Arab invasion of India: Battle of Raor

[Bhadra]

Muhammad bin Qasim - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[pmaitra]

Thanks.

I shall try but it takes hell of a lot of efforts -

First find the basic material on web .. download it and then read it and then decide what will be good for DFI.

Go to Google --- take a photo- scratch your brain to identify places -- annotate it --save it -- upload to imagesack --- then put on web...

It means I should have those many software on my Computer... those many facilities and internet broadband...

being on DFI is not inexpensive... I would say it is rather expensive hobby !!

Then upload it and get banned !! Ha Ha Ha ...

It is easy, if you use PowerPoint.

I would do it, if I had a good understanding of the events. I just don't have to time to go through a lot of the literature, and thought that if you presented a pictorial representation, we would understand it quickly.

 

[Bhadra]

Muhammad bin Qasim - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

'Imād ad-DÄ«n Muḥammad ibn Qāsim ath-ThaqafÄ« (Arabic: عماد الدين محمد بن القاسم الثقفي"Ž; c. 31 December 695 – 18 July 715[citation needed]) was an Umayyad general who conquered the Sindh and Multan regions along the Indus River (now a part of Pakistan) for the Umayyad Caliphate. He was born and raised in the city of Taif (in modern-day Saudi Arabia). Qasim's conquest of Sindh and southern-most parts of Multan enabled further Islamic expansion into India.

A member of the Thaqeef tribe of the Ta'if region, Muhammad bin Qasim's father was Qasim bin Yusuf[citation needed] who died when Muhammad bin Qasim was young, leaving his mother in charge of his education. Umayyad governor Al-Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf Al-Thaqafi, Muhammad bin Qasim's paternal uncle, was instrumental in teaching Muhammad bin Qasim about warfare and governance. Muhammad bin Qasim married his cousin Zubaidah, Hajjaj's daughter, shortly before going to Sindh. Another paternal uncle of Muhammad bin Qasim was Muhammad bin Yusuf, governor of Yemen.[citation needed] Under Hajjaj's patronage, Muhammad bin Qasim was made governor of Persia, where he succeeded in putting down a rebellion.[citation needed]

Due to his close relationship with Hajjaj, Bin Qasim was executed after the accession of Caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik.


Born : 31 December 695 Ta'if, Arabia

Died : 18 July 715 (aged 20)

Allegiance : Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, Governor to the Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid I

Rank : Special

Battles/wars : Conquest of Sindh and Multan for the Umayyads


(at the age of 20 our boys are still in the Academies )

 

[PredictablyMalicious]

Very interesting account. Thanks! Btw here is a map of the Umayyad Caliphate territory:

The Arabs had expanded both eastward and westward and even ruled most of the Iberian Peninsula at this time.

 

[Neo]

Very informative,thread indeed, excellent!

 

[Bhadra]

Very informative,thread indeed, excellent!

Thanks Neo

 

[Bhadra]

Umayyad interest in Sindh

Now let us go a little back and see what were the Umayyad interests in Sindh.

According to Berzin, Umayyad interest in the region occurred because of attacks from Sindh Raja Dahir on ships of Muslims and their imprisonment of Muslim men and women.[1]

Ummaids had earlier unsuccessfully sought to gain control of the route, via the Khyber Pass, from the Turki-Shahis of Gandhara. But by taking Sindh, Gandhara's southern neighbor, they were able to open a second front against Gandhara; a feat they had, on occasion, attempted before.

According to Wink, Umayyad interest in the region was galvanized by the operation of the Meds and others.[2] Meds (a tribe of Scythians living in Sindh) had pirated upon Sassanid shipping in the past, from the mouth of the Tigris to the Sri Lankan coast, in their bawarij and now were able to prey on Arab shipping from their bases at Kutch, Debal and Kathiawar.

