Guru Nanak eMecca
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Portrait of 16th Century Mecca
Guru Nanak traveled to Mecca on his fourth (last) day (duration). Bhai Mardana went with him and wore a blue robe worn by the hajjis or Muhamedens who were traveling at the time, with him holding a Faqirs scepter in his hand a collection of hymns under his armpit, and a jug (lota) for swearing, thus he was in the picture se-hajji. Guru Nanak was now on his Udasis (journey) for at least two decades, since his sudden disappearance (c. 1497) which shocked his followers and gave some who were jealous of his growing influence to initiate all kinds of evil, even to accuse him. for stealing and stealing from Daulat Khan’s shops.
At that time he was visiting most of India as far east as Assam and Burma; in the south as far as Sri Lanka (also known as Ceylon and Saran Deep) and in the north it even crossed the Himalayan mountains visiting Tibet and China. He and his tireless friends went about their daily life, giving generously of themselves to others, many of whom were his followers. What a tireless stranger he was!
Evidence of History
The following are Sikh history books and Sikh manuscripts as well as manuscripts that serve as proof that Nanak visited Mecca:
Siyatho Baba Nanak Shah Fakhir – By Haaji Taajudin Naqshbandhi: He met Guru nanak in Iran; while on the pilgrimage. He wrote his journey in his manuscript.
Twarikh Arab – By Khwaja Jain-Labdeen: He was in Mecca during the Nakan voyage. He mentioned Nakan and Rukn-ud-din’s speech.
History of the Punjab – Sayyed Muhammad Latif: Recognized Nanak’s journey to mecca.
History of Sikhs – Hari Ram Gupta; who spoke of Nakan dressed as Haji went to Mecca.
Vaar Bhai Gurdas – Gurdas’ 16th-century menu item, author, said Nanak visited Mecca
Sau Sakhi – A manuscript taken by Namdharis, the Sect of Sikhs also mentions two sections called Karni Nama and Raj Nama referring to Nanak’s journey to Mecca.
Janamsakhis – Early Sikh Manuscripts; All Janamsakhi by different authors say that Nanak visited Mecca
Non-Muslims went to Mecca
Highway Board in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
It is often argued that Guru Nanak was unable to leave Mecca and quotes from the Quran are given similar support:
Quran – Surah Tauba
In the Holy Quran it is mentioned in Surah Tauba as 9:28:
[Thaubah 9:28] O Believing People! Many worshipers are very filthy *;
so after this year do not let them come near the Holy Mosque; and if you fear poverty **,
then Allah will soon enrich us with His grace, if He wills; verily Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
O you who believe! Idolaters are indeed unclean;
therefore they shall not come near the Holy Mosque after this year (9:28).
Surah-Tauba does not contradict the Nakan
It is argued that Guru Nanak is a Muslim by entering the City of Mecca. Guru Nanak was a staunch Monotheist who believed in the Tawhid meaning of the “unity” doctrine of the Almighty. Surah Tauba does not contradict Nanak’s approach. Guru Nanak is one who received a divine revelation, containing the definition of a Muslim:
ਮੁਸਲਮਾਣੁ ਕਹਾਵਣੁ ਮੁਸਕਲੁ ਜਾ ਹੋਇ ਤਾ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਣੁ ਕਹਾਵੈ॥॥
ਅਵਲਿ ਅਉਲਿ ਦੀਨੁ ਕਰਿ ਮਿਠਾ ਮਾਨਾ ਮਾਲੁ ਮੁਸਾਵੈ॥॥ ਹੋਇ ਮੁਸਲਿਮੁ ਦੀਨ ਮੁਹਾਣੈ ਮਰਣ ਜੀਵਣ ਕਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਚੁਕਾਵੈ ਚੁਕਾਵੈ॥
ਰਬ ਕੀ ਰਜਾਇ ਮੰਨੇ ਸਿਰ ਉਪਰਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਮੰਨੇ ਆਪੁ ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਵੈ॥ ਤਉ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਰਬ ਜੀਆ ਮਿਹਰੰਮਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਣੁ ਕਹਾਵੈ ਕਹਾਵੈ ॥੧॥
Musalmāṇ kahāvaṇ muskal jā ho▫e ṯā musalmāṇ kahāvai.
Aval A▫ul ḏīn kar miṯẖā maskal mānā māl musāvai. UHo▫e muslim ḏīn muhāṇai maraṇ jīvaṇ kā bẖaram cẖukẖāvai.
Rab kī rajā▫e manne sir upar karṯā manne āp gavāvai. Na▫o Nānak sarab jī▫ā mihramaṯ ho▫e ṯa musalmāṇ kahāvai. (1)
It is difficult to be called a Muslim; if a person is truly a Muslim, he may be called that.
First, let him taste the religion of the Prophet sweet; then let his glory be exalted.
To be a true Muslim, a student of the Mohammedan faith, let him put aside the illusion of life and death.
As he submits to God’s Will, and submits to his Creator, he eliminates selfishness and pride.
And there, O Nanak, the merciful of all creatures, only then will he be called a Muslim.
The above passage describes the qualities of a Musalman person; if all four of these lines apply to a person, then one can also be called a true musalmann. A person, whether a Muslim or another religion, if he adheres to the meaning as narrated above, will be described as a true salmann according to the definition stated by Nakan.
Arriving at Jeddah, now in Saudi Arabia
Guru Jee then crossed the Arabian coast to Jeddah. From there he walked to Mecca at just the right time. By the time he arrived in Mecca, he was very tired. Her feet hurt and she needed to rest. So he lay down to rest. He knew very well that no Muslim could lie on his feet towards the Kaaba. But he wanted to draw the attention of the Hajji, so that he could teach them his wisdom.
Although Muslims believe that Adam came to Sri Lanka, when he was expelled from Heaven, they believe that Eve came to Jeddah a name derived from Jaddah, an Arabic word meaning “grandmother” or mother of all mankind.
