What were the causes and results of the Arab conquest of Sind?

Sir Wolseley Haig rightly says that the rise of Islam is one of the marvels of history. It was in the year 622 A.D. that the prophet of Islam was driven away from his native city but within a century, his successors and followers were able to set up an a empire which extended from the Atlantic to the Indus and from and Caspian Sea to the cataracts of the Nile.

It is both interesting and instructive to study the rise and growth of such a religion, particularly in India.

But before we do so, it is desirable to refer to some of the important sources of information for mediaeval India from the Arab conquest of Sind upto the invasions of India by Babur. Among the Muslims the Arabs first invaded the Indian territories. The Arabs achieved their political and religious unity with the spread of Islam.

Within a short period after the death of Prophet Muhammad the Arabs established a vast empire. They conquered Persia and Herat. After the conquest of these territories they divided their attention towards India.

From time immemorial there was commercial contact between India and Arabia. The Arab merchants were familiar with the western sea coast of India.

They also know about the fabulous wealth of India. So the wealth of Indian was the principal factor which prompted the Arabs to invade the India territories. The Arabs wanted to spread Islam in India. Above all Arabs systematically followed a policy of conquest to establish an Islamic empire. After the conquest of Persia and Heart they wanted to conquer the Indian territories.

The immediate cause of their invasion was the plunder some Arab ships by Sindi pirates near the coast of Debal. It is said that the king of Ceylone had sent in these ships valuable presents to Khalifa, of Baghdad and to Hajaj the Governor of Iraq. So Hajaj demanded compensation from king Dahir of Sind.

But Dahir refused to pay reparation towards the ships plundred near the coast of Debal. Dahir replied that he had no control over the pirates. So Hajaj got the permission of the Khalifa to launch a military expedition against king Dahir.

Hajaj sent an Expedition under Ubaidullah against Dahirbut it ended in failure. The second invasion under Budail also failed. At last Hajaj sent a powerful army under his son-in-law Muhammad-bin-Qasim an youth of serenteon. Muhammad-bin-Qasim with his army arrived at the coast of 1 frebal in 712 A.D. King Dahir was not popular among his subjects. The, Buddhist subjects of Dahir were not loyal to him.

Muhammad-bin-Qasim occupied Debal. He forcibly converted the People to islam. He then advanced towards-Nirun and occupied the town. Finally Muhammad-bin-Qasim reached Rewar. In June712 A.D Dahir was defeated and killed fighting against the Arabs. After his death his widow Queen Rani Bai fought against the Arabs but she was also defeted.

So to save her honour she performed the rite of Jauliar along with her followers. Muhammad-bin-Qasim occupied the fort of Rewar. He also occupied Brahmanbad, Alor and Multan. But in the midest of his campaigns Muhaminad-bin-Qasim was suddenly recalled by the Khalifa and was tortured to death.

But the Arabs failed to oxtend their territories beyond Sind and Multan. The Rajput rulers of the North and of the East were quite powerful to check the invasion of the Arabs.

The rulers of other parts of India considered the defeat of Dahir as a local event. The financial resource of Sind was very limited. It was not enough to meet the administrative expenditure. The Arabs entered India from a wrong direction. It was not easier on their part to enter into the Indian soil through Sind.

Effect of the Arab Conquest of Sind:

The Arab could not extend their territories beyond Sind. They conquered only a small part of India. They also did not introduce any new system of administration. So politically the Arab conquest of Sind was very insignificant. According to Lane Poole “The Arab conquest of Sind was a mere episode in the History of India and of Islam, a triumph without result”.

The Arab invasion of Sind had no impact on Indian society and^– religion. No doubt some Hindus were forcibly converted to Islam but most of the Hindus being conscious of the superiority of their culture refused to have any contact with the Muslim invaders.

The Arab culture was enriched by its contact with Hindu culture and civilization. The Arabs acquired knowledge on Hindu philosophy, astronomy, mathematics and medicine.

Khalifa Harun-ul-Rashid invited many scholars to Baghdad. Among them mention can be made about Manaka, Bhala, and Bazigar. Dhana an Indian physician was serving as the chief medical officer of a hospital at Baghdad. Manaka had cured Khalifa Harun-ul-Rashid from a serious disease.

The Indian astronomical works such as Brahma Sidhanta and Khanda Khadyaka of Brahmagupta were translated into Arabic with the help of Indian scholars the Arabs also acquitred knowledge on India mathematics and numerals The Arabs were considerably influenced by Indian art and architecture.

Indian architects were invited to Baghdad to built mosques and Buildings. Indian paintings also influenced them. The Arab culture was enriched because of its contact with Indian; civilisation and culture.