Muhammad Bin Qasim

The military exploits of Muahmmad bin Qasim, a young lad of hardly 17 years of age against the most formidable forces that the subcontinent could assemble and his amazing success with a small army of six thousand, in less than two years, forms the golden chapter of the history of warfare during the Mediaeval times which, according to the well-known British historian Lane Poole, is a "fascinating romance of history". Muhammad bin Qasim was born at a time when the Islamic arms held sway over the three known continents. In the West, Musa ibn Nusair had conquered the whole of North Africa. He and his able lieutenant, Tariq bin Ziyad, had occupied the Iberian Peninsulawith a lightning speed. In the East Kutaiba ibn Muslim had crushed the Tatar opposition and had brought Central Asia under the banner of Islam. In Sind, Muhammad bin Qasim appeared in 712 A.C. and in less than two years captured the entire Baluchistan, Sind and Bahawalpur up to Multan. Sind at that time was ruled by Raja Dahir, son of Chach, a great statesmanadministrator that the subcontinent has produced. 

The State ruled by Raja Dahir was the most powerful State of the subcontinent and comprised the whole of Sind, Baluchistan, Makran, Gujrat, Marwar and half of the Punjab. Its Capital was Debal, situated on the bank of river Indus near the sea coast. Raja Dahir was a very arrogant ruler. He had given shelter to a number of rebels of the Caliph of Islam. Moreover, his men had looted the property of Muslim traders near Debal, who were on their way to Arabia from Ceylon. The men of Raja Dahir had taken away not only the merchandise of Muslim merchants but also took into custody their children and women and the Raja refused to release them despite a complaint from the Caliph. This led to the invasion of Sind. Hajjaj bin Yusuf, the Umayyad Viceroy of Iraq, who was the uncle and father-in-law of Muhammad bin Qasim organised the entire campaign and entrusted to young Qasim, the command of a well-equipped small army of six thousand men. The young General marched with lightning speed and laid siege to Debal. 

He had brought two new weapons with him, a huge catapult and a fire ball. The former rained stones while the latter fired on the enemy. His force was small, which opposing him was a formidable force of more than hundred thousand men supported by war elephants and an array of excellent archers. Raja Dahir was not alone. He had the support of his fellow Hindu rulers spread all over the subcontinent. His usual tactics was to exhaust and finish the enemy. He had shut himself inside the impregnable walls of DebaI. The Muslim victory at Debal is ascribed to the giant catapult named "Uroos". A stone hurled by "Uroos''brought down the banner flying on the top of its biggest temple. 

The besieged, considering it an ill omen. came out in the open only to be defeated with terrible losses. During a short span of two years, from 712 to 714 A.C., Muhammad bin Qasim fought and won eleven bloody battles against the formidable forces of Raja Dahir and his henchmen. Despite heavy odds and with a small force, he was never defeated. After capturing Debal, he marched towards Nerwan which capitulated without any opposition. Then he marched on Bherah where he defeated Raja Vijay Ray. Next, he captured Sehwan, Forts of Sesam and Ashihah without much opposition. He had been moving on the western side of river Indus. Near Jhimpir he came across a strong force of Raja Dahir under the command of Jai Singh which was stationed on the eastern side of river Indus. Muhammad bin Qasim made a unique plan to cross the broad stream of the river. He got boats tied in a length which was equal to the breadth of the river and manned each boat with five picked archers and the front boat with mangoneI. He ordered the boats to move on the stream. 

The boats moved systematically and under the hail of arrows the formidable forces of the enemy commanding the other side of the river were pushed back. Soon the catapults were landed and the Muslim troops disembarked and fell upon the enemy and inflicted a defeat with terrible losses. The Muslim forces captured Jhimpir and followed the forces of Raja Dahir who was in fort Rawar where was fought the memorable battle in which, despite much superior forces, the Hindus were defeated and Raja Dahir was killed. Another fierce battle was fought by Muhammad bin Qasim at Brahmanabad where Jai Singh faced him with forty thousand men. He was routed and fled to Kashmir. Next, the Muslim forces captured Aror (Rohri) after a bloody campaign. The marching Muslim forces pushed ahead towards Sikka, which they captured after Herculean efforts. Lastly, they conquered Multan where they captured a vast treasure. 

The success of the Muslim arms was due to the superior military tactics and personal valour and skill of its young commander, Muahmmad bin Qasim as well as to the valour and discipline of Muslim forces. He excelled both in laying siege and in open warfare. His secret plans and charge 0; the reserve forces often won him the day. Muhammad bin Qasim was great both in war and peace. He proved himself an able administrator. His two years of wise and just rule. his agricultural reforms and liberal policies soon endeared him to his Muslim and non-Muslim subjects. When after the death of his patrons, Hajjaj bin Yousuf and Caliph Waleed, he was arrested and recalled by Caliph Sulaiman, the people of Sind bade him farewell with a heavy heart.

Greatest Generals Throughout Islamic History Part 2

Published on April 11, 2019

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The military exploits of Muahmmad bin Qasim, a young lad of hardly 17 years of age against the most formidable forces that the subcontinent could assemble and his amazing success with a small army of six thousand, in less than two years, forms the golden chapter of the history of warfare during the Mediaeval times which, according to the well-known British historian Lane Poole, is a "fascinating romance of history".

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