As I read Guru Nanak, I do not believe that what he has given to his Sikhs is about science and its discoveries in context of the Creator; finding science from religious scriptures is a common fallacy; the science is an open field of conquering possibilities, but it is not complete in its mission, and it never will be. What the Guru says while talking about infinite form of the Creator can possibly resemble with some facts we know today about the universe through science; however, the Guru hasn’t disclosed scientific facts intentionally.
I have read some Muslims writers on the net who are bent upon proving that actually Holy Quran is mentioning things which were not known to the public at the time of their prophet, some Hindus are trying to prove that the concept of airplane exists in Vedas on the base of a word “wahan” used in the scriptures, and such a list of boasters of various faiths goes on; unfortunately, some Sikhs are also trying to contend with those boasters. Guru Nanak has declared that it is impossible to define infinity; therefore, it is not possible to express the infinite Creator. That teaches us a lesson to avoid describing that which is beyond words.
Taking evolution of the world as a base, in the issue of The Sikh Bulleten” (January 2012), Dr Chahal, has tried to prove that Guru Nanak doesn’t believe in a soul or in after death scenario , and he also believes that the past deeds are not responsible for the current miseries one endures as it is said often in Hindu ideology that everything occurs because of past “Karma”; how far Dr Chahal understands the Guru in this context, we shall look at it by addressing the quotes he has introduced to us from Gurbani to justify the Guru’s thinking in his conclusion.
In the article, Dr Chahal believes that Guru Nanak doesn’t believe in existence of “soul” but a principle of evolution; though Guru Nanak came before Charles Darwin (1809-1882), he introduces to the mankind “the evolution of life”; in a nut shell; it is fair to say that according to Dr Chahal, the Guru believes that there is a body formed from five elements, and it comes into life with consciousness; as it crumbles, everything finishes right here; this human body has reached to its form through an evolution which is described in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. To support that idea, he gives some quotes; I have no intention to criticize what Dr Chahal believes in just as I, being a strong believer of the Creator, have no problem with an atheist who may suspect me to be in an illusion. Whatever such atheist may say about me, will not shatter my faith in the Creator.
In the same manner, Dr Chahal’s views are his, but my concern is his way of distorting Gurbani to support his beliefs. I am going to question his interpretation and translation (done by him or someone) of Gurbani referred in his article. I am going to quote the entire shabdas from which the quotes are taken so that we can see if the idea presented in his given quotes matches with the idea conveyed in the entirety of the shabdas.
To support the theory of evolution, Dr Chahal quotes the following verses, on 176, SGGS; the shabda is addressed to a follower: