Martyrdom in Sikhism

Martyrdom in Sikhism represents an important element of the faith. Sikh festivals are largely focused on the lives of the Gurus and Sikh martyrs. Their martyrdoms are regarded as instructional ideals for Sikhs, and have greatly influenced Sikh culture and practices. The Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, is generally regarded as the first Sikh martyr.

Martyrdom is a fundamental institution of the Sikh faith. The martyrdom of Guru Arjan in the 17th century is regarded as a key moment in Sikh tradition which has influenced Sikh practices and beliefs, helping define a deliberately-separate and militant Sikh community. The later martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who refused to convert to Islam in an effort to protect Hindu religious practice, is credited with making respect for freedom of conscience a key part of Sikh identity.

One of the terms referring to a sikh martyr is "shahid" or "shaheed". A male martyr is "shaheed singh", and one who has attained martyrdom is "shaheedi".

The concept of martyrdom was made explicitly part of Sikh teaching by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

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