St

udyMat
eri
alf
orSem-
II,
Hist
ory
(hons.
)
DC-
3,Uni
t-
II
,b.
i

ARABI
NVASI
ONOFSI
ND
I
ntr
oduct
ion
RiseofI sl
am i sani mpor tanti ncidenti nt hehi storyofI slam.Pr ophetMuhammadwasnotonl ythe
founderofanewr eli
gion, buthewasal sot heheadofaci ty-state.Muhammadl eftnomal ehei r
.Onhi s
death claimswer emadeon behal fofhi sson- i
n-law and cousi n Al i,butseni ormember soft he
communi tyel ectedast hei rl eaderorcal i
ph,t hePr ophet'scompani on,AbuBakr ,whowasoneoft he
earl
iestconv ert
st oIslam.AbuBakrdi edaf teronlyt woy earsi noffice,andwassucceededbyUmar( r
.
634-644) ,underwhosel eader shipt heI slami ccommuni tywast ransf ormedi ntoav astempi re.Umar
wassucceededbyUsman( r.644- 656) ,whowasf ol
lowedbyAl i( r
.656661) ,t hel astoft hef our
"Ri
ghteousCal i
phs."Owi ngt ohi srelationshi pwi t
ht heProphetaswel last oper sonalbr avery,nobili
tyof
character,andi ntell
ectualandl it
erarygi ft
s, Cali
phAl ioccupiesaspeci al placeint hehi storyofI sl
am, but
hewasunabl et ocont r
olthet ribalandper sonalquar r
elsoft heAr abs.Af t
erhisdeat h,Muawi yah( r
.661-
680),thef i
rstoft heUmay y adcal i
phs, seizedpowerandt ransf erredt heseatofcal i
phat ef r
om Medi nato
Damascus.Thr eey earslatert hesuccessi onpassedf rom Muawi yah'
sgr andsont oanot herbr anchoft he
Umay yaddy nasty ,
whichcont inuedi npowerunt il
750.Dur ingt hisper iodt heMusl im ar mi esov erranAsia
Minor,conquer edt henor t
hcoastofAf rica,occupi edSpai n,andwer ehal tedonl yi nthehear tofFr ance
atTour s.Intheeastt heMusl im empi rewasext endedt oCent ralAsia, and, asweshal lsee, itwasdur ing
thi
sper iodt hatapar toft heI ndi
ansubcont inentwasannex ed.I nthecour seoft heseconquest s,the
Arabsbecamesubj ecttool derci v
il
izations.

TheAr
abConquestofSi
nd
Itwasagai nstthi
sbackgr oundofr apidex pansi
ont hatt hef ir
stcont actsbet weenI slam andIndia
tookplace.Sinceti
mei mmemor i
alspi
cesandot herarti
clesf rom Indiaandsout heastAsiahadbeeni n
greatdemandi nEgyptandsout hernEurope,withthet ransitt r
adel argelyint hehandsofAr abs,who
broughtmer chandi
sef r
om t heI ndianportstoYemeni nsout her nArabi a.Thegoodswer ethensentby
l
andt otheSy ri
anportstobeshi ppedagaintoEgy ptandEur ope.Ther iseofI slam didnot ,t
herefore,
give
ri
set otheconnect i
onwi t
hI ndi a,butitaddedanew di mensi on.Tradecont i
nuedaf tertheAr abshad
embr acedIslam,andthefirstmaj orconfl
ictbetweent heI ndiansubcont i
nentandMusl i
m Ar abiaarose
outofdev el
opment sconnect edwi thArabsail
orsplyingthei rt
radeaboutt heI ndianOcean.

Causesf
orI
nvasi
onofSi
ndbyt
heAr
abs
TheAr abshadbeent hecarri
ersofI ndiantradetoEur opef orcent ur ies.Af t
erconv ersi
ont oIsl
am,t hey
castt heircov etousey esont hefabul ousweal t
hofI ndiaaswel last heywer eeagert opropagat ethei
r
newr eligioni nIndia.Howev er,t
heoppor t
unitytoi nv
adeSi ndcamet otheAr abi ansinthebegi nningof
theei ghthcent ury
.Wi t
ht hepassageoft ime,t heHi st
oryofI ndi a,af tertheoccupat i
onofSi ndhad
entered i ntoi t
s medi evalphase.The wi despread polit
icali nst abi l
it
yi nI ndia aft
ert he death of
Harshav ar dhan,thelastindependentHi nduKi nghadi nspir
edt hef orei gnelement sonceagaint oat t
ack
andent erI ndia.TheAr abswer enoex cepti
ont oit.Aft
erther iseofI slam, theAr abshav ingsuccessfull
y
i
mpl antingi tinSy r
ia,Palesti
ne,EgyptandPer si
ahadcastacov etousey eonSi nd.In712A. D.theywer e
successf ulinoccupy i
ngSi nd.Severalfactorswer eresponsi blef ort heAr abi nvasiononSi nd.Theyar e
asfollows:

.
Propagat
ionofI
slam: Pr
opagat
ionofI
slam wasoneoft
hekeyf
act
orsbehi
ndt
heAr
abi
nvasi
onof
Sind.Aftert
hespreadofIslam i
nEgyptandSy r
ia,t
heCali
phWalid1ofDamascushadper mit
tedthe
Arabst ogoaheadwiththeirI
ndianmissi
on.Fur
therthef
oll
owersofIsl
am weredeadagai
nsti
dolat
ry
practi
ceoft heHi
ndusofI ndi
a.Sotheythoughtthespol
iat
ionoftheidol
ater
swouldbeameansof
earni
ng.

FabulousWealt
hofIndia:Indi
awasknowntothewor
ldforherfabul
ousweal
thandspl
endor
.Sol
i
ke
otherinv
ader
softhepast,
ithadtempt
edtheAr
abst
ograbherwealt
h.

Polit
icalCondit
ionofIndi
a:ThethenPolit
icalcondi
ti
onofI
ndiawasalsoamajorfact
orbehi
ndt
heArab
i
nv asi
onofSi nd.Ther
ewasmut ualr
ival
ryandwar samongthekingsofpet
typrovi
ncesofI
ndi
a.Dahi
r,
therulerofSi
ndwasunpopul arandnotli
kedbymany .TheArabst
ookfull
advant
ageofit.

TheI mmedi ateCause:Thei mmedi at

ecauseoft heAr abinv asionofSi ndwast helootingoft heeight
Arabshipswhi chcar ri
edt hegiftsandt r
easuressentbyt heki ngofCey l
ontot heCali
ph,att heportof
DebalnearSi nd.SomeHi stori
anshav eopinedt hattheshipswer ealsocarr
yingsomebeaut i
fulwomen
aswellasv aluabl eart
icl
esf orthekhalif
a.Thisunl awfulactofpi r
acywasst rongl
yprot estedbyHaj aj
,
thegovernorofI raq.Hedemandedcompensat i
onf rom Dahir,theki ngofSind.ButDahi rrefutedHajaj‘s
demandsbysay ingthathehadnocont r
oloverpi r
ates.Thisinfur i
atedHajajwhodecidedt osendmi li
tary
expedi
tionstoSi nd.Heal soobt ainedpermissionf r
om t heCal iphi nthi
sregard.Howev er,thef i
rsttwo
expedi
tionssentbyHaj ajagainstSindwerebeat enbackbyDahi r.Enragedattherepeatedf ail
ures,Hajaj
senthisnephewandSon- in-l
awI maduddinMuhammad-bi n-Qasi m attheheadofahugear myt oSi nd.
Muhammad- bin-Qasim wasanabl eandy oungcommander -i
nchi ef.

