Bowing before Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is sometimes misinterpreted as idol worship, but this claim arises from a misunderstanding of both idol worship and the Sikh perspective on reverence. What is idol worship? It is bowing before a lifeless object that holds no wisdom or spiritual guidance. In contrast, a Sikh prostrates only before God. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the ‘spoken revealed Word’ of God, not a mere object.

There is no separation between God’s Word, His divine Order, and God Himself. Bowing before Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji signifies submission to the Divine Word, not worship of its physical form, whether in its present Granth (scriptural) form or during the time of the Guru Sahiban in human form. A Sikh submits to the Shabad, the eternal divine wisdom. If another book with the same external appearance as Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were placed before a Sikh, they would not bow to it, as it would lack the Shabad.

Idol worship exists only when an actual idol is venerated. In Sikhi, what is revered is the Shabad, the revealed Word, the divine command that leads to enlightenment. The Shabad is not an idol. Therefore, bowing before Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is, in essence, bowing before God’s revealed wisdom and submitting to His will.

This is entirely distinct from the Hindu practice of worshipping stone idols. These idols represent deities, and the practice of offering prayers and worshiping these idols is common in Hindu temples and homes. It also differs from the Muslim practice of bowing toward the Kaaba and venerating the Black Stone by kissing and circumambulating it seven times. One must reflect on what truly constitutes idol worship and what it means to worship God alone.

The most important reason why respecting Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is not idol worship is that it is a guide for life. Sikhs do not just sit in front of it and pray for miracles; they read and apply its teachings in daily life. This is completely different from idol worship, where people expect blessings just by performing rituals.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji teaches that true devotion is about changing one’s thoughts and actions. By reading Gurbani, Sikhs learn how to:

• Overcome ego and selfishness

• Be kind and truthful

• Connect with Waheguru through Simran (meditation on God’s name)

The reverence for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is not idol worship but a profound spiritual practice rooted in Sikh theology. It is an act of honoring the divine virtues and wisdom embodied in the eternal Guru, a living presence that guides Sikhs toward the formless Supreme Being.