Page 13 - Gurmat Book 7
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Lesson 5: What is Hukam?
“Hukam” is an important concept in Gurbani. Literally translated according to
dictionary it means an order, a command, a mandate, a decree, a judgement, a
decision, a permission, a fate, God’s will, Divine law etc. You have heard the word
“Hukam” often. It has several meanings based on what context we are using it in.
When we open Guru Granth Sahib for the first time in the day, we open a random
page in the middle and we read the first Shabad on the left page. We call that
Shabad Hukam.
When something bad happens in our families, our elderly or the wise ones say, it
is Waheguru’s Hukam. If something good happens to a Gursikh, he/she says, I did
not do it; it was Waheguru’s grace or Hukam.
In JapuJi Sahib, Guru Nanak Dev Ji asks:
ਕਿਵ ਸਕਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਇਐ ਕਿਵ ਿੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਕਿ ॥
How can we become truthful enough to realize Waheguru? How can the veil of
illusion be torn away?
He answers in the next line:
ਹੁਿਕਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਿਿਣਾ ਨਾਨਿ ਕਿਕਿਆ ਨਾਕਿ ॥
We have to live our life according to pre-ordained order of Waheguru’s Will.
How does Waheguru pre-ordain his/her orders for us? Well, we didn’t select our
parents, our DNA and many of the habits. But that’s what we have. We should be
grateful for what we have. If we are born in a rich family, we should thank
Waheguru; if we are born in a poor family then also we should accept that
gracefully. The color of our skin, the length of our hair, our height, weight etc.
are all Waheguru’s Hukam. Neither we should be judged, nor should we judge any
person based on that.
According to Gurbani, the universe is created by Waheguru. The atoms, the
earth, the moon, the planets, the sun, other stars and the galaxies, all are
Stepping Stones PSL Gurmat Sikhia Book 7G 2023 Edition Page 11