At the time, Sindh was the wild frontier region of al-Hind, inhabited mostly by semi-nomadic tribes whose activities disturbed much of the Western Indian Ocean

Muslim sources insist that it was these persistent activities along increasingly important Indian trade routes by Debal pirates and others which forced the Arabs to subjugate the area, in order to control the seaports and maritime routes of which Sindh was the nucleus, as well as, the overland passage

During Hajjaj's governorship, the Mids of Debal in one of their raids had kidnapped Muslim women travelling from Sri Lanka to Arabia, thus providing a casus belli to the rising power of the Umayyad Caliphate that enabled them to gain a foothold in the Makran, Balochistan and Sindh regions.


Also cited as a reason for this campaign was the policy of providing refuge to Sassanids fleeing the Arab advance and to Arab rebels from the Umayyad consolidation of their rule.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_bin_Qasim

 

[Bhadra]

Umayyad interest in Sindh


There are many other dubious reasons given which are particularly popular in Pakistan : which has neither authenticity nor historircty such as call of rescue by two Muslim girls

All the above reason have their own importance for a first attack on Sindh. but immediate causes for the conquest of Sindh was the plunder of the gifts of Ceylon's ruler to Hijjaj and attack on ships of Arab that were carrying the orphans and widows of Muslim soldiers who died in Jihaad against Africa.

These Arab were imprisoned later on by the Governor Deebal Partaab Raye.

A letter written by the an escaped girl from the Arab that are put in the prison of the Partab Raye. She asked Hajjab Bin Yousaf for help. When Hijjaj asked Dahir for release of prisoners and compensation, the later refused on the ground that he had no control over those. Hajjaj sent Muhammad Bin Qasim for this great expedition in 711 A.D.


It was during this time when Spain and many parts of Africa and Central Asia were brought under the Muslim rule; and war was continue so Muslims were not in a position to start a new expedition. The only reason of this conquest was to rescue pilgrims that were taken captive by Hindu governor[dubious – discuss].

The mawali; (strange that this word is used derogatorily even today)new non-Arab converts; who were usually allied with Hajjaj's political opponents and thus were frequently forced to participate in the Jihads on the frontier - such as Kabul, Sindh and Transoxania.[5] Through conquest, the Umayyads intended to protect its maritime interest, while also cutting off refuge for fleeing rebel chieftains as well as Sindhi military support to the Sassanid rump state; akin to those received at several prior major battles during the their conquest of Persia - such as those at Salasal and Qādisiyyah and the finally at the Battle of Rasil. An actual push into the region had been out of favor as an Arab policy since the time of the Rashidun Caliph Umar bin Khattab, who upon receipt of reports of it being an inhospitable and poor land, had stopped further expeditionary ventures into the region.

Muhammad bin Qasim - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Bhadra]

The campaign

Muhammad bin Qasim's expedition was actually the third attempt, the first two having failed due to stiffer-than-expected opposition as well as heat, exhaustion.

Hajjaj had put more care and planning into this campaign than the first campaign [5] under Badil bin Tuhfa.[citation needed] Hajjaj superintended this campaign from Kufa by maintaining close contact with Muhammad bin Qasim in the form of regular reports and then regularly issuing orders


The army which departed from Shiraz in 710 CE under Muhammad bin Qasim was 6,000 Syrian cavalry and detachments of mawali from Iraq.

At the borders of Sindh he was joined by an advance guard and six thousand camel riders and later reinforcements from the governor of Makran transferred directly to Debal by sea along with five catapults[5] ("manjaniks").

The army that eventually captured Sindh would later be swelled by the Gurjars and Meds as well as other irregulars that heard of successes in Sindh.[5]

When Muhammad bin Qasim passed through Makran while raising forces, he had to re-subdue the restive Umayyad towns of Fannazbur and Arman Belah (Lasbela).]

The first town assaulted was Debal and upon the orders of Al-Hajjaj, he exacted a bloody retribution on Debal by giving no quarter to its residents or priests and destroying its great temple.

From Debal the Arab army then marched north taking towns such as Nerun and Sadusan (Sehwan) peacefully.

