Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, often offended Hindu susceptibilities by his own liberal practices. Similarly he reinterpreted “being a Musalman”. When he knew that his end was approaching, he appointed Angad as his successor. The Guru’s sons had not obeyed him. Their minds were insincere, and they had rebelled and deserted him. Then it became known to his people that Guru Nanak was about to die. Guru Nanak went and sat under a withered acacia tree, when lo! it became green, and produced leaves and blossoms.

The Musalmans, who had received god’s name from the Guru, said they would bury him after his death. His Hindu followers on the contrary said they would cremate him. When the Guru was invited to decide the discussion, he said: “let the Hindu place flowers in my right, and the Mussalmans on my left. They, whose flowers are found fresh in the morning, may have the disposal of my body.”

Guru Nanak then ordered the crowd to sing, “O my friends pray for me that I may meet my lord.” The Guru drew a sheet over him, made obeisance to god, and blended his light with Guru Angad’s. When the sheet was removed the next morning, there was nothing found beneath it. All the Sikhs reverently saluted the spot on which the Guru had lain, at Karetpur in Punjab. The Sikhs erected a shrine, and the Mohammedans a tomb in his honour on the margin of the Ravi. Both have since been washed away. — The World’s Living Religions