Page 224 - Lohgarh

224 w Lohgarh : The World’s Largest Fort

contribution. It was he who, through his martyrdom, gave his blood for
the transfusion, resuscitation and survival of the Sikh nation!

Banda Singh and Islam
Some Muslim writers have tried to portray Banda Singh as a cruel general
or an anti-Islamic. It is a sheer misconception and a blatant lie. It is
evident from the history that Banda Singh did not kill even a single
innocent Muslim; he punished only the tyrants or those who fought
against him. Remember, ordinary Muslims themselves were victims of
the atrocities of the Muslim rulers (Sayyads, Pathans and Mughals) and
other aristocracy. There are several references in history that ordinary
Muslims rather supported Banda Singh; in Samana, Sadhaura, Buria,
Kalanaur and several other areas the local Muslims helped Banda Singh
and even joined his rank and file.
Secondly, whenever Banda Singh freed any territory, he did not
demolish any Muslim religious place. This is evident from the scores of
mosques, tombs and other such structures of those days which are still
intact; one can see a large number of such old mosques and tombs at
Samana, Fatehgarh Sahib (erstwhile old Sarhind city), Sadhaura and
many other places. On the other hand, the Muslim rulers (Mughals and
Afghan, both) had attacked, plundered and destroyed Darbar Sahib and
other Sikh shrines several times and filled the sarovars (tanks) with debris,
animal bones, filth and garbage.
An interesting entry in the Akhbarat-i-Darbar-i-Mualla dated 28th
April 1711 refers to the enrollment of five thousand Muslims in Banda
Singh’s army at Kalanaur. According to this entry Banda Singh always
used Ji (a suffix, which is addressed of respect) for all the Sikhs and
Muslims alike and he never uttered even a single word against Islam or
its religious leaders; (on the other hand the Mughal rules always used
words of disdain for the Sikhs and usually referred to them as infidels,
thieves, dogs etc.).
Banda Singh’s justice was alike for the Sikhs and the Muslims. Once,
when a Sikh officer usurped the property of a Muslim, Banda Singh
immediately punished that Sikh. 1 Banda Singh had issued strict