Often using their components; additionally one-fifth of the booty including slaves were dispatched to Hajjaj and the Caliph.

The conquest of these towns was accomplished easily; however, Raja Dahir's armies being prepared on the other side of the Indus[7] were yet to be fought.[5]

In preparation to meet them, Muhammad bin Qasim moved back to Nerun to resupply and receive reinforcements sent by Hajjaj.[5] Camped on the east bank of the Indus, Qasim sent emissaries and bargained with the river Jats and boatmen.] Upon securing the aid of Mokah Basayah, "the King of the island of Bet", Muhammad bin Qasim crossed over the river where he was joined by the forces of the Thakore of Bhatta and the western Jats.

Muhammad bin Qasim - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Bhadra]

 

[Bhadra]

 

[Bhadra]

India before the islamic conquest


http://www.cristoraul.com/ENGLISH/r...INDIA/Cambridge/III/I-ARABCONQUESTOFSIND.html

 

[Bhadra]

Sindh as today : J

ust to Orient you

 

[Bhadra]

The Campaign

I have heard that indian doesn't protested and told them that our god will curse you, he is powerful.
.
not confirm its incident of that battle or some other one

On his way through Mekran he had been joined by more troops and the Arabs appeared before Debul, then a seaport situated about twenty-four miles to the south-west of the modern town of Tatta, in the autumn of 711.

His artillery, which included a great balista known as "the Bride", worked by five hundred men, had been sent by sea to meet him.

The town was protected by strong stone fortifications and contained a great idol temple, from which it took its name.

The siege had continued for some time when a Brahman deserted from the temple and informed Muhammad that the garrison consisted of 4000 Rajputs and that 3000 shaven Brahmans served the temple. It was impossible, he said, to take the place by storm, for the Brahmans had prepared a talisman and placed it at the base of the staff of the great red flag which flew from the steeple of the temple. Muhammad ordered Jawiyyah, his chief artillerist, to shorten the foot of "the Bride", thus lowering her trajectory, and to make the flagstaff his mark. The third stone struck it, shattered its base, and broke the talisman. The garrison, though much disheartened by the destruction of their palladium, made a sortie, but were repulsed, and the Arabs, planting their ladders, swarmed over the walls. The Brahmans and other inhabitants were invited to accept Islam, and on their refusing their wives and children were enslaved and all males of the age of seventeen and upwards were put to the sword. The carnage lasted for three days and Muhammad laid out a Muslim quarter, built a mosque, and placed a garrison of 4000 in the town.

The legal fifth of the spoil and seventy-five damsels were sent to Hajjaj, and the rest of the plunder was divided among the army.

http://www.cristoraul.com/ENGLISH/r...INDIA/Cambridge/III/I-ARABCONQUESTOFSIND.html

 

[Bhadra]

The Campaign

Dahir attempted to make light of the fall of Debul, saying that it was a place inhabited by mean people and traders, and as Muhammad advanced towards Nerun, about seventy-five miles to the north-east and near the modern Haidarabad (Hyderabad), ordered his son Jai Singh to leave that fort, placing a priest in charge of it, and to join him in the strong fortress of Brahmanabad. The Arabs, after seven days' march, arrived before Nerun early in 712, and the priest left in charge of the place surrendered it to Muhammad, who, placing a Muslim governor there marched to Sehwan, about eighty miles to the north-west.

HISTORY OF INDIA - THE ARAB CONQUEST OF SIND

 

[Bhadra]

Sehwan, about eighty miles to the north-west of Debol.