Invasion ofSi nd by Muhammad- bin-Qasim:Muhammad- bin-

Qasi m was a y oung man ofhar dl
y
seventeeny earswhenhewasent rustedwi ththewor kofinvadingSi nd.Hewasv erybold,courageous
andambi ti
ous.Thest oryofhisadv entures,―Wr i
tesStanleyLane- poole,
‖isoneoft her omancesof
hist
ory.Reflecti
ngofhi sri
set opower ,hi sachievementsandhi sf al
l,IshwariPrasadwr i
tes,―His
bloomingyout h,hi
sdashandher oi
sm, hi
snobl edeportmentthroughoutt heexpedit
ionandhi stragi
cfal
l
haveinvestedhiscareerwiththehaloofmar ty
rdom.‖Howev ertowar dstheendof711A. D.Muhammad-
bin-
Qasim att heheadofahugear myconsi sti
ngofthreethousandi nfantry
,sixt
housandcav al
ryandsix
thousandIraqiancamel menappearedatt henor t
hwest er
nbor dernearMakr an.

Capt ureofDebal :Muhammad- bin-

Qasiml edhi sar myt owar dsDebal ,af amousseapor t
,wher et he
Arab‘ s ships wer el ooted by some pi rates.The por tt own Debalwas wel lprotect ed by st rong
forti
ficati
ons, andi twasnoteasyont hepar toft heQasi m‘sar mytopenet r
ateintoitsoeasi ly.Anephew
ofDahi rwast hegov ernorofDebal .Thoughhehadanar myofv erysmal lsizewi t
hhim, het riedtor esi
st
Qasi m.Buti tbecamef util
e,whenat reacher ousBr ahmi ndeser t
edt hef ort
ressandgav eQasi m allthe
i
nfor mat i
on‘sr egar di
ngt hesecr etsofitsdef ence.Heal socamet oknow f r
om t heBr ahmant hatt he
strengt hoftheSi ndar myl ayinthemassi veHi ndut empl einsi dethef ortofDebalandasl ongast her ed
fl
agf l
utteredat opt het empl e,hecouldnotdef eattheHi ndus.Thet empl ewasal sogarrisonedby4000
Rajput ‘
sand3000Br ahmi nsservingatthet empl e.Howev er,aft
eraf i
er cebat tl
eQasim br oughtdown
ther edf l
agandt heAr abianar myresort
edt oamassacr e.Despi teabol df i
ght,theHindusofDebalwer e
defeat edbyt heAr abs.ThenephewofDahi rwhowast hegov ernorfledaway .Debalwascapt ur
edanda
hugeboot ywi thal argenumberofwomenf ellintothehandsoft heAr abs.Thepeopl ewer egivent he
opt i
onofaccept ingI slam ordeat h.Manyt housandsofHi ndusi ncludingBr ahmanswer emer cil
essly
kil
ledont heirrefusalt oembr aceIsl
am.Themassacr econt inuedf orthreeday s.Itwasv er yunfortunate
thatDahi rwhohadpr i
orinf ormati
onoftheAr abianattack, didnotcar eatal l
.

FallofNi
run:
Flushedwi t
hsuccess,Muhammad- bi
n-Qasim marchedt owar
dsNirun,whi
chwasundert he
chargeofDahir
‘sSonJaiSi ndh.Wit
ht heappr
oachoft heArabs,JaiSindhfl
edawayaf t
erhandingover
thefortt
oapr iest
.Qasim captureditwit
houtaf ight.Iti
ssaidNi runfel
lbecauseofthetreacheryof
someBuddhistciti
zens.Whatevermaybet hefact;
Dahi rhadtakenthemat t
erli
ghtl
yanddidnotattempt
tocheckthefur
theradvancesoftheArabs.

Fal
lofSehwan:Af
tercapt
uri
ngDebal&Ni
run,
Muhammad-
bin-Qasi
m mar
chedagai
nstSehwan,
atown
whichwasunderthechargeofthecousinofDahi
rnamedBaj
hra?Thetownwasmostl
yinhabi
tedbythe
merchantcl
assandthepr i
est
s.Bajhracoul
dnotdefendt
hetowninthefaceoft
heArabi
anattackand
fl
edawaywi t
hpanic.Afterhi
sf li
ght,t
hepeopleofSehwansurrender
edtoMuhammadbi n-Qasi
m.
Sehwanfell
becauseofpoordefence.

FallofSisam andVi ct
oryov ert heJats:Sisam al somett hesamef ateashadhappenedt oSehwan.I t
wast hecapit
al oftheJatsofBudhi yaandwasr uledbyKaka, ajatking.Kakahadgi venshel tertoBajhra
aft
erhi sfl
i
ghtf rom Sehwan.Muhammad- bin-Qasi m defeatedtheJat swhoi nturnsur r
ender edtot he
Arabs.Butdur i
ngt heencount er,Bajhr
aandhi sf ollowerswer ekil
led.Whensomuchhadhappened, yet
Dahirdidnotr aisehislit
tl
ef i
ngert ocheckt hei nv ader
.Muhammad- bin-
Qasimt henr eachedt her i
ver
Mihranwher ehewasdet ainedf orsomemont hsbecausemostofhi shor sesofhisar mydi edofscur vy
andhehadt owai tforf
reshr e-i
nforcementf r
om home.Dahi rcouldhav etakenthefulladvant ageofthis
opportuni
tytoat tackanddest roytheAr abs.Buther emainedinacti
v e.Heal sodidnotcheckt heArabs
whent heycr ossedt heriverMi hran.Probably ,Dahi rwasconf i
dentt odef eathisenemyi naSi ngle
encounterandt hat‘
swhyhewaswai ti
ngforitatRawaront hebankoft heIndus.

TheBat t
leofRawar :Dahi r
,thepower fulkingofSi ndwaswai ti
ngf ort heAr abi nvaderwi thahugear my
of50, 000swor dmen, hor semenandel ephant ryatapl acecal ledRawar .Hewasdet erminedt of inisht he
enemyoncef orall.Hedi dnotknowt hatt heAr abarmyl edbyMuhammad- bin-Qasim wasal soequal l
y
strongt of aceanyChal lenge.Af terwai ti
ngf orsomeday s,bot hthear mi esst artedfightingon20t hJune,
712A. D.Itwasaser i
ousandsev er
ebat tl
e.Dahi rwasagr eatwar ri
or.Hewasf i
ghtingwi thagr eatspi ri
t
andwasl eadinghi sarmyf rom thef ront.Byr i
dingonanel ephanthewasatt hef r
ontandwasat tacking
theopponentwi thgr eatcour ageandv alour.Int hemeanwhi l
eanar row at tachedwi thbur ni
ngcot ton
struckDahi r
‘s‗howdah‘ andseti tfl
ame.Att hi
st heel ephantgotf ri
ghtenedandr ushedt owar dst her i
ver
Indus.Thi smadeDahi rv erymuchdi stur bedatt hemi doft hewar .Hebecamer estl
ess, i
nconsi stentand
i
nat tenti
ve.Att hismomenthewasi njuredbyanar rowandf ellfrom hi selephant .Al t
hought heel ephant
wasbr oughtt ocont r
ol,Dahi rdidnotwai tf
ori t
.Hei mmedi atelyr odeahor seandr esumedf i
ght ing.But
ashewasnotseenont hebackofhi sel ephant ,hissol di
ersbecamepani ckyandf l
edawayf r
om t hef i
eld
ofbat tl
e.Howev er,Dahi rgav eaher oicf ightandl ai
ddownhi sl i
feaf t
ert woday sofhi sbl oodybat tle.His
widowQueenRani bai refusedt osur r
endert hef ortofRawarandf oughtt heinv adertot hebi t
terend.She
performedj ouharal ongwi t
hsomebesi egedl adiesoft hefor t.Muhammad- bi
n- Qasim becamev ictor i
ous.
Nev erthel
esshet ookaboutei ghtmont hst oacqui recont rolov erSi ndbecausehi sar myhadt of ace
toughr esistancebyt hel ocalpeopl eofmanyot hert ownsandpal acesi ncludingAl orandBr ahmanabad.

