when He
proclaims that The Supreme Lord abides in every heart?

This fact is mentioned by our Guru Sahiban and they have laid stress on this point:--

sB mih jIau jIau hY soeI Git Git rihAw smweI ]

He is the life of the soul in each and every soul; He permeates and pervades each and every heart
( SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI ANG 1273 )

sB mih vsY pRBu eyko soie ]

He is the One God, abiding within all

( SRI GURU AMAR DAAS JI ANG 663 )

srb jIAw mih eyko rvY ]

Among all beings, the One Lord is pervading.

mnmuiK AhMkwrI iPir jUnI BvY ]5]

The eogtistical, self-willed manmukhs wander in reincarnation

( SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI ANG 228 )

These are only some of the verses out of hundreds, where Guru Sahiban lay stress again and
again that the Lord’s soul abides in every heart. It will be the imagination of a very sick mind, who
himself eats meat and directs us to eat meat giving very bogus arguments. They can do whatever
they deem fit, if they are not afraid of the consequences of their misdoing, but what authority have
they got to misintrepret Gurbani. There is no use of reciting Gurbani, if a person does not hesitate
to take the lives of other living beings.

bydu pVY muiK mITI bwxI ]

With his mouth, he recites the Vedas in sweet musical measures,

jIAW kuhq n sMgY prwxI ]

and yet he does not hesitate to take the lives of others.

khu nwnk ijsu ikrpw DwrY ]

Says Nanak, on whom God showers His Mercy,
ihrdw suDu bRhmu bIcwrY ]
his heart becomes pure, and he contemplates God.
( SRI GURU ARJAN DEV JI ANG 201 )|

jIA bDhu su Drmu kir Qwphu ADrmu khhu kq BweI ]

You kill living beings, and call it a righteous action. Tell me, brother, what would you call an unrighteous action?

Awps kau muinvr kir Qwphu kw kau khhu ksweI ]

You call yourself the most excellent sage; then whom would you call a butcher?
( BHAGAT KABEER JI ANG 1102 )

jau sB mih eyku Kudwie khq hau qau ikau murgI mwrY ]
You say that the One Lord is in all, so why do you kill chickens?
( BHAGAT KABEER JI ANG 1350 )

kbIr BWg mwCulI surw pwin jo jo pRwnI KWih ]

Kabeer, those mortals who consume marijuana, fish and wine

qIrQ brq nym kIey qy sBY rswqil jWih ]233]

no matter what pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all go to hell.
( BHAGAT KABEER JI ANG 1377 )

mwsu Kwin gl viF kY hwlu iqnwVw kauxu hovsI]

Think about the plight of those, who cut the throat of others and eat their flesh
( BHAI GURDAAS JI VAAR 25 )

jYsw bIjY so luxy jo Kty suo Kwie ]

As one plants, so does he harvest; whatever he earns, he eats.
( SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI ANG 730 )

So the persons, who eat meat and ask others to do so are doing a double sin and you know
they have to reap its fruit.

PrIdw dir drvwjY jwie kY ikau ifTo GVIAwlu ]

Fareed, you have gone to the Lord's Door. Have you seen the gong there?

eyhu indosW mwrIAY hm dosW dw ikAw hwlu ]39]

This blameless object is being beaten - imagine what is in store for us sinners! ||39||
( SHLOK FARID JI ANG 1379 )

For a wise person a small hint is enough. Here Baba Fareed ji is giving a clear hint that he is
beaten even when he is blameless, and what will happen to those, who do so many sins.
And what can be a greater sin than this to disobey Guru Sahib’s command. They do not find
even a single verse, where they can say that Guru Sahiban allow us to eat meat.
Now they give an example of this shabad with great confidence:--
mwsu mwsu kir mUrKu JgVy igAwnu iDAwnu nhI jwxY ]
The fools argue about flesh and meat, but they know nothing about meditation and spiritual wisdom.
( SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI ANG 1289 )

But after reciting the whole shabad, they miserabley fail to find any verse, which allows meat
eating. Guru Nanak Sahib condemns the pakhand (false arguments) of the pandit. He is
preaching against meat eating, but uses it at home. Here Guru Sahib clearly says If someone
cheats and steals, the food purchased with that money is meat, even if it is saag (vegetables).

hku prwieAw nwnkw ausu sUAr ausu gwie ]

To take what rightfully belongs to another, is like a Muslim eating pork, or a Hindu eating beef.

guru pIru hwmw qw Bry jw murdwru n Kwie ]

Our Guru, our Spiritual Guide, stands by us, if we do not eat those carcasses.
( SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI ANG 141 )

So Guru Sahib repeatedly lays stress on this point in this shabad that we should not cheat
or steal and stop showing false image that we hate meat eating.

2. These people cannot find even a single verse which shows that Guru Sahiban allow
us to eat meat. So they argue next that Guru Sahiban went out for hunting themselves.

Guru Sahiban did not go out hunting for meat eating, but they did it to save the souls from
the continuous cycle of birth and death. You can find numerous examples when Guru
Sahiban saved a soul.

