Category: English

In the previous blog, we read that Qazi Ruknuddin’s first question was:

“Why do you not accept this path (the path of Prophet Muhammad) that we are following? Is this not the true way?”

Guru Nanak Sahib responded with great clarity and spiritual depth. He said that reaching God does not require the approval of any one religion or prophet — what truly matters is genuine faith, righteous actions, and an understanding of the Divine Will. Guru Nanak’s teachings emphasize that the essence of religion does not lie in following a particular tradition, but rather in inner purity, sincere devotion, and the integrity of one’s deeds.

After listening to Guru Nanak Sahib’s reply, Qazi Ruknuddin humbly presented another important question — one that pertained to human deeds and divine justice.

“If someone commits bad deeds and then repents after death, will their repentance be accepted?
Will a prophet or religious leader intercede on their behalf? If not, how will the soul be judged?”

His full question was presented in this way.

In this second question, Ruknuddin speaks about the final judgment of the soul. He suggests that if someone has committed wrongful actions, they will have to bear the consequences of those actions. No mother, father, brother, or any relative can protect them. Those who live sinful lives will have chains placed around their necks. Even Prophet Muhammad (Mustafa), he says, will not intercede for such individuals. When a soul reaches the fire of hell, repentance at that point becomes futile. No matter how many times a person cries out in repentance, it is no longer accepted. Ultimately, every soul must face a direct accounting of their good and bad deeds — because, in the court of God, there is no error and no escape — only justice.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Response

In this sacred composition, Guru Nanak Sahib offers a deep explanation of spiritual justice, the fruits of one’s deeds, and the true nature of religion. He lovingly explains that only God has the authority to forgive or punish — He alone governs everything. There is no need to seek anyone else’s approval. If a person understands and accepts the Divine Will, then that person is accepted in the court of the Lord. Guru Nanak Ji teaches that there is only one Supreme God to whom we should look — He is the true protector, guardian, and the eternal refuge of our soul.

Guru Nanak Sahib then speaks about the many so-called saints and spiritual leaders who stand by the riverbank claiming they can ferry people across. But these ‘peers’ ask for alms (money) and trap people in rituals and external displays of religion. These religious leaders only speak about wealth — they ask people for material offerings in the name of faith. Yet, they never ask, “Do you perform honest deeds?” or “Is your income earned righteously?” Guru Sahib makes it clear that those who commit sins will certainly face punishment. The moment of justice arrives for everyone — even for the kings of kings who must one day sit at this bridge of judgment. Countless souls have already crossed from this earth, but none have returned to reveal what lies beyond. Those who followed traditional paths — in great numbers — all draw near or remain far from the Divine depending on the truthfulness of their actions.

The one who truly chants God’s Name — he alone is the real sovereign in this world. Such a soul achieves true kingship — the reign of spiritual wisdom and liberation.

Guru Nanak Sahib then explains that punishment is given strictly according to one’s own deeds. No one can be freed by someone else’s recommendation. Guru Ji says that the group of souls attempting to cross the worldly ocean — many of them end up returning to their “home.”

This “home” is, in truth, the place where, based on their past deeds, they are reborn into another life form or existence. Those who constantly remember and chant the Name of the Lord, as per Guru Nanak Sahib’s teachings, go straight to Sachkhand — the realm of truth and spiritual liberation — and they do not need to return again.

In this context, Guru Sahib presents the image of a royal court — where thieves are caught and imprisoned, while common folk (citizens) return to their homes. In my understanding (as the writer), those who have committed very bad deeds receive punishment for their souls there, and those who have not, according to their actions, are reborn in one of the 8.4 million life forms.

Those who meditate on the Divine Name — as Guru Sahib has already said — go directly to the true spiritual realm, Sachkhand. They are liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

Then Guru Sahib says that those who are the market people (traders), they return to their own shops — just as the marketplace continues. Here, the “market” is a metaphor for worldly occupations, rituals, and outer show. But Guru Nanak Sahib also makes it clear that this entire spectacle is under the command of the Divine — it’s not in anyone’s individual hands.

Guru Sahib sees the scene of this market with open eyes — someone is dancing, jesters are performing, pandits are reading from the Gita and Bhagwat scriptures, mullahs are reading rasalas, musical instruments are being played, and everyone is engaged in their own business. Everything is being done as a matter of tradition — but the true spirituality, the Divine Name, and inner purity are neither being seen nor practiced.

Those who are complete Gurmukhs — who are attached to the feet of the True Guru, who remember the Divine Name, and who perform good deeds — they are the ones who cross this dangerous worldly ocean. For them, liberation is the real life.

