for the people next door
Faith and beliefs

What do Sikhs believe?

2 min read Answered by the Neighbor Radio team Neighbor review in progress Updated

Sikhs believe in one God who lives in everyone. So every person is equal, no matter their caste, gender or faith. Sikhism began about 500 years ago in Punjab, in South Asia, with Guru Nanak. Sikhs try to remember God, work honestly and share. That’s why every gurdwara serves a free meal, called langar, to anyone who walks in.

1 · MindWhat people believe, and how they know

Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak, born in 1469 in Punjab. Nine Gurus followed him. The tenth, Guru Gobind Singh, named the scripture itself as the eternal Guru. It’s called the Guru Granth Sahib, and Sikhs treat it with great honor. Its first words are “Ik Onkar”: there is one Creator.

Sikhs live by three simple pillars: Naam Japna (remember God), Kirat Karni (earn an honest living) and Vand Chakna (share what you have). In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa, a community of initiated Sikhs who wear five articles of faith, including uncut hair (kesh), usually covered by a turban, and a steel bracelet (kara). Sikh men often share the name Singh (“lion”) and women Kaur (“princess”).

Sikhism is its own religion, not a branch of Hinduism or Islam. There are about 25 million Sikhs worldwide. Estimates put Sikh Americans at around half a million. The first U.S. gurdwara opened in Stockton, California, in 1912.

What each tradition or community says

Sikh teaching on other faiths

Guru Nanak taught that God isn’t owned by any one religion. Sikhs don’t go out seeking converts, though anyone may choose to become Sikh. They believe people of any faith can reach God.

Many Sikh Americans

The turban is a commitment to equality and service. Being mistaken for someone else, or for a threat, is exhausting.

Christian connection

Langar looks a lot like Jesus’ call to invite “the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind” to your table (Luke 14:13).

2 · HeartWhat it feels like

Four days after 9/11, a Sikh man named Balbir Singh Sodhi was shot and killed outside his gas station in Mesa, Arizona, by a man who mistook him for a Muslim. Many Sikh families have never forgotten.

Many Sikh kids get asked about their patka (a smaller head covering) or their hair long before anyone asks about their faith.

Walk into almost any gurdwara at lunchtime and someone will hand you a plate. No sermon, no sign-up sheet. We could all learn something from that kitchen.Neighbor Radio

3 · HandsHow to be a good neighbor

Visit a gurdwara. Anyone is welcome. Cover your head (they’ll lend you a scarf), take off your shoes and sit on the floor for langar. A common greeting is “Sat Sri Akal,” which means “God is the eternal truth.” Never touch someone’s turban.

This weekFind the nearest gurdwara and go to langar. Bring a friend.

TimelineWhere this fits

More than 15,000 years ago: Native peoples in North AmericaAbout 2000 BC: Abraham answers God's callAbout 1500 BC: The Rig VedaAbout 1450 BC: The Exodus and the Torah at SinaiAbout 500 BC: The Buddha teachesAbout 400 BC to AD 200: The Bhagavad GitaAbout 250 BC: Emperor AshokaAbout 6 BC: Jesus is bornAbout AD 30: Jesus' death and resurrectionAD 610: The Qur'an's revelation beginsAD 622: The Hijra1787: No religious test for office1791: The First Amendment1820: The First VisionApril 6, 1830: The Church is organized1965: Immigration and Nationality Act1978: American Indian Religious Freedom Act2023–24: 29 percent unaffiliated 1469: Guru Nanak is born1699: The Khalsa is founded1708: The scripture becomes the Guru1912: The first U.S. gurdwara

See every faith on one timeline →

SourcesWhere it is in the scriptures

New Testament

  • Luke 14:13 Read it in the World English Bible on Free Scripture

Plain wordsWhat do these words mean?

Guru
A spiritual teacher. Sikhs follow ten human Gurus and honor their scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, as the living Guru.
Gurdwara
A Sikh house of worship. The name means “door to the Guru.”
Langar
The free community kitchen at every gurdwara. Anyone may eat, and everyone sits together.
Guru Granth Sahib
The Sikh scripture, honored as the living Guru.
Khalsa
The community of initiated Sikhs, founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
Kesh
Uncut hair, one of the five Sikh articles of faith.
Convert
To change from one religion to another, or a person who has.
Sermon
A talk during a worship service that explains a passage of scripture and what it means for life. Catholics call it a homily; Muslims call the Friday sermon a khutbah.

All the words →

Four questions to take with you

From Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, about the stranger who stopped to help. We call it the Samaritan Test.

  1. Did they see? Or look right past?
  2. Did they stop? Even when it was inconvenient?
  3. Did it cost them? Time, money, comfort, reputation?
  4. Did they treat the person like a person? Not like a label?

Try it on: who in your town feeds strangers for free, every single day? Did you know that?

Quick questions

Are Sikhs Hindu or Muslim?

Neither. Sikhism is a separate religion with its own scripture, Gurus and practices.

Why don’t Sikhs cut their hair?

Uncut hair, kesh, is a gift from God kept in its natural form. The turban keeps it covered and neat.

Can a non-Sikh eat langar?

Yes. That’s the point. Everyone sits together and eats the same meal, as equals.

Sources and research
  1. Sikh Coalition: About Sikhs
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Sikhism
  3. Harvard Pluralism Project: Sikhism
  4. Luke 14:13 (World English Bible)
How this answer was made

Written in plain words by the Neighbor Radio team. Each faith's and community's section is checked by someone from that faith or community. Until then, this page says so. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We read every note and fix mistakes.

Where to go next

Free tools that go with this

  • Free Scripture (opens in a new tab)→ Read

    A calm Bible reader with three translations and full search. No ads, no sign-up. Just the words.

    First step: Look up any Bible verse quoted on this site.