| Muhammad Bin Qasim |
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| 695 births | |
| 715 deaths | |
| islam in pakistan | |
| history of pakistan | |
| history of sindh | |
| umayyad caliphate | |
| islam in india | |
| muslim generals | |
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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 Al-Hajjaj Bin Yousef was one of Qasim's close relatives, and was instrumental in teaching Qasim about warfare and governing. Under 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 and Punjab area of Pakistan . The Umayyads claimed the attack was an attempt to rescue pilgrims that had been taken captive by pirates, though some experts regard this explanation as a pretext for invasion. Other reasons attributed to the rising Islamic Empires interest in gaining a foothold in the Makran , Balochistan and Sindh , in addition to protecting maritime interests, the participation of armies from Sindh alongside Persians in various battles such at Nahawand , Salasal and Qādisiyyah and the granting of refuge to fleeing rebel chieftains. CAMPAIGN Qasim's expedition was the third, the first two had failed and were reported to have been afflicted by both a stiffer than anticpated oppossition as well as heat, exhaustion and scurvy. The soldiers in the third expedition had to resort to using soaked cotton with vinegar to suck on as a prophylaxis against scurvy. Qasim was successful, rapidly taking all of Sindh and moving into Southern Punjab up to Multan on a regiment of 6,000 Syrians soldiers. He succeeded partly because Dahir was an unpopular Hindu king that ruled over a Buddhist majority. Buddhists all over India were being simultaneously assimilated and persecuted by the Hindus. The forces of Muhammad bin Qasim defeated the Hindu Raja Dahir in alliance with Jat s and other Buddhist Rajas. On his arrival at the town of Brahminabad between six and sixteen thousand men died in the ensuing battle. Buddhists and the Jat , Meds and Bhutto tribes hailed him as a rescuer from tyranny at the hands of Chach and his kin (regarded as usurpers of the Rai Dynasty ). After the conquest 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 toleration of their Hindu , Jain and Buddhist religions in return for payment of the poll tax ( Jizya ). The Brahmin caste system was tolerated and no conversion of the majority Buddhist populations was attempted. {Link without Title} DEATH Qasim also began preparations for an attack on Rajasthan . In the interim, however, Al-Hajjaj bin Yousef died, as did Caliph Al-Walid I . Once Hajjaj, Muhammad Bin Qasim’s father-in-law and a notoriously brutal governor of Iraq died, the new governor took revenge against all who were close to Hajjaj. The new caliph, Suleiman , was a political enemy of Hajjaj and recalled Qasim, claiming that Qasim had treated Raja Dahir 's daughters poorly. 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. ADMINISTRATION BY QASIM A historian Baldhuri records the local sentiments upon Qasim's recall, “people of Hind wept for Qasim and preserved his likeness at Karaj”. While the “Chach-nama” notes the following as highlights of Qasim’s rule:
Other accounts also state that Qasim demolished many Hindu temples and aboloshed idols, as they are seen as great evils in Islam (shirk). and expansions requested After his conquest, he established law and order in the territory through the imposition of Islamic Sharia laws. Populations of conquered territories under Qasim who were non-Muslims had taxes, known as Jizya , imposed upon them. LEGACY Qasim's rule was brief therefore beyond his conquest and intial edicts his impact upon the region is debateble. Muslim rulers who followed Muhammed bin Qasim did not distinguish themselves in any substantial manner. Dahir’s son Jaisimha who had converted to Islam for expediency recanted and Multan was captured by Ismailis. They destroyed an old and historic temple in Multan that bin Qasim had protected and built a mosque in its place. Port Qasim , Pakistan 's second major port is named in honor of Muhammad bin Qasim. REFERENCES |
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