Yes, you can go out hunting and kill animals, if you have the same power. You give
examples of Guru Sahib, but you cannot tolerate even a thorn in a foot of your son. Guru
Sahib sent his Sahibzadas in the battlefield without any hesitation. So think hundred times
before you point a finger at Guru Sahib.

3. Next argument meat eaters give is that by eating meat, a person becomes brave.
For bravery, you do not need to eat meat. What you need is MARTIAL SPIRIT? The
Singhs had a hand to hand fight with the Moguls (who were regular meat eaters), with a
small amount of parched grams only. I like to give only one example out of hundreds. It is
about the battle of Jamrud. Three hundred thousand (300,000) pathans took a vow on
Quran Sharif that they would do or die by dislodging the Sikhs from Jamrud and they
attacked Jamrud in 1837. These Pathans were regular meat eaters. The Sikhs were only
five hundred (500). Cunningham gives the eye witness account of this battle. He writes
that the Pathans were advancing. The Sikhs were badly outnumbered. But he writes that
the gates of the fort were opened and GENERAL HARI SINGH NALWA came out. On
seeing GENERAL HARI SINGH NALWA, the pathans ran haphazardly and Cunningham
writes that not even a single shot was fired. The Sikhs killed as many pathans as they
could and Cunningham, the great historian, writes that he saw many pathans hiding
under the dead bodies of their fellow pathans to save themselves from the Sikhs.
And the 500 sikhs won the battle against 300,000 pathans, who were regular meat
eaters.

There are thousands of such examples. So what you need is Martial Spirit and not meat
cosuming.

ijin imil mwry pMc sUrbIr AYso kaunu blI ry ]

Who has seized and conquered the five powerful fighters? Is there anyone strong enough?
( SRI GURU ARJAN DEV JI ANG 404 )

By taking Amrit, a single Sikh becomes ready to fight against more than one hundred
thousand enemies.

4. Next the first and foremost quality for a religious person is being kind to other
beings.

ATsiT qIrQ sgl puMn jIA dieAw prvwnu ]

Be kind to all beings-this is more meritorious than bathing at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage and
the giving of charity.
(SRI GURU ARJAN DEV JI ANG 136 )

dUKu n dyeI iksY jIA piq isau Gir jwvau ]

Do not cause any being to suffer, and you shall go to your true home with honor.
( SRI GURU ARJAN DEV JI ANG 322 )

Guru Sahib asks us to show mercy, to show kindness to other beings and when we
slaughter an animal, then what kind of kindness we are going to show.

inrdieAw nhI joiq aujwlw ]

You have no compassion; the Lord's Light does not shine in you.
( SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI ANG 903 )

Many Sikhs openly say that Kutha is forbidden for Sikhs but Guru Sahib has
allowed "Jhatka". It is amazing to hear this from many educated Sikhs also. But fact
of the matter remains that "Jhatka" word was created only in last 100 years. Jhatka
is not mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib, Dasam Granth Sahib, various Rehatnamas,
or any other writings like Bhai Gurdas, Bhai Nand Lal, Bhai Mani Singh or any other
Sikh related literature written in 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th century. The people who
wanted to eat meat created this word in 20th century and then broadcasted in the
Sikh masses. Now majority of the Sikhs believe that "Jhatka" was allowed by Guru
Sahib, even though there was no such word during Guru Sahib's times and a
couple of centuries after that.
Even HALAL is mentioned by Guru Sahib for that food, which is earned by honest
earning.

hku hlwlu bKorhu Kwxw ]

Let what is earned righteously be your blessed food.

idl drIAwau Dovhu mYlwxw ]

Wash away pollution with the river of your heart.
pIru pCwxY iBsqI soeI AjrweIlu n doj Trw ]11]
One who realizes the Prophet attains heaven, messenger of Death, does not cast him into hell.
(SRI GURU ARJAN DEV JI ANG 1084 )
mwrx pwih hrwm mih hoie hlwlu n jwie ]

By adding spices to forbidden foods, they are not made acceptable.

( SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI ANG 141 )

Killing an animal for food may not be an earthly offence, but as far as spirituality is
concerned, it is a big offence. Sahib Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji clearly orders us not to cause
harm to any living being. And Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that a person, who has no
compassion, cannot reach the spiritual goal. Sometimes the meat eaters distort the
Gurbani Verses to suit their own objective. They give us the interpretations based on their
personal tastes. An interpretation of Gurbani is very much dependent on a person’s own
spiritual awareness. A person has no right to take a life, which he cannot give. We can
live quite happily without taking meat.
Imagine if you are not able to get meat someday, can you kill your own child to satisfy
your hunger? If not, then those animals are also children of God. So Guru Sahiban laid
stress on this point that you should not eat the flesh of those animals also.

Now let us talk about the most important order of Guru Sahib:--

Sahib Sri Guru Hargobind Ji prohibits the Sikhs in very strong language not to eat meat or
fish in His hukamnamaas, which he sent to the Sikhs.