Occupat ionofMul tan:AfterconqueringSi nd,Muhammad- bin- Qasi

m mar chedt owar dsMul t
an,amaj or
cit
ysi tuatedint heupperI ndusbasin.Ont hewayhehadt oencount ert oughr esistancebyt helocal
peoplebutov erpower edt hem.Onr eachingMul tanhef oundt hecitystrongl yfor ti
fi
edandpeopl einfull
revolt
.ButatMul tanhewasal sofortunatet ogett hehel pofat rait
orwhogav ehi mt heinformation
regardingt hesourceofwat ersupplytotheci t
y.Muhammad- bin-Qasim cut -
offt hesour ce.Thepeopl eof
Mul t
ansur r
enderedatl astaf t
erfi
ghti
ngbr avelyagainsttheAr abs.Thust heci t
yf elli
nt othehandsoft he
i
nv aderi n713A. D.TheAr absmassacr edandpl underedt heci t
y .Womenandchi ldr
enwer emade
captivesandal argequant i
tyofgoldwascol l
ectedbyt heAr abs.Heobt ainedsomuchgol dt hatthey
namedt heci t
yast he‗ ci
tyofgol d‘
.Af t
ercompl et
inghi smi ssi oninSi ndandMul t
an,Muhammad- bin-
Qasim waspl anningtopr oceedmor ei nt
ot heinteri
orofI ndia.I nthemeanwhi let herecameat r
agicend
tohisl i
fe.Hewasputt odeat hbyanor derofCal i
pha, t
her el
igi ousheadoft heI slami cwor l
d.

DeathofMuhammad- bin-
Qasim:TheDeathofMuhammad- bin-
Qasim hasbeenputt odebateast here
aretwodi v
ergentviewsbydiffer
entHi
stori
ans.Hist
or i
anMi rMassum inhis―Tar ikSi
nd‘hasdescribed
ani nteresti
ngst or
yaboutt hedeathofMuhammad- bi
n-Qasim.Muhammad-bi n-
Qasim dur
inghi s
campai gnofBr ahamanbadhadcapt uredthet wovirgindaughtersofDahi r
.Theywer eSuryaDeviand
ParimalDev i.Theywer esenttotheCali
phaasgi f
tsf rom Muhammad- bin-
Qasim.Theset wogir
lswer e
determinedt otakerevengeonMuhammad- bi
n-Qasi
m.Sowhent heyreachedCalipha,
theytol
dhimt hat
theyhadbeenusedanddi shonoredbyMuhammad- bin-Qasi
m befor
et heyweresenttohim.Thismade
theCal i
phasomuchangr ythatheatonceor der
edt hatMuhammad- bin-
Qasim shoul
dbeputt odeat h
andhisbody ,bei
ngsewnupi nther aw hideofanox,shoul dbedespat chedt ohi m.Hi sor derwas
i
mmedi atel
ycar ri
edout.WhenMuhammad- bin-
Qasi m‘scof fi
nwasopenedbef oret hecalipha,t het wo
gir
lswer edel i
ghtedathavingav engedont heenemyandki ll
eroft heirfat her.Thei rmi ssionwas
completedandsot heydecl
aredt hatQasi m wasi nnocent.Thismadet heCal iphaf ur i
ous.Athi sor der
,
thetwosisterswer eti
edtothet ai
lsofhor sesandwer edr aggedt odeat h.Butt heot hervi
ewr egarding
thedeathofMuhammad- bi
n-Qasi m hasbeenascr i
bedt oapol i
ticalcause.Somemoder nhi stori
ans
beli
evethatMuhammadhadbecomeav i
cti
m oft hecour tintr
iguesoft heCal ipha.Cal i
phaWal i
ddi edin
715A.D.andwassucceededbyhi sbrotherSulaimanwhohadenmi t
ywi thHaj aj,t
hegov ernorofI raq
andfather-
in-l
awofMuhammad- binQasim.Hecoul dnott oler
atet heimpor tanceofHaj ajasar esultof
Muhammad‘ sv i
ctor
iouscampaignsi nI ndi
a.Tobr inganendt othisCal i
phami ghthav eor deredt okil
l
Muhammad- binQasi
m.What evermaybet hef act?Mohammad- bin-Kasim gotat ragicendofhi slif
e.

CausesofAr
abSuccessi
nSi
nd:Manyf
act
orshav
ebeenascr
ibedt
othesuccesst
heAr
absi
nSi
nd
andMul t
an.Sindhadahet erogeneouspopulati
onconsi
stingoftheHindus, theBuddhi
sts,theJai
ns,the
Jat
s, t
heMedset c.Ther
ewasnogoodr elat
ionamongthem ast hesubjectsofDahi rl
ackunityatsocial
l
evel.I
nsteadther
eprevai
ledhat redamongt hem.Soatthet i
meofAr abinv asi
onofSind,theycouldnot
beunitedfort
hecauseoft heirmotherl
and.Somehistor
ianshaveopinedt hatitwasduet olackofsocial
sol
idari
tyamongthepeopleofSi nd;thecountr
yhadtofacet hewrat
hoft heAr abs.

Unpopul ari
tyofDahi r
:Dahirwasnotl i
kedbysomesect ionsofhi ssubj ectsashewaspr oudand
arr
ogantandmai nlyasasonofanusur per.Dahi
r‘
sf atherwasami nisterwhohadmur der
edhi skingand
marriedt hewidowqueen.ThusDahi r,
beingthesonofanusur per,wasnotl ikedbythepeopl e.Besides
Dahirhadeni mitywi thhiscousi
nbr ot
hersforthethronewhi chhadl edt hekingdom toast ageofci vi
l
war.FurtherDahi r‘
sgov er
norswerealmostsemi -
independentprincesanddi dnotco-operatehi m atthe
ti
meofcr i
ses.Becauseofhi spersonalnaturehewasal sonotl i
kedbyhi ssubject
swhower emost l
y
non-Hindus.Owi ngt ohi
sunpopulari
tyhedidnotgett hesupportoft hepeopleofhisownki ngdom att he
ti
meoff orei
gninv asi
on.

BetrayalandTreachery
:Itwast hebetr
ayalandtreacheryofsomeI ndianci
ti
zensthathadcontribut
eda
l
otf orthesuccessoft heArabs.DebalfellbecauseofaBr ahmi
nt rait
orwhoexposedsecr ecyoft he
Templ eandf l
agwhi chwasi nsi
defortofDebal .AtNi r
unt heBuddhistsplayedtr
eacherousr ol
eby
j
oini
nghandswi t
htheinvader.AtMult
an,at r
ait
orinfor
medt heinvaderthesourceofwatersupplytothe
ci
ty.Somehi st
orianshavev i
ewedt hi
sast heroleoftheFi f
thcol
umni nbri
ngingaboutthefallofthei
r
owncount ry
.

Pov ertyandBackwar
dness:Sindwasapoor,backwardki
ngdom withaspacepopul
ati
onandl
i
mit
ed
resources.SoitwasnotpossibleonthepartoftheDahi
rtofinanceforalar
gearmyortowagea
protractedwar
.Thi
salsohadtemptedt
heArabstoinv
adeSi
nd.

