What Are the Four Cardinal Commandments of Sikhism?

The Sikh code of conduct is called Sikh Rahit Maryada (SRM) and stipulates four major mandates, or cardinal commandments, for the baptized Sikh which are mandatory after being initiated as Khalsa. The initiate must refrain from:

• Hajaamat – Dishonoring, removal, or alteration, of any hair on the body, face, or scalp.
• Halaal – Eating of flesh especially that killed in the manner of sanctioned sacrificial slaughter as proscribed in Islamic law.
• Haraam – Adulterous relations with the spouse of another. Relations with a Muslim woman for whom consequence might be death penalty for consorting outside of marriage or Islam.
• Hukaa – Use of tobacco and other intoxicants.

If any one of these four mandates is breached it is considered to be a major misconduct. In order for the offender to be reinstated into the good graces of the congregation, the transgression must be rectified. The transgressor must appear for confession and chastisement before the panj pyara, the five administers of the Amrit initiation ceremony. The penalty of chastisement is called Tankhah, and is meeted out for a designated number of days on an individual basis, and make take the form of:

• Community service, such as shoe seva, (cleaning shoes of the congregation).
• Assigned reading or recitation of a particular selection of scripture such as is found in Nitnem, the Sikh daily prayerbook.

Four Commandments in English and Punjabi