As mentioned previously, there are many verses of Guru Granth Sahib which
prohibit meat eating, but many Sikh preachers try to twist their meaning to prove
that meat eating is okay. But what can they do to SAHIB SRI GURU HARGOBIND’S
TWO HUKAMNAMAAS in which He advised his Sikhs not to eat meat or fish at all
and he signed at the bottom of those Hukamnamaas (letters). Can these preachers
now change the signatures of the Guru Sahibs to prove their point?

You cannot kill your child for meat eating, but you are ready to kill the children of
God.
GURU SAHIB lays stress on this point that if you earn money by cheating or
robbery or other illegal means, that is meat, may be you say it is saag (vegetable).
WE SHOULD EAT TO LIVE, BUT NOT LIVE TO EAT.

Do we need another proof more solid than this? Sahib Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji prohibits us
from eating meat thru hundreds of verses. Guru Sahib’s Hukamnamaas order us in clear cut
terms not to eat meat. Then who are these scholars to go against these edicts?

If they like to eat meat themselves, let them eat it, but for Guru’s sake, do not try to mislead
others.
That will be a great sin.

A single drop of unwanted matter can destroy tons of pure milk. No matter how much these
preachers or the self made spiritual masters do their meditation, or write books to show the world
that they are very intelligent or great scholars, but if they do not obey the hukam of our GREAT
GURUS their meditation will go waste. Such people are considered as blind.

nwnk hukmu n buJeI AMDw khIAY soie ]3]

O Nanak, one who does not understand the Hukam of the Lord's Command
should be called blind.

( SRI GURU ANGAD DEV JI ANG 954 )

GURU SAHIB directs us that a person, who does not obey GURU’S COMMAND is a
MANMUKH, no matter if he tries to be a Gurmukh outwardly. But he is a Manmukh in GURU’S
COURT, and he is beaten by the messengers of death.

mnmuK hukmu n jwxnI iqn mwry jm jMdwru ]

The self-willed manmukhs do not know the Lord's Command; they are beaten down by the Messenger of Death.
(SRI GURU AMARDAAS JI ANG 90 )

GURU SAHIB says repeatedly that such a person, who does not obey GURU’S command is
quite ignorant and is poisoned by Maya.

pUry gur kw hukmu n mMnY Ehu mnmuKu AigAwnu muTw ibKu mwieAw ]
Tthe person, who does not obey Hukam, the Command of the Perfect Guru - that self-willed
manmukh is plundered by his ignorance and poisoned by Maya.
(SRI GURU RAMDAAS JI ANG 303 )

Just as a little spark can destroy thousands of acres, their disobedience of Guru’s hukam
destroys their lifelong meditation, their so called wisdom sermons, their religious writings
And so on.

Sahib Sri Guru Amardas Ji says that the persons, who do not obey their Guru, are wretched
fools and they continuously make mistakes.

hukmu n jwxih bpuVy BUly iPrih gvwr ]

The wretched fools do not know the Lord's Will; they wander around making mistakes
(SRI GURU AMARDAAS JI ANG 66 )

myrI myrI kir kir mUTau pwp krq nh prI dieAw ]1]
Living in egotism and possessiveness, they are deluded; committing sins, and they have no kindness for others. ||1||
(SRI GURU ARJAN DEV JI ANG 826 )

Now let us try to understand the meaning of “Kutha” as mentioned in Gurbani. Here again the
meat eaters try to misinterpret its meaning. Nowhere in Gurbani, kutha is mentioned as meat
prepared by Muslim rituals. Kutha simply means killilng. So if we are restricted to eat kutha, it
means not to kill an animal and eat it.

sc kI kwqI scu sBu swru ]

The knife is Truth, and its steel is totally True.

GwVq iqs kI Apr Apwr ]

Its workmanship is incomparably beautiful.

sbdy swx rKweI lwie ]

It is sharpened on the grindstone of the Shabad.

gux kI QykY ivic smwie ]

It is placed in the scabbard of virtue.

iqs dw kuTw hovY syKu ]

If the Shaykh is killed with that,

lohU lbu inkQw vyKu ]

then the blood of greed will spill out.

hoie hlwlu lgY hik jwie ]

One who is slaughtered in this ritualistic way, will be attached to the Lord.

nwnk dir dIdwir smwie ]

O Nanak, at the Lord's door, he is absorbed into His Blessed Vision.
(SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI ANG 956 )

“ TIS KA KUTHA HOVE SHIEKH “ means if Sheikh is killed with that knife.

ieku inrMjnu riv rihAw Bwau duXw kuTw ]

The One Immaculate Lord is pervading everywhere; He kills the love of duality.
(SRI GURU ARJAN DEV JI ANG 321 )

Here again “ kutha “ means KILL.

So it is clear that if we are ordered not to eat kutha, it means not to eat a killed animal.

Be wise, please do not follow those, who misguide you , but FOLLOW THE GREAT GURUS
AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED BY GURU SAHIBAN FOR EVER.