Divine Justice at the Lord’s Court

Guru Nanak Ji then says that where the souls are examined, there the judgment is done with such subtlety that the soul becomes finer than the tip of a needle. The justice at the Lord’s Court is so precise that even the slightest cunning or lie cannot pass. Those who commit sins in the world, their souls are made to pass through a spiritual fire sharper than a sword — an internal purification that burns away their evils. Below, there flows a river — a stream of repentance, sorrow, and torment — where the souls of sinners are cast. There, they suffer such intense spiritual crises and torments that are beyond human imagination. The pain they feel is none other than the living shadow of their own inner sins.

Some false pirs (spiritual preachers) stand holding boats, claiming that they can ferry their followers across the spiritual ocean — but their boats hold no divine power. Thieves, frauds, the greedy, those who live off forbidden earnings, the immoral, deceivers, those who violate women’s dignity, cheaters, those without true spiritual guidance or mentorship, betrayers of gratitude, slanderers, gossips, those who exploit the poor for wealth, those who deny entrusted belongings, those who seize others’ land and still call themselves righteous — all such souls are subjected to severe and painful punishment in the hereafter.

Guru Nanak Sahib then explains that those who live their lives with lies, deceit, and greed are ultimately rejected at the Court of the Divine. Such souls are not saved from the cycle of birth and death, nor do they attain any elevated spiritual state. When their judgment arrives, they scream in helplessness — but by then, it is too late. In the end, they are thrown back into the worldly stream, lost once again in the crowd.

These souls suffer wave after wave of worldly pain for countless ages. After wandering through countless life forms, they are only granted a human birth by rare good fortune — a life that is precious and hard to attain. But once given a human body, the Divine examines their actions. If a person is deceitful inside but shows humility on the outside, they are living a double life. Such people are like bows — they appear bent but hide deadly force within. They are like hunters who silently fire upon innocence. Those who fake humility to deceive others commit a kind of spiritual murder.

Yet, Guru Sahib says, if someone truly holds truth within them — no matter their outer condition — they are accepted at the Divine Court. Only such true souls receive the nectar of spiritual reward with honor — they are the ones who emerge victorious.

Rare Are the Truly Enlightened Ones

Guru Maharaj further says that a person who truly walks on the path of truth is extremely rare. This path cannot be found even after thousands of attempts — even after making lakhs of efforts, only a rare one achieves it. Just like among countless stones, only one might be a philosopher’s stone (parsa); just like in the vastness of forests, only one might be the mythical tree Parijat — a divine tree said to have descended from heaven and believed to fulfill all human wishes. Similarly, among cows, only one might have the Kamadhenu cow — a cow described in the scriptures as capable of granting every desire. In the same way, among human society, true saints (sadhus) are also extremely rare. Their conduct, spiritual purity, and connection with the Divine are so deep that no ordinary person can fully understand them.

However, Guru Sahib assures that even if one or two individuals begin walking on the true saint’s path, they too — by cultivating such virtues — can become saints.

Then Guru Nanak Sahib explains that if a person does not come across a true saint, the world around is full of deception, hypocrisy, and greed. People lay traps using the lure of wealth and entangle others in them. They consider money itself to be the ultimate guide, and their entire effort is centered around acquiring it from others. Everywhere there are webs of fraud spread out, and the ignorant and foolish get caught in them. Some even go so far as to falsely testify and take responsibility for others’ sins to save themselves — but in doing so, they become even greater sinners. Their sins become so immense that they can never be washed away — as a result, they fall into deep hell (Rasatal).

These people have no regard for even a single rupee of honest (halal) earning, yet they crave crores of rupees earned through dishonesty and forbidden means (haram).

Just as a single spark from a pomegranate can burn down an entire forest, likewise, even a small amount of remembrance of the Divine Name (Simran) can reduce millions of sins to ashes.

Guru Sahib says that sinners too exist in many forms — higher, medium, and of other kinds. There are also many types of killings — for example, killing a Brahmin, wiping out someone’s lineage or clan, destroying someone indebted to you, harming an innocent unmarried girl, or betraying someone’s trust. All of these actions lead a person towards spiritual ruin.

But The one who connects with the Name of the Divine saves himself from the entrapment of Maya (worldly illusion) and brings his life onto the path of truth.

The Gravest Sin — Slander

Further, Guru Nanak Sahib in this section enumerates the gravest and most destructive sins. He says that killing a single being equals hundreds of thousands of smaller sins. But if someone turns away from the Guru and instead follows attachment and falsehood, that act is as great a sin as killing six people at once. Betrayal — making someone trust you and then deceiving them — is an even greater sin than killing thousands of mothers and fathers. Other types of murder might be forgivable to some degree, but a betrayer will never escape justice. Guru Sahib says that the one who forgets kindness done to them, who lacks gratitude — that person carries the weight of lakhs of sins.

Likewise, someone who has illicit relations with another’s wife is considered a great sinner, the worst of transgressors. Guru Ji says that if all sins in the world were gathered together and someone committed them knowingly, then all those sins would climb on that person’s head.