Isolat
ionofSind:I
sol
ati
onofSindfrom t
herestofI
ndiawasal soaf
actorf
ortheArab‘
ssuccessi
nSi
nd.
Thought herewerepowerf
uldynasti
esl
iket
hePr at
iharasofMalwaandKanaujtheydi
dnotcometothe
helpofSi nd.Noneofthem bother
edorcaredforthisinci
dentwhi
chmarkedthebeginni
ngofMusl
im
ruleinIndi
a.

ReligiousEnthusiasm ofArabs:TheArabswer ei
nspiredbyanewr el
igionandhadbecomef anatic.They
thoughtt hattheyweret heforcesofGodandwer eengagedi nami ssi
ontodest r
oyt hefaithsoft he
i
nfidelandspar edt heblessi
ngsofI sl
am.TheAr abshadal soagr eatsenseofpat ri
oticf
eel i
ngs.The
I
ndiansont heotherhandhadnosuchr el
igi
ousenthusiasm orpatri
oti
sm.Rat hert
heyhadani ndiff
erent,
tol
er antandcosmopol i
tanatti
tudetowardsotherf
aithsandot herpeople.Undoubt
edlythishadr esulted,
theAr ab‘
ssuccessi nSind.

StrongArmy:TheArabarmyundertheleadershipofMuhammad- bi
n-Qasi
m wassuper iort
othatofSind
ofDahiri
nstr
engthandtechni
que.Theywer ealsowell
-equi
pped.Dahir
‘sarmyonl yatRawarwasnear l
y
onparinnumberwi tht
hatoftheinvader.Buttheywer everypoor
lyequippedast hemajori
tyofthem
werehasti
lyr
ecrui
tedontheeveofthewarandhadnotsuf f
ici
entmil
it
arytrai
ning.Thi
shadcausedt he
def
eatofDahi
r.

Responsibi
li
tyofDahi r:Dahi
rwasl argelyresponsibl
eforthesuccessoft heArabsowingtohisi
nit
ial
l
ethargyandfooli
shness.Hehadr emai nedi nact
ivewhil
eMuhammad- bin-Qasi
m wasconqueri
ngDebal,
Nir
unandSehwanoneaf teranot
her .Ev enhehadr emainedinacti
vewhenMuhammadcr ossedthe
Mihrantoent eri
ntoRawar .Itwasf oolishnessont hepar tofDahirtohopet hathewouldfini
shthe
enemyi naSi ngl
estrokeatRawar .AtRawaral soDahircommi t
tedabl underbynotcommandingthe
armyasi t
sleader.I
nsteadofcommandi ngthearmy ,hefoughtl
ikeasoldieranddied.

Ar
abAdmi
nist
rat
ioni
nSi
nd
TheAr abadmi ni strati
oni nSi ndf ollowedt hegener alpat ter nadopt edbyt heAr abconquer or si not her
count ries.Thenor malr ul ewast oempl oyl ocalt alentandmakemi nimum changesi nl ocalpr act ices.
Cal iphUmar , acknowl edgedast hechi efcr eat oroft heAr absy stem ofadmi nist ration, hadl aiddownt he
wor kingpr inci pl et hatAr absshoul dnotacqui rel andedpr oper tyi nconquer edt erri
tor ies.Underhi s
sy st em t heconquer i
nggener alofanew t er r
itor ybecamei tsgov ernor ,but" mostoft hesubor dinat e
off i
cer swer eal l
owedt or etai nt heirpost s."Av ai l
abl eev idenceaboutSi ndshowst hatt hesei njunct i
ons
wer eobser v ed.TheAr absest ablishedt hemsel v esi nl ar get owns, whi chwer eal somi lit
ar ycant onment s,
andpr ov idedt hemi li
tarygar risons,butci viladmi nist rationwasl eftl ar gel yi nt hehandsoft hel ocal
chi ef s,onl yaf ew ofwhom hadaccept edI slam. Theadmi nist r
at ivear rangement swhi ch
Muhammadi bnQasi m madewi tht henon- Musl imsaf terhi sv ictor yov erDaharar eof tenr eferredt oas
"theBr ahmanabadset tl
ement ."Thebasi cpr inci pl ewast ot reatt heHi ndusas" t
hepeopl eoft hebook, "
andt oconf eront hem t hest at usoft hezi mmi s( thepr otect ed) .I nsomer espect st hear rangement s
wer eev enmor eliber al t
hant hosegr ant edt o" thepeopl eoft hebook"byt hel at erschool sofI slami cl aw.
Forexampl e,accor dingt ol ateropi ni ont hez immi scoul dnotr epai rthei rpl acesofwor shi p,al though
ex ist i
ngoneswer eal l
owedt ost and.Thequest ionofr epai ringadamagedt empl ecameupbef or e
Muhammad, whor eferredt hemat tert oHaj jaj.Thel atter ,hav ingconsul tedt he' ulamaofDamascus, not
onl ygr antedt heper missi onaskedf or ,butdecl ar edt hatsol ongasnon- Musl i
mspai dt hei rduest ot he
stat et heywer ef reet ol iv ei nwhat ev ermannert heyl i
ked." Itappear s, "Haj jajwr ote," thatt hechi ef
i
nhabi t antsofBr ahmanabadhadpet i
tionedt obeal lowedt or epai rthet empl eofBudhandpur suet hei r
religi on.Ast heyhav emadesubmi ssi on,andhav eagr eedt opayt axest ot heKhal if
a,not hingmor ecan
proper lyber equi redf rom t hem.Theyhav ebeent akenunderourpr otect ion,andwecannoti nanyway
stret choutourhandsupont heirl ivesorpr oper ty .Per mi ssi oni sgi v ent hem t owor shi pt hei rgods.
Nobodymustbef or biddenandpr ev ent edf rom f ol l
owi nghi sownr eli
gion.Theymayl ivei nt hei rhouses
i
nwhat ev ermannert heyl ike.Accor dingt ooneear lyMusl i
m hi st or i
an, theAr abconquer orcount enanced
ev ent hepr i
v il
egedposi ti
onoft heBr ahmans, notonl yi nr eligiousmat ter s, butal soi ntheadmi ni strat i
v e
spher e." Muhammad i bn Qasi m mai ntai ned t hei rdi gnityand passed or der s conf irmi ng t hei rpr e-
emi nence.They wer e pr otect ed agai nstopposi tion and v i
ol ence. "Ev en t he 3 per centshar e of
gov er nmentr ev enuewhi cht heyhadr ecei veddur i
ngt heascendancyoft heBr ahmanr uler sofSi nd, was
concededt ot hem.I nhi sar rangement sfort hecol lect ionoft axes, Muhammadi bnQasi m al somadean
attemptt opr ov idesomesaf eguar dsagai nstoppr essi on, byappoi nting" peopl ef r
om amongt hev ill
ager s
andt hechi efci tizenst ocol lectt hef ixedt ax esf r om t heci tiesandt hev i
llagessot hatt her emi ghtbet he
feel ingofst rengt handpr otect ion. " Whent heAbbasi dsov er threwt heUmay y adsi n750t heysent
thei rownof ficer st o Si nd.TheAbbasi dgov er nor ,Hi sham,who camet o Si ndi n757,car ri
edout
successf ulr ai dsagai nstGuj aratandKashmi r, butnoper manentaddi ti
onst oAr abdomi ni onwer emade.
Lat er ,t hrough pr eoccupat ions athome,Ar ab cont rolov erSi nd weakened,wi tht he pr ocess of
disi nt egr ationbei ngaccel er atedbyt ribalconf li
ct samongl ocalAr abs.Onegov ernorwentsof arast o
rev ol tagai nstCal iphal -
Mamun.Ther ebel lionwasputdown,butMusa( sonofYahy at heBar maki d,t he
famouswaz i
rofHar un- al-Rashi d),whowaspl acedi nchar geoft heaf f airsofSi nd,nomi nat edashi s
successoronhi sdeat hin836hi ssonAmr an.Thecal iphr ecogni zedt heappoi nt ment ,butt hebegi nni ng
oft heher edi tar ysuccessi ont ogov er nor shi pmeantaweakeni ngoft hehol dofBaghdad.Anener get ic
ruler , Amr andeal tf irmlywi tht hedi st urbancesoft heJat sandt heMeds, buti nt er neci nequar relsamong
theAr absf laredupandhel osthi sl i
feaf terabr iefr eign.I n854t heHi bbar if ami lybecameher editar y
rul
er sofSi nd,wi t
hMansur aast heircapital
.I ncour seoft i
me,Mul tanbecamei ndependentandt he
Hindusr eestabl
ishedt hemsel vesi nRohr i. Thesev eranceofcont act swi t
hBaghdadmadeSi ndand
Mul tanahappyhunt inggroundf ort heemi ssar i
esoft her iv
alsoft heAbbasi ds, t
heIsmai l
irul
ersofCai ro.
Theirf ir
stmi ssionarycamet oSi ndi n883andst ar t
edsecr etpr opagandai nf avoroft heIsmailicali
ph.
Aftert hegr oundhadbeenpr epar ed,mi li
taryai dwasobt ainedf rom Cai r
o,andt hroughacoupd' etat
Mul tanwascapt uredin977.I smai l
idoctri
neswer enowadopt edast heof f
icialrel
igi
on,andt hekhut ba
wasr eadi nt henameoft heEgy pt i
anr ul
er.TheI smai l
i
sdest r oy edt heol dhi stori
ct empleofMul t
an,
whichMuhammadi bnQasi m hadl eftinchar geoft heHi ndus,andbui l
tamosqueoni t
ssite.Mansur a
remai nedwi t
htheHi bbarifami ly,atl eastunt i
l985,butatal aterdat et hisal sobecameasmal lI smaili
str
onghol d.TheI smai l
issuffer edaset backwi t
ht her i
seofMahmudofGhazni ,whoi n1005compel led
ther ulerofMul tant or ecanthi sI smai l
ibel i
efsandsomet wentyy earsl aterconquer edMansur aonhi s
ret
ur nf rom Somnat h.TheI smai licr eedr egainedst rengthast heGhaznav idsweakened,buti n1175
SultanMuhammadGhur icapt uredMul tanandappoi ntedanor thodoxSunniasgov ernor.Theareawas
i
ncor por atedintheSunni sultanatef i
rstofGhaz ni
, andl aterofDel hi.

