Muhammad ibn al-Qasim: Difference between revisions
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==Muhammad bin Qasim== |
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[[Image:Binqasim.jpg|thumb|right|Muhammad Bin Qasim]] |
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'''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 secular 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. |
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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. |
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'''Muhammad bin Qasim''' (c. [[695]] - [[715]]) was an [[Arab]] general who captured [[Sindh]] and started the [[Islamic]] era in the [[Indian subcontinent]]. |
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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. |
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==Life and career== |
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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. |
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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. |
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But the new ruling power in Sindh 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. |
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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. |
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With Hajjaj's patronage, Qasim was made governor of [[Persian Empire|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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. [http://radar.ngcsu.edu/~mgilbert/indiasyl.htm] |
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The expedition went as far north as Multan, which at that time was known as the "city of gold," Muhammad bin Qasim's armies defeated Raja Dahir]] a notorious king who oppressed his people, at what is now Hyderabad and established Muslim rule which the masses welcomed. |
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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 of Umayyad|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. |
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Qasim extended Muslim rule to the [[Indus River|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. |
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Revision as of 19:12, 11 December 2005
Muhammad bin Qasim
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 secular 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. But the new ruling power in Sindh 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.
The expedition went as far north as Multan, which at that time was known as the "city of gold," Muhammad bin Qasim's armies defeated Raja Dahir]] a notorious king who oppressed his people, at what is now Hyderabad 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.