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| Muhammad bin Qasim was ] as a child and thus the responsibility of his ] fell upon his mother. She supervised his ] herself, and ] different ] for his worldly education. It was the uncle, ], who taught him the art of governing and ]. Qasim was an ] and ] young man who at the age of fifteen was considered by many to be one of his uncle's greatest assets. He was asked to serve under the great general, ]. Under his command Muhammad bin Qasim displayed a talent for ] and ]. Hajjaj's complete trust in Qasim's abilities as a ] became even more apparent when he appointed the young man as the ] of the all-important invasion on Sindh, when he was only seventeen years old. Muhammad bin Qasim proved Hajjaj right when he, without many problems, managed to win all his ]. He used both his mind and ] in capturing places like ], ], ] and ]. History does not boast of many other commanders who managed such a great victory at such a young age. | |||
| Besides being a great general, Muhammad bin Qasim was also an excellent ]. He established peace and order as well as a good administrative structure in the areas he conquered. He was a ] and ]. He had great respect for other religions. ] and ] spiritual leaders were given stipends during his rule. The poor people of the land were greatly impressed by his policies and a number of them ]. Those who stuck to their old religions erected statues in his honor and started worshiping him after his departure from their land. | |||
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| Muhammad bin Qasim was known for his obedience to the ruler. ] died and was succeeded by his younger brother ] as the Caliph. Suleman was an enemy of Hajjaj and thus ordered Qasim back to the kingdom. Qasim knew of the animosity between the two. He was aware that due to this enmity, he would not be well treated. He could have easily refused to obey the Caliph's orders and declare his independence in ]. Yet he was of the view that obeying ones ruler is the duty of a general and thus he decided to go back to the center. Here he became a victim to ]. He was put behind bars where he died at age of twenty. Many historians believe that had he been given a few more years, he would have conquered the entire South Asian region. | |||
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| The amazing Arab ] was not only the result of cavalry forays. They had combined military operations with political means as well. Their offer to ] the natives to their own faith and become part of the new ] and had a far reaching impact. It was an offer which was open to everybody, and one which was perhaps most readily accepted by the lower orders of ] who now had a marvellous opportunity for collective manumission from ] slavery. As a result many ] accepted ], among them the ]. An additional attraction was that religious levies were abolished for those who converted. | |||
| These conquests, however, couldn't be sustained by the Muslim ] for very long. Umayyad rule stretched too far, and any further conquests without consolidation would prove futile. From Lisbon in Portugal to Lahore in the Punjab were the apogee of this vast empire. Following Qasim's departure and demise, after he was recalled to Baghdad, Muslim rule shrank to Sindh and the southern Punjab. But coastal trade and the presence of a Muslim colony in Sindh permitted significant cultural exchanges and the introduction into the subcontinent of Islamic teachers. Consolidation took place and conversion was widespread, especially amongst the ] majority. Multan became a center of the ] sect of ] (which still has many adherents today in Sindh). | |||
| But the new ruling power in ] did not impose Islam on anybody. ] has reproduced extracts from the historic ] which for the ] represents a paricularly high level of ] social order and values. | |||
| In many regions north of Multan, however, several non-Muslim groups (largely Buddhists and ] as well as followers of folk religions further north) would remain numerous. From this period through the year ] the conquered area was divided into two parts: the northern region comprising the Punjab remained under the control of Hindu rajas while the southern area came under Muslim control and comprised Baluchistan, Sindh, and Multan--until a new invader appeared on the scene and reconquered all of what is today Pakistan. | |||
| Those who did not choose to convert to Islam were treated ]. The charter allowed complete ] to those living in the countryside around ], putting them on par with the status of ], ] and ] in ] and ]. They were allowed to continue making idols of their gods; ] and ] alike could continue celebrating ] according to the customs of their ]. They were encouraged to do business freely with the Muslims. | |||
| Qasim demolished many temples, shattered "idolatorous" artwork and killed many people in his battles. After the violence, he attempted to establish law and order in the newly-conquered territory through the imposition of Islamic Shariah laws. He also sought control through systematic persecution of Hindus. Qasim wrote an account of such experiences: | |||
| Muhammed Bin Qasim incorporated the traditional administrative and revenue structures into the new order, appointing officials to positions according to their rank and experience, leaving the internal affairs to look after themselves. He showered his new appointees with gifts and gave them ] in the court. On a local level he appointed ] to collect revenue from villages and towns, allowing them complete ]. | |||
| :''O my cousin; I received your life inspiring letter. I was much pleased and overjoyed when it reached me. The events were recounted in an excellent and beautiful style, and I learnt that the ways and rules you follow are conformable to the Law. Except that you give protection to all, great and small alike, and make no difference between enemy and friend. God says, 'Give no quarter to Infidels, but cut their throats." "Then know that this is the command of the great God. You should not be too ready to grant protection, because it will prolong your work. After this, give no quarter to any enemy except to those who are of rank. This is a worthy resolve, and want of dignity will not be imputed to you. Peace be with you''. | |||
| The members of the highest caste, Sind's ruling class Brahmins, who obviously saw less reason than anybody to ], were also incorporated into ]. They were restored to their top posts and much of the administration of the country was left in their hands. | |||
| Culturally native populations of conquered territories under Qasim underwent a great deal of hardship and struggle for their refusal to convert to Islam. Heavy taxes known as ] were imposed upon the non-muslims, and the conversion of conquered populations occurred on a large scale. | |||
