TRUE PRAYER                                           

After Guru Nanak got employed as store-keeper at Sultanpur, Mool Chand, a land official at Pakkhode Randhawa, married his daughter, Bibi Sulakhani to him. Sulakhani started living with him at Sultanpur. She gave birth to two sons namely Sri Chand and Lakhmi Chand.

One day when Guru Nanak went to the river Veiyeen to take his bath as usual, he did not come out. This happened in 1497 A.D. when Guru Nanak was 27. After waiting for a long time, Bhai Mardana returned home and informed Nawab Daulat Khan about Guru Nanak's disappearance in the river. The Nawab sent his men to search for him but they could not find him either in the river or outside nearby. The people of the city were ,much grieved at the disappearance of their wise and honest store-keeper. On the third day after this happening, somebody saw Guru Nanak sitting in the graveyard.The news of Guru Nanak sitting in the graveyard also reached Nawab Daulat Khan. The head qazi was standing with him at that time. The Nawab took him along and reached the graveyard where Guru Nanak was sitting. They heard with their own ears, Guru Nanak saying,'' Here nobody is either a Hindu or a Muslim.'' They were struck with wonders. They said,''O, Nanak, if you don't feel any difference between Hindus and Muslims and you think all are created by one God, if you believe that in the court of God, decisions will be made according to the god and bad deeds of each individual, then come with us to the mosque to perform prayer bestowed by God.''At the bidding of the Nawab, Guru Nanak went with them inside the mosque. All the devotees except Guru Nanak began to perform the prayer. After the completion of the prayer, the Nawab asked Guru Nanak, '' Why did you not say the prayer? Why did you keep standing silently when we were performing the prayer?'' Guru Nanak replied,' Dear Nawab, whom would I joined in the prayer? Your mind was in the Kandhar purchasing horses while your body was here.'' The Nawab said,'' Nanak, if my mind was not present in the prayers, you should have joined the qazi.'' Guru Nanak said,'' Dear Nawab, the qazi's mind was looking after the newly born colt at home.'' Hearing this the qazi said,'' Dear Nawab, Nanak is telling the truth. My mare had given birth to a calf this morning. While performing the prayer, I was worrying that my colt might fall into the ditch and might not be able to get out of the ditch on its own.''Guru Nanak said,'' Dear qazi, only the prayer which is performed with the mind and fully concentrated, is accepted at the door of Lord. Prayers performed without full concentration of mind are self- deception and hypocrisy.''