There’s a well-known story from the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji that carries a profound lesson. Once, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was traveling and stopped in the area of a Nawab (a Muslim nobleman). Guru Ji had no bias or discrimination based on religion or caste.
The Nawab, curious about Guru Ji’s teachings, said to him, “You often say that there is no Hindu or Muslim. If that is true, then why don’t you join us today for Namaz (Islamic prayer)? It’s Friday, and we are going to the mosque.”
Guru Nanak Dev Ji calmly replied, “I am willing to join you, but on one condition: if you truly pray, I will pray with you.” The Nawab agreed to this condition. When people heard about this, they began to speculate, wondering if Guru Nanak Dev Ji was changing his faith.
As the Namaz began in the mosque, the Nawab and others bowed their heads in prayer. However, Guru Nanak Dev Ji remained standing. The Nawab kept glancing at Guru Ji, expecting him to bow, but Guru Ji did not. This angered the Nawab, and he hurriedly finished the prayer. After the Namaz, the people began to criticize Guru Nanak Dev Ji, saying, “You promised to pray with us, but you didn’t fulfill your word. What kind of saint are you?”
Guru Nanak Dev Ji responded with wisdom, “I did promise to pray if you prayed sincerely. But during the Namaz, your mind was not focused on prayer. You were thinking about buying horses in Kabul, and your Maulvi (religious leader) was worried about his crops in the field. If the minds of those praying are not present in the prayer, how can the prayer be accepted?”
The Nawab was stunned and asked, “How did you know this?” Guru Nanak Dev Ji explained, “The Divine is present everywhere. He knows the secrets of every heart. If you perform rituals merely as a show, it is an act of deception and the work of ego. True worship comes from the heart.”
Guru Ji then taught the Nawab and the others that performing religious rituals is less important than performing them with sincerity and devotion. He said, “Meditate on the Divine Name and perform every task with dedication and love. That is true worship.”
This story teaches us that the essence of religion lies not in outward rituals but in the purity of the heart and genuine devotion. Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s message was clear: the Divine is not confined to any religion or ritual. He is present everywhere, and true worship is found in the sincerity of the heart and in righteous actions.
