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Kabir was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint whose writings influenced the Bhakti movement. His verses are found in the Adi Granth the religious scripture of the Sikhs. His early life was in a Muslim family, but he was strongly influenced by his teacher, the Hindu Bhakti leader Ramananda.

Kabir is known for being critical of both Hinduism and Islam, stating that the former were misguided by the Vedas and the latter by the Quran, and questioning their meaningless rites of initiation such as the sacred thread and circumcision respectively. During his lifetime, he was threatened by both Hindus and Muslims for his views. When he died, both Hindus and Muslims had claimed him as theirs.

Kabir suggested that True God is with the person who is on the path of righteousness, considers all creatures on earth as his own self, and who is passively detached from the affairs of the world. To know God, suggested Kabir, meditate with the mantra Rama, Rama. Kabir's legacy survives and continues through the Kabirpanth (Path of Kabir), a religious community that recognises him as its founder and is one of the Sant Mat sects. Its members are known as Kabirpanthis.