I
ntel
lect
ualAchi
evement
s
Dur ingt heUmay y adandt heear lyAbbasi dper iod,whent heAr abswer eatt hehei ghtoft hei rpol itical
power ,t heywer eal soact ivei nt hei nt el l
ect ualf ield,maki ngev er yef fortt oacqui reknowl edgef r
om al l
sour ces.Si ndbecamet hel i
nkt hr oughwhi cht hef r
ui t
sofI ndi anl earni ngwer et ransmi ttedt ot heAr abs,
andbyt hem madeav ailablet ot her estoft heci v il
izedwor ld.I ndo- Ar abi nt ellectualcol labor at ionwasat
i
tshei ghtdur ingt wodi stinctper i
ods.Dur ingt her eign( 753- 774)ofMansur ,embassi esf rom Si ndt o
Baghdadi ncludedschol arswhobr oughti mpor tantbookswi tht hem.Thesecondf ruitf
ulper iodwast he
reign( 780- 808)ofHar un-al -Rashi d,whent heBar maki df ami ly,whi chpr ov i
dedwaz ir
st ot heAbbasi d
caliphsf orhal facent ur y,wasatt hez enithofi tspower .Ar abbi bliogr apher sespeci allyment ionHar un' s
wazi r,Yahy at heBar maki d,Yahy a'
ssonMusa,andgr andsonAmr an( bot hofwhom gov ernedSi ndf or
somet i
me)f ort heiri nteresti nI ndi aandI ndi ansci ences.Besi dessendi ngschol arst oI ndi at ost udy
medi cineandphar macol ogy ,theybr oughtHi nduschol ar st oBaghdad,madet hem chi efphy siciansof
theirhospi t
als,andcommi ssi onedt hem t ot ransl atei ntoAr abi c,Sanskr itbooksonsuchsubj ectsas
medi cine,phar macol ogy ,tox icol ogy ,phi l
osophy ,andast r
ol ogy . Theear l
iestr ecor dedI ndo- Ar ab
i
nt ellect ualcont actcamei n771,whenaHi nduast ronomerandmat hemat i
cianr eachedBaghdad,
bringi ngwi thhi m aSanskr itwor k( Br ahmaSi ddhant abyBr ahma- gupt a)whi chhet ranslatedi nt oAr abi c
witht hehel pofanAr abmat hemat ici an.Ti tlesoft hr eeot herwor ksonast ronomyt ransl at edf rom
Sanskr ithav ebeenpr eser v edbyAr abbi bli
ogr apher s,butSi ddhant a,whi chcamet obeknowni nAr abi c
as" Si ndhi nd,"hadt hegr eat esti nf luenceont hedev elopmentofAr abast ronomy .I nmat hemat i
cst he
mosti mpor t
antcont r
ibut i
onoft hesubcont inentt oAr abi cl ear ningwast hei ntroduct ionofwhatar e
knowni nt heWestas" Ar abi cnumer al s,"butwhi chAr abst hemsel vescal l"Indi annumer als"( al-ruqum- al-
Hindi y yah). Indianmedi ciner ecei vedev engr eat erat tent i
on;t het itlesofatl eastf ift
eenwor ksi n
Sanskr itwhi chwer et r
ansl at edi ntoAr abi chav ebeenpr eser ved, includi ngbooksbySushr utaandCar aka,
thef or emostaut hor i
ti
esi nHi ndumedi cine.Oneoft het ransl at edbookswasonv eteri
nar ysci ence,and
anot herdeal twi t
hsnakesandt hei rpoi sons.Noneoft heset ransl ationsar enowknownt oex ist, excepta
render i
ngofabookonpoi sons,whi chwasor igi nallyt ransl atedi ntoPer sianf orKhal id-alBar maki ,t he
Abbasi dwaz i
r ,andl aterwast r ansl at edi ntoAr abi c.I ndi andoct orsenj oy edgr eatpr estigeatBaghdad,
andal thought hei rnames,l iket het itlesoft hei rwor ks,hav ebeenmut il
at edbey ondr ecogni tioni nAr ab
bibliogr aphies,t hei rnumberwasv er ygr eat .Oneoft hesemen,Manka,wasspeci all
ysentf orwhen
Har un- al-Rashi df ellillandcoul dnotbecur edbyBaghdaddoct ors.Manka' st reatmentwassuccessf ul
,
andnotonl ywasher ichl yr ewar dedbyt hegr atef ulcal iph,buthewasent rust edwi ththet ransl ati
onof
medi calbooksf rom Sanskr it.Anot herI ndi anphy sici anwascal ledi nwhenacousi noft hecal iph
suf f
er ed apar alyticst rokeand wasgi venup f orl ostbyt heGr eekcour tphy sician.ManyI ndi an
medi cines, someoft hem i nt hei ror igi nal namessuchasat rifal,whi chi st heHi ndi tri
-phal (acombi nat ion
oft hr eef ruits),f oundt hei rwayi nt oAr abphar macopoei a. Ast rologyandpal mistryal sor ecei ved
consi der abl eat tent i
onatBaghdad,andt itl
esofal ar genumberofbookst r ansl atedf r om Sanskr iton
thesesubj ect shav ebeenpr eser v ed.Ot herbookswhi chwer et ransl at edwer eonl ogi c,al chemy ,magi c,
ethics,st atecr af t,andt hear tofwar ,butl i
terarywor ksgai nedt hegr eat estpopul ar ity.Someoft he
storiesoft heAr abi anNi ght s'Ent er t
ai nment sar eat tri
but edt oI ndianor igin,andAr abi ct ransl at ionsof
thePancht ant ra,popul ar lyknownast hest oryofKal il
aandDi mna,hav ebecomef amousi nv ar ious
Ar abicandPer sianv er si ons.Thegamesofchessandchausarwer eal sobr oughtf r
om I ndi aand
transmi ttedbyAr abst oot herpar tsoft hewor l
d. Sindal somadeacont r
ibut ioni nspher esot her
thansci enceandl eami ng.Whi let hedebtoft heSuf is, theI slami cmy st i
cs, toI ndi anr eligioni ngener ali s
notcer tain,t hel i
nksofSi ndwi t hI slami cSuf ism ar ef airlydef i
nite.Thegr eatear lySuf i,Bay az idof
Bistam,hadaSi ndhiashi sspi ritualt eacher ."Ileamed, "hesai d," thesci enceofanni hi l
at i
on( il
m- i-fana)
anduni ty( tauhi d)f rom AbuAl i( ofSi nd)andAbuAl ileamedt hel essonsofI slami cuni tyf rom me. "The
closeassoci ationofSi ndwi t
hSuf ism i smai ntainedt ot hisday , andoneoft hemostmar kedf eat ur esof
Sindi st hedomi nantpl acewhi chSuf ism occupi esi nherl iter ar yandr el i
gi ousl i
fe. Ourknowl edgeof
India'si mpactonAr abcul tur allifei sbasedoncont empor ar yAr absour ces,buti ti sf arf r
om compl ete.
Not itleofanySanskr itbookonmusi ct ranslatedatBaghdadi sav ailabl e, buti tisknownt hatt hemusi c
oft hesubcont inenti nf luencedAr abmusi c.Thati twasappr eci at edi nt heAbbasi dcapi talisi ndicat edby
thef amousAr abaut horJahi z( fl.869) ,whowr otei nhi saccountoft hepeopl eoft heI ndo- Paki stan
subcont inentt hat" Thei rmusi ci spl easi ng.Oneoft heirmusi cali nst rument si sknownasKankal ah,
whi chi spl ay edwi thast ringst retchedonapumpki n."Thi swoul dseem t obear efer encet oanI ndi an
i
nst rument ,theki ngar ,whi chi smadewi tht wogour ds.Anot heri ndicat i
onofwi despr eadknowl edgeof
Indianmusi ci sar ef er encebyanAr abicaut horf rom Andal usi at oanI ndi anbookont unesand
mel odi es. /10/I thasev enbeensuggest edt hatmanyoft het echni calt er msf orAr abmusi cwer e
bor rowedf rom Per si aandI ndiaandt hatI ndianmusi ci tsel fhasi ncor por at edcer tainPer so-Ar abai rs,
suchasYemanandHi jjf rom Hi j
azandZanugl ah,cor ruptedi ntoJangl a. Noconnect edhi st oryof
SindandMul tanaf tert her ecallofMuhammadi bnQasi mi sav ailabl e,butwor ksofAr abt r
av eler sand
geogr apher senabl eust of il
lthegap.I npar t
icularMasudi ,whov isit
edwhati snowWestPaki stani n915-
916, hasl ef tabr il
liantaccountoft hecondi t
ionsi nt heI ndusv alley ,from Wai hi ndi nt henor tht oDebuli n
thesout h.I bnHaukul ,anot hert rav eler ,v i
sitedt hear easomey ear sl at er.Bot hagr eet hatt hepr inci pal
Ar abcol oni eswer eatMansur a,Mul tan,Debul ,andNi run,al lofwhi chhadl ar geFr i
daymosques.Non-
Musl imsf or medt hebul koft hepopul at ion,andwer einapr eponder antmaj or it
yatDebulandAl or .The
relationsbet weent heAr absandt henon- Musl irnswer egood.Unl iket hehi stor i
ansoft hesul tanat e
per i
od, theAr abt rav eler sr efert ot henon- Musl i
msaszi mmi sandnotaskaf irs( infidel s) .Soonaf tert he
conquestofSi ndandMul tan,t heki l
lingofcowswasbannedi nt hear ea.Ther easonmayhav ebeena
simpl edesi ret opr eser v et hecat tleweal th,butr egar df orHi ndusent iment smayal sohav ebeenpar t
ly
responsi blef ort hisst ep.SomeHi nduchi efsshowedasy mpat het i
ci nt er esti nI sl am, fori n886aHi ndu
rajacommi ssi onedanAr abl ingui stf rom Mansur at ot ransl at et heQur ani nt ot hel ocall anguage.
Anot heri ndi cat ionoft hei ntegr ationoft hepopul at i
oni nt ot hegener al l
ifeoft her ulingcl asswast heuse
ofSi ndhit roopsi nAr abar mi es.Cont empor aryrecor dsment iont heirpr esencei nar easasdi stantast he
front iersoft heBy zant ineempi r e. Ar abr ul
er sadopt edl ocalpr act icest oamuchgr eaterex tentt han
theGhaz nav idsdi dl at eratLahor e, ort heTur ksandt heAf ghansatDel hi.Accor di ngt oMasudi ,ther uler
ofMansur ahadei ght ywarel ephant sandoccasi onal l
yr odei nachar iotdr awnbyel ephant s.TheAr abs
ofMansur agener al l
ydr essedl i
ket hepeopl eofI raq, butt hedr essoft her ul erwassi mi l
art othatoft he
Hi ndur ajas, and, l
iket hem, hewor eear ringsandkepthi shai rlong.

