In the dark days of Mughal persecution under Zakaria Khan, when brute force failed to crush the Sikh spirit, the tyrant resorted to treachery—only to witness an extraordinary display of courage from a father and son that would echo through history.
The Trap of False Promises
Zakaria Khan, unable to eliminate the Sikhs through violence, devised a deceitful peace offer. He appointed Bhai Subeg Singh, a respected Sikh and former Kotwal (chief officer) of Lahore, as an intermediary, pretending to seek reconciliation. Meanwhile, Bhai Subeg Singh’s son, Sahibzada Shahbaz Singh, was studying Persian under Qazi Basu in Lahore. The Qazi, impressed by the boy’s brilliance, hatched a sinister plan: convert Shahbaz Singh to Islam and marry him to his daughter.
The Test of Faith
The Qazi first tried to lure Shahbaz Singh with promises of prestige and wealth, praising Islam’s virtues. But the young Sikh, steeped in Guru’s teachings and the stories of Sikh martyrs, refused. Undeterred, the Qazi turned to threats and brutal torture—yet Shahbaz Singh remained steadfast, declaring: “My faith is my soul; I will never betray it.”
The Tyrant’s Wrath
Humiliated, the Qazi rushed to Zakaria Khan, falsely accusing Bhai Subeg Singh and his son of blasphemy. The Khan, ignoring Subeg Singh’s past service, ordered their arrest. When brought before the executioners, the father and son were given one final choice: convert or die. Their reply thundered in unison: “We choose the Guru’s path—never Islam!”
The Ultimate Sacrifice
The Mughals subjected them to the horrific “spinning wheel” torture—their bodies broken, yet their spirits unshaken. Their martyrdom became a defining moment in Sikh history, proving:
- No force can bend a Sikh’s devotion to the Guru.
- A father and son’s unity in faith can defy an empire.
- Truth shines brightest in the face of tyranny.
Legacy of Courage
Today, their sacrifice is remembered as a beacon of resistance against religious oppression. The soil of Lahore, where their blood was spilled, still whispers their names—a testament that faith, when rooted in truth, is unbreakable.
“They spun on wheels of fire, yet their souls touched the heavens—martyrs not of death, but of eternal life.”
