Islam
Islam
Islam
Islam religion brought forth by prophet Muhammad (ca. 570-632). After the death of prophet
Muhammad, Arab armies showed up, their ambition was to erase infidels, conversion to Islam was
boosted by Arab Muslim forces. In little more than 100 years, from Atlantic Ocean to Indus River, Islamic
empire was going to be the largest the world had ever seen. But lands they conquered were in revolt.
Caliph ruled the Islamic empire, caliphate was basically in Medina. Over the time of empire, Umayyads
dynasty (660-750) took the control of caliphate, and caliphate moved to Medina to Damascus and then
to Baghdad under the Abbasids (750-1258). In the last caliphate inhibited in Constantinople under the
Ottomans (1299-1922). The Arabs conquered Karman in 644, Suhail ibn Adi was appointed governor of
province, he organized a campaign in Baluchistan that brought some of that region under Islamic
control. Even then Islamic control in Karman was slight. Caliph Uthman sent Majasha ibn Masood in 652
to recapture Karman, reconquered Baluchistan as well. In 660 Haris ibn Marah Abdi successfully led a
large Arab force to control over Makran, Baluchistan, and Sind. But in 663, ibn Marah and his most of
armies were killed, and control over Baluchistan region was lost. Kabul and the Buddhist holy land of
Gandhara had been under the rule of the Shahi dynasty since the decline of the Kushan empire.
The first of the Shahis were Buddhists. In 663 an Arab army arrived at Kabul demanding its king to
accept Islam. For two years the Islamic warriors fought throughout the kingdom until, in 665, the city
fell. The king converted, and the Arabs withdrew. The Turkish king of Gandhara killed the ruler of Kabul,
and ceded Ghazni-Kandahar in southeastern Afghanistan to his brother. The Turk Shahi dynasty
controlled the area for next two centuries. The Arabs tried to collect tribute from two Shahi kingdoms,
but all efforts went in vain. In 632, dispute in Muslim community was over the question of succession of
caliphate resulted in the killing of Hysayn, and this led to the establishment of Shi’i branch and Sunni
branch in Islam. After this disruption, ruler who had been subjugated by Arab reasserted their
independence. General Qutaibah bin Muslim (d. 715) reconquered a large area of Transoxiana but was
unable to defeat the Kabul Shahi.
Arab in Sindh
In 710, Arab ship was carrying gifts from the king of Ceylon to caliph Walid 1, were seized and
imprisoned its crew and passenger by Debal pirates. In the response, governor of the Islamic empire's
eastern end, Hajjaj bin Yousuf demanded kingdom’s ruler, Raja Dahir, pay for ship and free its
passengers. But Dahir claimed that he had no relation with the pirates and broke down negotiations.
After two limited and defeated campaigns, finally Yousaf received major campaign against all Sindh.
Final Victories
Bhoj Rai blocked the river crossing through Brahmanabad. Meanwhile, the army encamped on
its banks. After several weeks their supplies began to run out. On the request to Yousaf, Qasim received
2000 horses and vinegar-soaked cotton. After 50 days they crossed river by building a bridge of boats.
After several days of skirmishes, Dahir was decapitated by an Arab swordsman. The Multan fort resisted
Arabs for several months, but finally, they cut off the supplies to the fort. And Multan fort surrendered.
To protect their Temples, Multanis gave treasure to Qasim. Yousaf and Caliph Walid 1 died during the
campaign. Sulaiman, the new Caliph, ceded power to enemy. Before the further steps, Qasim was
recalled and executed.
The Abbasids
In 750, after the era of Umayyads (661–750), Abbasid caliphate (750–1258) came into being.
Baghdad was founded as the new capital but was later replaced by Samarra. Baghdad was located
between Asia and Europe. First three centuries of Abbasid rule were golden age of Islam. During this
period, new techniques were developed that spread Muslim realm and Islamic art and architecture.
The Ghaznavids
The Hindu Shahi kingdom's western border was adjacent to Ghanzi. To expand his kingdom, the
Hindu Shahi Jayapala, attacked on Ghanzi, ruled by Turkish Muslim king Sebiiktigin (r. 977-997). After the
days of battle, Sebiiktigin accepted conditions of Jayapala, even then, Jayapala imprisoned Turkish
officers. In the response, Sebiiktigin attacked on his army, burnt temples, and destroyed properties. The
defeated Jayapala ultimately committed suicide.
Mahmud of Ghazni
Mahmud Gaznavi was the son of Sebiiktigin. In 998AD Mahmood took control of the Ghazni and
conquered Qandahar. He attacked South Asia seventeen times with a great victory. Mahmood of
Gaznavi was one of the undefeatable military commanders of the World. Mahmud of Ghazni destroyed
and looted many Hindu temples and Buddhist Temples. In 1001 he conquered Peshawar, and it became
an important centre of the empire.