Af t
erMuhammadi bnQasi mt her ewerenolarge-scal
eAr abi
mmi grati
ons,andAr abinfluencegraduall
y
diminished;
butSi ndandMul tanr emainedincontactwiththeArabcount r
ies, part
icul
arlyIraqandEgy pt.
Att het i
meofMasudi '
svisi
tAr abi candSindhiwer espokeni nSind,butI ranianinfl
uenceswer ealso
strong,part
icularl
yaf t
erther iseoft heDai l
amites,whent heuseofPer sianbecamemor eprevalent,
especiall
yinMul tan. Ar abr uleproducedmenofnot einSindandMul t
an,someofwhom achi eved
fameanddi stinctioninDamascusandBaghdad.Oneoft hem,AbuMaasharSi ndhi(fl
.787),anauthorit
y
ont hel i
feoft hePr ophet
,wassoemi nentthatwhenhedi edinBaghdadt her ei
gningcal i
phledt he
prayersathisf uneral
.Anumberofot herscholarsandpoet sconnectedwi t
hSi ndar ealsoment i
onedi n
Arabicanthologies.Someoft hem wer ef r
om t heimmi grantf ami li
es, butmanywer eofSi ndhior iginand
i
ncludeddescendant sofcapt i
vest akenassl avesdur i
ngt heAr abconquestort hel aterwar s.Themost
notableArabicpoetofSi ndhior igi
nwasAbulAt aSindhi,whowast akent oSy ri
aasacapt i
v edur i
nghi s
chil
dhood, andear nedhi smanumi ssionwi thaqasi daorode.I nspiteofhi scommandofl iterar
yAr abic,
hispronunciati
onofAr abicwor dsbor esucht racesofhi sorigint hathehadt oengagear avitor ecit
ehi s
verses.Hewr otef orceful qasidasi npr aiseoft heUmay yadr ulersandpoi gnantel egiesont heirdownf all
.
LifeintheAr abdomi nionofSi ndandMul tanwassi mpl e,butagr icult
ureandcommer cewer ehi ghl y
developed.Masudiment i
onsal argenumberofhaml et
si nthepr i
ncipalit
iesofMul tanandMansur a, and
apparentl
yt hewhol ecount rywaswel lculti
vated.Ther ewasact ivecommer cebet weenSi ndandot her
partsoftheMusl i
m wor ld,withcar av ansgoi ngt oKhur asan,mostcommonl ybyt her outeofKabuland
Bami an.Therewer eal socommuni cat i
onswi thZabulistanandSi j
istant hroughGhaz niandQandahar .
SindhiHindus,whower eex cellentaccount ant sandt r
ader s,hadamaj orshar ei nt hiscommer ce,and
Alorisment ionedasagr eatcommer ci
alcent er.Thepr osper it
yoft hear eamaybej udgedbyt hef act
thatSindandMul t ancont r
ibutedel ev enandahal fmilli
ondi r
hamst oAbbasi drevenue,whi let het otal
revenuefrom theKabul areaincashandcat tlewasl essthant woandaquar termi l
l
iondi rhams.