| ⚫ | in ], the ] caliph in ] sent an expedition to ] (an arid region on the ] in ], presently split between ], ], ]) and ] (presently a province of Pakistan bordering on Baluchistan, Punjab, and ], India). The expedition was led by a twenty-year-old Syrian Muslim chieftain named ] (for whom ] second port is named). The expedition went as far north as Multan, which at that time was known as the "city of gold," Muhammed bin Qasim invaded South Asia on the orders of ], the governor of ]. Muhammad bin Qasim's armies defeated Raja Dahir a notorious king who oppressed his people, at what is now and established Muslim rule which the masses welcomed. | ||
| ⚫ | Qasim extended Muslim rule to the ]. Like ] before him, he traveled the whole of what is modern Pakistan, from Karachi to ], but he managed this feat with a small force of only 6,000 Syrian tribesmen, reaching the borders of Kashmir within three years. | ||
Revision as of 23:51, 10 November 2005
Muhammad bin Qasim was orphaned as a child and thus the responsibility of his upbringing fell upon his mother. She supervised his religious instruction herself, and hired different teachers for his worldly education. It was the uncle, Hajjaj bin Yousaf, who taught him the art of governing and warfare. Qasim was an intelligent and cultured young man who at the age of fifteen was considered by many to be one of his uncle's greatest assets. He was asked to serve under the great general, Qutayba bin Muslim. Under his command Muhammad bin Qasim displayed a talent for skilful fighting and military planning. Hajjaj's complete trust in Qasim's abilities as a general became even more apparent when he appointed the young man as the commander of the all-important invasion on Sindh, when he was only seventeen years old. Muhammad bin Qasim proved Hajjaj right when he, without many problems, managed to win all his military campaigns. He used both his mind and military skills in capturing places like Daibul, Raor, Uch and Multan. History does not boast of many other commanders who managed such a great victory at such a young age.
Besides being a great general, Muhammad bin Qasim was also an excellent administrator. He established peace and order as well as a good administrative structure in the areas he conquered. He was a kind hearted and religious person. He had great respect for other religions. Hindu and Buddhist spiritual leaders were given stipends during his rule. The poor people of the land were greatly impressed by his policies and a number of them embraced Islam. Those who stuck to their old religions erected statues in his honor and started worshiping him after his departure from their land.
Muhammad bin Qasim was known for his obedience to the ruler. Walid bin Abdul Malik died and was succeeded by his younger brother Suleman as the Caliph. Suleman was an enemy of Hajjaj and thus ordered Qasim back to the kingdom. Qasim knew of the animosity between the two. He was aware that due to this enmity, he would not be well treated. He could have easily refused to obey the Caliph's orders and declare his independence in Sindh. Yet he was of the view that obeying ones ruler is the duty of a general and thus he decided to go back to the center. Here he became a victim to party politics. He was put behind bars where he died at age of twenty. Many historians believe that had he been given a few more years, he would have conquered the entire South Asian region.
The amazing Arab Islamic expansion was not only the result of cavalry forays. They had combined military operations with political means as well. Their offer to proselytize the natives to their own faith and become part of the new Islamic community and had a far reaching impact. It was an offer which was open to everybody, and one which was perhaps most readily accepted by the lower orders of Hindus who now had a marvellous opportunity for collective manumission from caste slavery. As a result many Sind tribes accepted Islam, among them the Somra Rajputs. An additional attraction was that religious levies were abolished for those who converted.
But the new ruling power in Sind did not impose Islam on anybody. The Chachnama has reproduced extracts from the historic Brahmanabad Charter which for the eighth century represents a paricularly high level of humanistic social order and values.
Those who did not choose to convert to Islam were treated magnanimously. The charter allowed complete religious freedom to those living in the countryside around Brahmanabad, putting them on par with the status of Jews, Magians and fire worshippers in Syria and Iraq. They were allowed to continue making idols of their gods; Brahmins and Buddhists alike could continue celebrating religious festivals according to the customs of their forefathers. They were encouraged to do business freely with the Muslims.
Muhammed Bin Qasim incorporated the traditional administrative and revenue structures into the new order, appointing officials to positions according to their rank and experience, leaving the internal affairs to look after themselves. He showered his new appointees with gifts and gave them seats of honour in the court. On a local level he appointed elders to collect revenue from villages and towns, allowing them complete administrative authority.
The members of the highest caste, Sind's ruling class Brahmins, who obviously saw less reason than anybody to convert, were also incorporated into Brahmanabad Charter. They were restored to their top posts and much of the administration of the country was left in their hands.
in 711, the Umayyad caliph in Damascus sent an expedition to Baluchistan (an arid region on the Iranian Plateau in Southwest Asia, presently split between Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan) and Sindh (presently a province of Pakistan bordering on Baluchistan, Punjab, and Rajasthan, India). The expedition was led by a twenty-year-old Syrian Muslim chieftain named Muhammad bin Qasim (for whom Karachi's second port is named). The expedition went as far north as Multan, which at that time was known as the "city of gold," Muhammed bin Qasim invaded South Asia on the orders of Al-Hajjaj bin Yousef, the governor of Iraq. Muhammad bin Qasim's armies defeated Raja Dahir a notorious king who oppressed his people, at what is now and established Muslim rule which the masses welcomed.
Qasim extended Muslim rule to the Indus Valley. Like Alexander the Great before him, he traveled the whole of what is modern Pakistan, from Karachi to Kashmir, but he managed this feat with a small force of only 6,000 Syrian tribesmen, reaching the borders of Kashmir within three years.