Baba Nanak Shrine

Baba Nanak Shrine or Sikh Gurdwara in Baghdad, Iraq, which was rediscovered by Sikh soldiers during World War I and was repaired and rebuilt during World War II, by Sikh soldiers again; existed till 2003 in good shape. Founder of Sikh religion Guru Nanak came to Baghdad in early sixteenth century in fact in around 1511 AD,[1][2] during his travels to world communities. He also visited the holy places of Muslims like Mecca and Madina.[3]

Baba Nanak Shrine
Religion
AffiliationSikhism
Location
LocationBaghdad
CountryIraq
Shown within Baghdad
Baba Nanak Shrine (Iraq)
Baba Nanak Shrine (Asia)
Geographic coordinates33°20′10.2768″N 44°21′50.1732″E

Historical significances
Main article: Sikhism in Iraq

Guru Nanak exchanged ideas on religion with religious authorities like Pirs. This led to formation of a group of his followers in Baghdad who remembered the Guru as Baba Nanak. There was very loose contact between this place and Sikhs of Punjab until First World War when some Sikh soldiers rediscovered it.[4]

Kirpal Singh a captain in Indian Medical Service of World War I time, located this gurdwara in west of town Baghdad between old graveyard to the north and present Baghdad Samara railway line to the south. To the Arabs this place is well known as tomb of Bahlol.

Historic relics such as an old plaque with text inscribed in Arabic,[5][6] existed in the Shrine till Iraq war in 2003, were looted by some miscreants after the war. Iraqi Government in 2007 expressed a desire to rebuild the shrine in 2007. According to a news report Abu Yusuf was caretaker of the shrine in 2011.[7] Prior to war a few Sikh pilgrims used to visit the shrine, rather reports of some regular interval congregations by Indian workers in Iraq and cooking and sharing a meal by them on the place are also there.

Present status

In 2014 ISIS captured Mehsul area in Iraq. Some Indian workers were captured and killed during the area under their control.

Position in 2018 is that Gurdwara has been completely damaged. Only parts of outer wall could be seen next to tomb of Bahlol. Only one Mehrab remained in one of the walls. Since 2018, a gate protects the space of former gurdwara.

References
  1. Inderjit Singh Jhajj. Guru Nanak At Mecca. pp. 3-4. While doing research at a University in Medina Mushtaq Hussein came across a handwritten manuscript Siyahto Baba Nanak Fakir, in a library. This manuscript was written by an Arabic and Persian writer named Taajudin’s Naqashabandi......he kept a diary -Siyahto Baba Nanak Fakir manuscript,which he submitted to library in Medina in aroun 1512 AD.This suggests Guru Nanak Dev Ji was in Middle East in Mecca and Baghdad for roughly one and a half to two years 1511 to 1513 AD.
  2. "BAGHDĀD (33º-20'N, 44º-30'E)". eos.learnpunjabi.org. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  3. Inderjit Singh Jhajj. Guru Nanak At Mecca.
  4. Sevdeen, Nayar Mustafa; Schmidinger, Thomas (2019). Beyond ISIS:History and Future of Religious Minorities in Iraq. London: Transnational Press London.
  5. www.DiscoverSikhism.com. Sources On The Life Teachings Of Guru Nanak.
  6. "SikhSpectrum.com Monthly. Guru Nanak, first Sikh prophet, visited Baghdad". 30 April 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  7. "AFP: Sikh shrine in Baghdad lives on in memories". 5 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2019.


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