This town, populated chiefly by priests and traders, who were anxious to submit at once to the invaders, was held by Bajhra, son of Chandra and cousin of Dahir, who upbraided the inhabitants for their pusillanimity and prepared, with the troops at his disposal, to defend the place, but after a week's siege lost heart, fled by the north gate of the city, crossed the Kumbh, which then flowed more than ten miles to the east of Sehwan, and took refuge with the Jats of Budhiya, whose raja was Kaka, son of Kotal, and whose capital was at Sisam, on the bank of the Kumbh. The inhabitants of Sehwan then surrendered the town to Muhammad, who granted them their lives on condition of their remaining loyal and paying the poll-tax leviable from non-Muslims.

http://www.cristoraul.com/ENGLISH/r...INDIA/Cambridge/III/I-ARABCONQUESTOFSIND.html

In another Book this is refered to as Nerun ??(now Haiderabad
in Sind)

 

[Bhadra]

The endeavor to follow in detail the movements of Muhammad after the fall of Sehwan bristles with difficulties. The unsatisfactory attempts of historians to reproduce in a script utterly unsuited to the purpose the place names of India, the corruption of their versions of those names by copyists who had never heard and could not read them, and above all the constant changes in the face of the country due to the repeated shifting of the courses of the great rivers which traverse it, combine to confound the student. The general course followed by him may, however, be traced.

 

[Bhadra]

Muhammad Kasim's route to Alor layover the river and so he determined to cross the river but was
apprehensive that the Rai Dahir might come to the banks of Mihran and oppose the transit. Hence to
have an easy passage Muhammad I<asim secured the aid of Moka, son of Bisaya, who was a ruler of
the island of Bait in the river and was subject to ahir. It is the base desertion of the chief of the
island of Bait that had been the root cause of the defeat of the ruler of Sind. The historian referred
to sings;

"Muhammad Kasim examines the ford Dahir hears Moka Bisaya had collected boats. Dahir gives the government of Bait to Rasil." "When Muhammad Kasim had collected his boats and began to join them together, Rasil with his officers and chiefs come to the opposite banks
and prevent the completion of the bridge and the passage of the river. Muhammad Kasim thereupon ordered that the boats should all be brought to the
western bank and there joined together to a distance equal to the estimated breadth of Mihran. He then placed his warriors fully armed upon the boats and let the head of the bridge which was full of archers to float down to the eastern bank. The archers· drove off the infidels who were posted to guard the passage. So the Arabs passed over to the other side and driving pegs into the earth made the bridge fast. The horse and the foot then crossed and
giving battle put the infidels to flight and pursued them as far as the gates of Jhani."

Barcode : 99999990842148
Title - famous battles in indian history
Author - subrahmanyam, t.g.
Language - english
Pages - 116
Publication Year - 1969
Barcode EAN.UCC-13

 

[Bhadra]

The Campaign

"Dahir awakes and kills his chamberlain for bringing him news of the flight of the infidels and the victory of Islam." Rasil who had hitherto been
sUbject to Dahir and opposing Kasim, deserts Dahir .and joins Kasim's army. On his advice Muhammad Kasim advanced to Rewa and arrived at a place called Jewar or Jaipur. "Intelligence was brought to Rai Dahir that Muhammad Kasim with the Arab army had reached Jewar and when his minister
Sisakar heard of it he said, 'Alas I We are lost'. That place is called Jaipur or the town of victory and as the army had reached the place it will be
successful and victorious". Dahir took offence at these words. The fire of indignation blazed out in his mind and he said with his anger, "he has arrived
at Hindbari for it is a place where his bones shall lie". Dahir left the place and with precipitation went into the fort of Rewar. Only a big lake
separated the fort of Rewar from the Arab force. "¢ Muhammad encamped at Jitor on the stream of Oohrab. Rai Dahir leaving his dependents in the
fort rushed forth to the open and fought the invaders.

 

[Bhadra]

The author of Cachnama writes :-

Muhammad Kasim Sikifi reads the Khutba.

Muhammad Kasim exhorts his soldiers.

The Arab army charges the infidels

Shuja Hanshi becomes a martyr

Muhammad Kasim charges in the name of God

The accursed Dahir is slain.

So narrates the Muslim writer of the Cachnama.

Dahir was slain at the fort of Rewar (Raor) at sunset on Thursday the tenth of Ramzan in the year
93, i.e., June 712 A.D .