Muhammad ibn al-Qasim

Muhammad bin Qasim (c. 695 - 715) was an Arab general who captured Sindh and started the Islamic era in the Indian subcontinent.

Life and career

Muhammad bin Qasim was born around 695. His father died when he was young, leaving Qasim's mother in charge of his education. Umayyad governor Hajjaj bin Yousef was one of Qasim's close relatives, and was instrumental in teaching Qasim about warfare and governing.

With Hajjaj's patronage, Qasim was made governor of Persia, where he succeeded in putting down a rebellion. At the age of seventeen, he was sent by caliph al-Walid I to lead an army into India in what is today the Sindh area of Pakistan. The Umayyads claimed the attack was an attempt to rescue pilgrims that had been taken captive by pirates, but many experts regard this explanation as a pretext for invasion.

Bin Qasim was successful, rapidly taking all of Sindh and moving into southern Punjab up to Multan. The forces of Muhammad bin Qasim defeated Raja Dahar, and took his daughters captive (they were sent to Damascus). On his arrival at the town of Brahminabad between six thousand and sixteen thousand men died in the ensuing battle.

After the violence Qasim attempted to establish law and order in the newly-conquered territory by allowing a degree of religious tolerance. He was countermanded by Hajjaj who insisted on a more hardline policy. As a whole, populations of conquered territories were treated as people of the book and granted religious toleration of their Hindu religion in return for payment of the poll tax (jizya). The Brahmin caste system was tolerated and no conversion of conquered populations was attempted. [1]

Qasim also began preparations for an attack on Rajasthan. In the interim, however, Hajjaj bin Yousef died, as did the caliph al-Walid I. The new caliph, Suleiman, was a political enemy of Hajjaj and recalled Qasim, claiming that Qasim had treated Raja Dahar's daughters poorly. Bin Qasim was wrapped in oxen hides and returned to Syria, where he was imprisoned. Muhammad bin Qasim died in jail, at the age of twenty.

Persecution by Qasim

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.

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 Jizya were imposed upon non-Muslims, and the conversion of conquered populations occurred on a large scale.

References

1. ^ The Chachnamah. English translation by Mirza Kalichbeg Fredunbeg. Delhi Reprint, 1979.