Who is Punjabi and What is the Punjabi Nation?
Date: June 16, 2025
The historical-geographical boundaries of Punjab stretch from Delhi to Peshawar and from Kashmir to Kashmore. This expanse constitutes the homeland of the Punjabi nation. Individuals who reside in or originate from this region, speak Punjabi as their first language, have embraced Punjabi culture, and share a common historical experience are recognized as Punjabis.
However, a person who lives in Punjab or has ancestral roots in the region but does not speak Punjabi, does not adopt Punjabi culture and does not share Punjabi historical experiences is considered a resident of Punjab but not necessarily a Punjabi by nationality or identity. Conversely, individuals from non-Punjabi racial or ethnic backgrounds can be considered part of the Punjabi nation if they embrace Punjab as their homeland, adopt Punjabi as their mother tongue, assimilate into its culture, and share its historical trajectory.
Historical figures such as Baba Farid, Bulleh Shah, and Waris Shah—despite having Arab ancestry—are revered as spiritual and cultural icons of the Punjabi nation. Baba Farid is recognized as the earliest known poet of the Punjabi language, while Waris Shah is celebrated as the “Shakespeare of Punjabi.” Their contributions are foundational to Punjabi literary and cultural identity.
Traditionally, the Punjabi nation has consisted of various castes and communities, such as Jatts, Arains, Rajputs, Gujjars, and Awans. However, individuals who do not belong to any of these historical castes but fulfil the linguistic, cultural, and historical criteria are also regarded as Punjabis.
Over time, the rigidity of caste and community affiliations has diminished, giving rise to a stronger, unified sense of Punjabi national identity. This has fostered greater social harmony and strengthened shared Punjabi values.
A nation, in practical terms, is an entity that seeks social respect, financial stability, administrative authority and economic prosperity for worldly life affairs. The most fundamental element of a nation is its language. As mentioned in the Holy Qur’an:
> “We sent every messenger with a message in the language of his nation so that he might make the message clear to them.” (Surah Ibrahim 14:4)
In addition to language, the elements of common land, culture, and history serve as essential pillars of nationhood. While individuals may learn and speak the languages of other nations, they do not become members of those nations without sharing their territorial, cultural, and historical experiences. Therefore:
> The Punjabi nation is defined by its common land, shared language, culture, and historical experiences, despite religious differences.
Punjabis—whether Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, or Christian—share common worldly and political interests rooted in linguistic, cultural, and historical bonds. Religion does not determine Punjabi nationality. Rather, the Punjabi nation transcends divisions of colour, race, caste, tribe, and religion. Religion remains a personal matter, concerned with moral conduct and spiritual salvation in the afterlife.
Every human being subscribes to a religion, which is why Muslims are not a nation but rather a Ummah—a global religious community. The Muslim Ummah includes people of all ethnicities and languages, from Arabs to non-Arabs, unified by faith, not by language or land.
By contrast, language and geography are not religiously bound. Arabic, for example, is spoken not only by Muslim Arabs but also by Christian and Jewish Arabs. The Arab nation, therefore, includes all who share linguistic, geographical, cultural, and historical ties, regardless of religion.
Similarly, the Punjabi nation encompasses all who speak Punjabi and share in its land, culture, and history—including Muslim Punjabis, Sikh Punjabis, Hindu Punjabis, and Christian Punjabis. Thus, the Punjabi nation is multi-religious but united by a common civilizational heritage.
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