Are there different gods for different religions? Some say ‘yes’, some say ‘no’. Some say that there is only One God but found only in their religion. Sikhs say that there is only One God who is the source of the whole creation, its sustenance, destruction and recreation.

The first paragraph of the Sikh Holy Scripture - the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - The Moolmantar - reads: ‘God is Ek Onkar (The One and Only Ultimate Reality), Satnam (The True Name - God is the Truth), Karta Purakh (The Creator, Sustainer and Destroyer), Nirbhau (Without Fear), Nirvair (Without Enmity), Akal Murat (Formless Everlasting Divine Spiri ), Ajuni (Beyond The Cycle of Birth and Death), Saibhang (Self-Existing), Gurparshad (By The Lord's Grace Shall The Lord Be Realise) Aad Sach (True Before Creation), Jug Aad Sach (True When Creation Began), Hai Bhi Sach (True Even Now), Nanak, Hosi Bhi Sach (Says Nanak The Lord Shall Eternally Be True).

The ‘Jaap Sahib’ of the Guru reads ‘Namastang A-namay’ (I Salute The Lord Who is Nameless), ‘Namastang A-mahazebey’ (I Salute The Lord Who is Not Bound By Any Religion). It means that God does not need a religion. It is we the imperfect human beings who need religion to guide us.

Numerous prophets of the various ages have been sent by the Lord to correct erring humanity. These enlightened prophets taught us the truth but after they left, over time, the truth got buried in the debris of human systems, rules, laws, institutions, priesthood, prejudices, self-righteousness and so on.

God is given a name by people who are in love with the Lord, in accordance with their emotions and perceptions. The Hindus call the Lord Ala, Alo, Lla (Mother), Brahma (Creator), Gopal (Sustainer ) and Gobind (Destroyer). In the Upanishad, it says that God is One. ‘I am Who I am’.

The Jews call the Lord JHWH, El, Elohim. Jesus is called the Lord Eloi, Eloh, Eli. In his Aramaic language, he is called Alaha. The Christians call the Lord by many names adapting to the culture of their believers - Allah (Arabic), God (Greek), Kinorohingan (Kadazan).

In Islam, the Lord is call ‘Allah’ and 99 other derivative names. In Sikhism the Lord is called by many beautiful holy names. Examples: Sat Kartar (The True Creator), Rabb, Pita (Father), Pritam (Beloved), Waheguru (The Wonderful Lord The Dispeller of Darkness), Allah, Alo. One sentence reads: ‘Awal Alah Noor Upaya Kudrat Kay Sab Banday’ (In The Beginning From The Lord's Light Comes The Creation).

To the Sikhs, the truth is that the Lord for all humanity is One and the same regardless of race, creed and religion. To the Sikhs, there is no controversy as to the name of the Lord. One may call a tree a tree in whatever language without the tree changing it status. When I hear the ‘azan’ call to prayer, my immediate instinct is to say ‘Satnam Waheguru’! (The Lord Is The Everlasting Truth).

Don’t you sense that the whole world’s religions are getting united?