Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
He is Allah — the Unknowable, the Inaccessible, the All-powerful, the Merciful Creator.
All the world comes — and goes. Only the Merciful Lord is permanent.
This line says: God, called Allah here, is beyond our reach, full of power and mercy. The world comes and goes, but the Merciful One stays.
Alaahu: Allah, the name Muslims use for God. Alakh: beyond what we can understand. Agamm: beyond reach. Kaadar karanhaar: the all-powerful Maker. Kareem: the Kind, the Merciful.
Guru Nanak uses Muslim names for God here, with deep respect. He is saying the One whom Muslims call Allah is the same One this whole song has been about. Different names, one God. Think of a person called "Mom" by her children, "Doctor" at work, and by her first name by her friends. One person, many names.
Sabh dunee aavan jaavnee: the whole world is coming and going. Mukaam ayk raheem: only Raheem, the Merciful One, stays forever.
Everything in this song has been moving on: resting places, holy people, kings. Soon it will be sky, sun and stars. But the Merciful One does not leave. The coming and going of the world happens inside His care, but He is not carried away by it. He is always there, whole and at peace.
If there is One who remains after everything else passes — what is your relationship with that One right now?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI