What does the Sikh term Ik Onkar affirm?

The Sikh term Ik Onkar affirms the oneness of God.

Ik Onkar is one of the best-known theological expressions in Sikhism. The phrase is commonly translated as “There is one God” or “One Universal Creator.” It appears at the beginning of the Mool Mantar and is prominently represented by a distinctive symbol in Sikh religious and cultural settings. The teaching emphasizes divine unity while also supporting the Sikh rejection of religious divisions based on caste, ritual status, or inherited privilege.

Ik Onkar is not simply a decorative emblem. It is a central statement about reality and the creator, and it introduces the Guru Granth Sahib. The word “Ik” means one, while “Onkar” refers to the creator or divine reality. The phrase is sometimes confused with the broader concept of monotheism in general, but in Sikh practice it is specifically embedded in the teachings of the Sikh Gurus and in the scriptural tradition.