Guru Arjan (April 15, 1563 – May 30, 1606) is the first martyr of the Sikh faith and the fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus, who compiles the first official edition of the Sikh scripture called the Adi Granth, which later expands into the Guru Granth Sahib.

He was born in Goindval, Punjab the youngest son of Guru Ram Das and Mata Bhani, the daughter of Guru Amar Das.[

He is the first Guru in Sikhism who was born in a Sikh family.

Guru Arjan leads Sikhism for a quarter of a century.

He completes the construction of Darbar Sahib at Amritsar, after the fourth Sikh Guru founds the town and builds a pool.

Guru Arjan compiles the hymns of previous Gurus and of other saints into Adi Granth, the first edition of the Sikh scripture, and installs it in the Harimandir Sahib.

Guru Arjan reorganizes the Masands system initiated by Guru Ram Das, by suggesting that the Sikhs donate, if possible, one tenth of their income, goods or service to the Sikh organization (dasvand).

The Masand not only collects these funds but also teaches tenets of Sikhism and settles civil disputes in their region.

The dasvand finances the building of gurdwaras and langars (shared communal kitchens).

Guru Arjan is arrested under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and asked to convert to Islam.

He refuses, is tortured and executed in 1606 CE.[

Historical records and the Sikh tradition are unclear whether Guru Arjan was executed by drowning or died during torture.

His martyrdom is considered a watershed event in the history of Sikhism.

It is remembered as Shaheedi Divas of Guru Arjan every year on June 16, according to the Nanakshahi calendar released by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in 2003.