ConsequencesofAr
abConquest
sofSi
nd
TheAr abconquestofSi ndhi squi t
esi gni f i
canti nt hehi stor yofI ndi aaswel l asanAr abi aundoubt edl yit
didnothel pi nt hef utureest abl ishmentofMusl i
m empi rei nI ndi a.Accor dingt oSt anl eyLane- Pool e, "The
Ar abshadconquer edSi ndhbutt heconquestwasonl yanepi sodei nt heHi stor yofI ndiaandofI slam, a
tri
umphwi thoutr esults."Accor dingt oSi rWol sel eyHai g, "Oft heAr abconquestofSi ndh, ther eisnot hing
mor et obesai d.I twasamer eepi sodei nt heHi st oryofI ndi aandaf fect edonl yasmal lpor ti
onoft he
fri
ngeoft hatv astcount ry .I ti ntroducedi nt oonef ront iert ractt her eligi onwhi chwasdest inedt o
domi nat et hegr eaterpar tofI ndi af ornear lyf ivecent uries,buti thadnoneoft hef ar-reachi ngef fect s
attri
but edt oitbyTodi nt heAnnal sofRaj ast han.Mohammad- bin- Quasi m nev erpenet rat edt oChi tori n
thehear tofRaj putana; theCal iphWal idFi rstdi dnot' rendert ribut ar yal lthatpar tofI ndi aont hissi deof
theGanges' ;t
hei nvaderwasnev eront heev eofcar ry i
ngt hewaragai nstRaj aHar chundofKanauj much
l
essdi dheact uallypr osecut ei t;I fHar un- ur -
Rashi dgav et ohi ssecondson,al -Ma' -mun,' Khor asan,
Zabul l
ist han,Cabul isthan,Si ndhandHi ndust han' ,hebest owedonhi m atl eastonecount rywhi chwas
nothi st ogi ve;norwast hewhol eofNor ther nI ndia,asTodmai nt ai ns,conv ulsedbyt hei nv asi onoft he
Ar abs.Oneoft hese, aswehav eseen, adv ancedt oAdhoii nCut ch, butnoset tlementwasmade, andt he
ex peditionwasamer er aid:andt hought hef i
rstnewsoft hei rrupt ionmayhav esuggest edwar -li
ke
prepar ationst ot hepr i
ncesofRaj ast hant hei runeasi nesscannothav eendur ed.Thet ideofI sl am, hav i
ng
ov erf
lowedSi ndhandt hel owerPunj ab,ebbed,l eav ingsomej et am ont hest r and.Ther ul ersofst ates
bey ondt hedeser thadnocausef oral ar m.Thatwast ocomel aterandt heenemywast obe, nott heAr ab
butt heTur k,whowast opr esentt hef aithoft heAr abianpr opheti namor et erri
bl egui set hani thad
wor nwhenpr esent edbynat iv eAr abi ans. "Accor dingt oPr of .Habi bul l
ah, "TheAr abwasnotdest i
nedt o
raiseIsl am t obeapol iticalf orcei nI ndi a.What ev eri tscul tur ali mpl icat ions,pol itical l
yt heSi ndhaf fair
l
edt oadeadend.I ttouchedonl yaf ringeoft heI ndi ancont inentandt hef ai ntst i
rringsi tpr oducedwer e
soonf or totten.I nt heI slami cCommonweal t ht heAr absoonbegant ol osegr ound;geogr aphyst oodi n
thewayofhi sex pansi oni nI ndi a;andbyt het ent hcent ur y,hi sconquer ingr ol ehav ingbeenpl ay edout ,
theI ndianpr i
ncesr ecogni sedi nhi m onl yt heent er prisi
ngandadapt abl emer chantofol d. "Whent he
Ar absset tledi nSi ndh,t heywer edaz z ledbyt heabi l
ityoft heI ndi ans.I nst eadofi nf luenci ngt hem,t hey
wer ethemsel v esi nfluencedbyt hem.TheAr abschol arssatatt hef eetoft heBr ahmanasandBuddhi st
monksandl ear ntfrom t hem phi losophy ,ast ronomy ,mat hemat ics, medi cine, chemi st ry, etc. ,andl at eron
transmi ttedt hesamet oEur ope.I tiscont endedt hatt henumer icalf i
gur eswhi cht heEur opeansl ear nt
from theAr abswer eor igi nal l
yl ear ntf rom t heI ndi ans.TheAr abi cnamef orf igur e, Hi ndsa, poi ntsoutt o
i
tsI ndianor i
gin.Dur ingt heKhi lafatofMansuri nt he8t hcent ur yA. D.,Ar abschol arswentf rom I ndi at o
Baghdadandt heycar ri
edwi tht hem t heBr ahmaSi dhant aandKhanda- Khandv akaofBr ahmaGupt aand
thosewer etransl atedi nt oAr abi cwi tht hehel pofI ndi anschol ar s.TheAr absal sol ear ntf rom t hem t he
fi
rstpr inci plesofsci entificast r onomy .Hi ndul ear ningal sowasencour agedbyt hemi ni ster ialf ami lyof
Bar maksdur i
ngt heKhi l
af atofHar unf rom 786t o808A. D.Theyi nv it
edHi nduschol arst oBaghdadand
askedt hem t ot ransl ateSanskr i
tbooksonmedi cine,phi l
osophy ,astrologyet c.,int oAr abic.Theyal so
putt heHi nduphy sici ansi nchar geoft heirhospi t
als.Accor dingt oHav ell,fr
om apol i
ticalpoi ntofv iew,
ArabconquestofSi ndhwasacompar ativelyi nsigni fi
cantev entbuti tsi mpor t
anceonaccountofi ts
effectupont hewhol ecul t
ureofI slam wasgr eat.Fort hef i
rstt ime,t heNomadsoft heAr abianDeser t
foundt hemsel vesi nt hehol yl andoft heAr yansi ncl osecont actwi thI ndo- Aiyanci vil
iz ati
on, whi chf rom
allpoi nt sofv i
ewpol iticall
y,economi callyandi nt ell
ect uall
yhadr eachedaf arhi gherpl anet hant heirown.
Tot hepoet i
ci magi nat ionoft heAr abt ri
besmen, Indi aseemedal andofwonder s.Inal l thear tsofpeace,
Indiat henst oodatt hepi nnacl eoft hegr eat ness.TheAr abswer echar medbyt heski lloft heI ndi an
musi ciansandt hecunni ngoft heHi ndupai nt er.Thedomeoft het empl eMandapam becamet hedome
oft heMusl i
m mosqueandt omb.Thesi mpl i
fiedsy mbol i
sm ofMusl imr itual wasal l bor rowedf rom Indi a.
Thepoi nt edar coft hepr ayercar petandmi hr abwasasy mbol icar coft heBuddhi standHi ndushr ines.
Thecat hedr almosquesoft heMusl imr oy altywer el iketheVi shnut empl e.Theent rancesoft hemosque
correspondedt ot het empl eGopur am andgat esoft heIndianv i
llages.TheMi nar soft heMosqueswer e
adapt ationsoft heI ndi ant ower sofv ictor y.Hav ellpoi ntsoutt hati nSi ndh,t heAr abShai khshadt hei r
fir
stpr act icallessonsi nIndo- Ar y
anst at ecraf tundert heguidanceoft heirBr ahmanof ficials.Theyl earnt
toadaptt heirownpr imiti
v epat riarchalpol i
cyt ot hecompl i
cat edpr obl emsoft hehi ghl yor ganised
syst emat icgov ernmentev olv edbycent uriesofAr y an'simper ialr ule.Thecour tlanguage,et iquetteand
l
iterar yaccompl i
shment swer ebor rowedf rom t heI ranianbr anchofAr yanci vi
lisation.Al lthesesci ent ifi
c
element swhi chmadet heAr absf amousi nEur opewer ebor roweddi rectlyf r
om I ndi a.I slam wasabl et o
tap t he i nexhaust ibler esour ces ofI ndia,spi ri
tualand mat er i
aland became t he agentf ort hei r
distribut ionov ert hewhol eofEur ope.TheI ndi anPandi t
sbr oughtt oBaghdadt hewor ksofBr ahmput ra
andt hosewer et ransl atedi nt oAr abic.I nt hepal myday soft hegr eatHar un,t hei nf l
uenceofI ndi an
schol ar swassupr emeatt heBaghdadcour t.

