Shaheed

The word Shaheed is the equivalent of the word martyr. The word has Persian and Arabic origins. A martyr is usually described as a person who suffers and endures death on behalf of a belief or faith.

Guru Arjan Dev ji was the first Sikh Shaheed. In the Sikh religion, Shaheeds are some of the most respected people after the Gurus, Bhagats, etc. Sikhism has a had a great load of Shaheeds in its history.

Guru Tegh Bahadar's shaheedi is respected by many culturals as he sacrificed his life to bring a turning point in history and a stop to the forced conversion of non-muslims to Islam by the Mughal regime.

• Also see Shaheedi.