But out of all sins, the most dangerous one is being a slanderer (nindak) — someone who speaks against the Lord or against the God-centered (Gurmukh). These slanderers do not immediately go to hell — instead, they live a long life, but that life is full of inner torment, burdened with heavy sins and spiritual destruction. The sins of all the sinners gather and fall upon the head of the slanderer — and for that reason, the slanderer is considered the worst among all sinners.

Without Inner Realization, Religion Is Hollow

Guru Nanak Sahib makes it clear that simply reading scriptures and religious texts without internal understanding does not reveal the truth. Whether it’s the Quran, the Puranas, the four Vedas, or the four Islamic books — only rare ones among the readers ever find the true essence. The mullahs keep giving calls to prayer, keep performing namaz, and keep shouting daily — but they do not understand the light of their own soul. Reading does not bring understanding — only the one who knows the Divine from within finds the true path.

Guru Sahib says the true God is only One — and the one who has realized Him within is the one who has found true understanding.

One God, One Path – Beyond Religious Showmanship

Many people tie tall turbans and wear long robes to appear religious, but in reality, they accept bribes and speak falsehoods. They abandon the path of Divine scripture and drift toward demonic directions. Their worldly life turns into hell, and they ultimately fail on the Day of Judgment. Allah has created the cycle of 8.4 million life forms — forming every creature with distinct qualities, all shaped under His command and divine will.

Guru Nanak Sahib powerfully teaches the oneness of God, the true essence of religion, and the greatness of human brotherhood. He says there is One Pure God — higher than all kings and emperors. He rules without ministers or aides, and His sovereignty is unfathomable, limitless, and beyond comprehension. The Divine created a second realm — manifesting the form of Adam (humankind). In creation, there are three realms: Kaan (inert matter), Nabaat (vegetation), and Hewaan (animals) — all of these dwell on Earth and are forms of Divine nature. Whether exalted or ordinary, all beings are His creation. He is the supreme Master, whose glory is praised even in the religious scriptures.

From One, He created countless human forms — yet all carry the same essence, the same soul. Still, many drift away down paths of evil. There are many roads that can lead to God, many prophets have come, but in the end, the devotion must be to One Supreme Divine alone. Both Hindus and Muslims are His creation — both are children of the same Creator. Sadly, people end up fighting over the names “Ram” and “Rasool,” which is nothing but dishonesty and spiritual blindness. Guru Ji says that oppression, infidelity, and deception are sinful — no one should be harmed in God’s name.

If someone worships the Divine with sincere devotion, regardless of the religion they follow, their prayer is accepted in the Divine court.

Man was created as the most special among all beings, entrusted with a sacred responsibility — to remember God, to sing His praises, and to spread His message, whether through the wisdom of the Vedas or the teachings of the holy books. In the end, Guru Nanak Dev Ji gives a direct and powerful message: O faithful ones! Let go of religious claims, rituals, and conflicts. Accept the One Supreme Creator with true devotion, and you shall be accepted in His divine court.

Guru Sahib explains that the four Vedas of the Hindus and the four revealed books of the Muslims (including the Quran) are all considered knowledge delivered through messengers. But the truth remains — there is only One Divine Light, One soul, One God. When people knowingly divide themselves by religious claims, they fall into the darkness of falsehood and ego. God is One and Pure, and our rosary (tasbih) should only be used to chant His name. Though the beads are all the same color, people showcase a thousand different shades of religious hypocrisy.

One Soul, One Divine Play – Dying in His Will

Those who kill living beings while claiming purity are lost in sin — to take life with a knife is forbidden. How can killing the dead and then calling the meat “halal” be spiritually justified? This is nothing more than a self-made excuse. Whoever kills, becomes a killer — and no logic or label can wash away that karma. On the Day of Judgment, every action will be accounted for — and none shall escape Divine justice. Just because someone appears virtuous from the outside doesn’t mean they are pure within. Only those who surrender to the Divine will have even their death counted as a sacred deed.

The Divine has no age — He is eternal and infinite. He has created four types of life forms: Kaan (inanimate matter), Hewaan (animals), Nabaat (plants), and finally, humans. All are His creation. Each one carries the same essence — a spark of the Divine soul. But when a human being forgets the Creator and chases only wealth, they become trapped in the net of sin.

This world is like a game of dice — a cosmic board on which beings are constantly reborn and re-enter the cycle of life and death. Until one begins true devotion to the Creator, this cycle continues endlessly. This divine teaching shows us that all humans are spiritually one, that all paths lead to the same One, and it is Naam Simran — the remembrance of God — that burns away sin and liberates the soul from this endless game.

Upon hearing all of this, Qazi Rukn-ud-din is left speechless, filled with awe and wonder. He looks to Guru Nanak Dev Ji once again, ready to ask another profound question — one that will be explored in the next part of this blog series.