Hi nduphy sicianswer ebroughtt oBaghdadt oor gani sehospi talsandmedi calschool s.Hi nduschol ars
transl at edSanskr i
twor ksint oAr abic.TheAr absal sowentt oIndi anuni ver sit
iesf oracqui ri
ngknowl edge.
Hav ellpoi ntsoutt hati twasI ndi aandnotGr eecet hatt aughtI slam i nt hei mpr essionabl ey ear sofi ts
yout hf or medi tsphi l
osophyandesot ericr el
i
gi ousi deal sandi nspi r
edi tsmostchar acteristicex pressi on
i
nl it
er at ure,ar tandar chi
tect ur e.TheAr absnev erwonf ort hemsel vesaper manentpol iti
calf ootingi n
Indi anordi dt heWest er
nSchoolofI slam ev ert akeanyst ronghol dupont hement alityorr eli
gi ous
feel i
ngoft heI ndianMusl ims.I ti swr ongt omai nt aint hatt heAr abconquestofSi ndhhadabsol utelyno
eff ectonI ndia.I tcannotbedeni edt hatt heAr abconquestofSi ndhshowedt heseedofI slam i nI ndia.A
l
ar genumberofper sonsi nSi ndhwer econv ertedt oI slam.Thef ootinggotbyI sl
am i nSi ndhpr ov edt o
beper manent .Thel egacyoft heAr abconquestofSi ndhl i
esi nt he" debr isofanci entbui ldingswhi ch
procl aimedt ot hewor ldthev andal ism oft hedest roy eroraf ewset tl
ement sofaf ewMusl imf ami li
esi n
Sindhast hememor ial toAr abconquestofSi ndh. "Aquest i
onhasbeenr aisedwhet hertheAr abi nvasi on
ofSi ndhwasi nspiredbyr eligionornot .Thev i
ewofDr .Tar achandi st hati twasnot .Insuppor tofhi s
view,hepoi ntsoutt hatanumberofpr omi nentandi nfluent i
alHi ndusf avour edQuasi m.Amongt hem
wer eSi sakar ,t heMi ni
sterofDahi r
,MokaBi say a,chi efofat ri
be,Ladi ,Dahi r'
squeen,whomar ri
ed
Quasi m af terherhusband' sdeat h and act ual lyi nduced t he besi eged Hi ndus ofBahmanabad t o
sur render .Ont heot hersi de,Al lafi
,anAr abCommanderofAr abhor semen,f oughtont hesi deofDahi r
andwashi sadv i
sor.NoHi ndur ulecamef or
war dt ohel pDahi ragai nstt heAr abs.Hi ssonal soappeal ed
forhel pt ohi sbr otherandnephewsandnott ot heHi nduchi efsoft hecount r
y.TheHi nduchei fs
sur render edi nmanycaseswi thoutr esistancemer elyont heassur ancet hatt heywi l
lbet reat edki ndl y.
TheHi ndudef ender ssubmi tt
edandwer enotmol est ed.Theonl yex cept ionswer emenbear i
ngar ms.
Quasi mt ookSi sakari ntohi sconf idenceandt ol dhi m al lhi ssecr ets.Her eli
eduponMokaBi say at ol ead
for agingpar t
iesagai nstJai siy a.Heappoi nt
edKaksa,acousi nofDahi r,ashi sVazi erwi thpr ecedence
ov eral lMusl i
m nobl esandar mycommander s.Al lthesef actsshowt hatt hei nv asionofSi ndhwasnota
religiouscr usade.Dr .Tarachandsay st hatev ent her esul tsdonotj ust i
fyt hisconcl usion.I tisdoubt ful
whet hermanySi ndhi swer econv ert
edt oIslam byt hei nv ader s.Thei rpl acesofwor shi pwer enot
damagedasi spr ov edbyt hecaseoft het empl eatMul tan.ManyBr ahmanswer eempl oy edi nt he
admi nist ration.TheSumr aswhor uledov erSi ndhbor eHi ndunomes.TheHi nduAmi l
swer et heof ficial
classundert heKalhor asandTal purs.Thehi stor yofSi ndhshowst hatt hefactorofr eli
gionhasbeen
ex agger ated.Itisstatedi nChachNamahandFut uhatBul danofATBHadhur ithatHaj jaj
,theGov ernor
ofI raq,whohaddi spat chedQuasi m hadabal ancesheetoft hewarpr epar edwhi chshowedt hat60, 000
sil
v erDi rhemswast heex penditureand120, 000Di r
hemswast hei ncomef rom t hecampai gn.The
ex peditionwasasmuchabusi nessent erpr
iseasav ent uref ort heex pansionoft heempi r
e.4. 1.9.
Concl usi onTheAr abshadbeent hecarri
ersofI ndi antradet oEur opef orcenturies.Af t
erconv ersi
ont o
Islam,t heycastt heircov etousey esont hef abul ousweal thofI ndi aaswel last heywer eeagert o
propagat etheirnewr eligioni nIndia.Howev er
,theoppor tuni t
ytoi nv adeSi ndcamet ot heAr abiansint he
begi nningoft heeight hcent ur y
.Thedeat hofHar shavardhana, resul tedi npoli
ti
cali nstabil
it
yi nIndia,this
situationi nspired t
hef oreignel ementsonceagai nt o at t
ackand ent erIndia.TheAr abswer eno
ex cept i
ont oit.In712A. D.t heywer esuccessf ulinoccupy ingSind.TheAr abconquestofSi ndhi squi te
signi f
icanti nt hehi storyofI ndi aaswel lasan Ar abia undoubt edlyi tdid nothel pint hef utur e
est abli
shmentofMusl i
m empi rei nIndi
a.Accor dingtoSt anleyLane- Pool e,"
TheAr abshadconquer ed
Sindhbutt heconquestwasonl yanepi sodei nt heHistor yofI ndiaandofI slam,at ri
umphwi thout
resul t
s."