Arab Conquest of Sind (712 A.D.) : Medieval Indian History

Religion Islam was born in Mecca in Arabia. Its founder was Prophet Muhammad. But his teachings made the wealthy people of Mecca his enemies. Muhammad’s position in Mecca became hopeless when his wife Khadija and uncle Abu Talib died in quick succession.

In 622 the local rulers of Mecca forced Muhammad and his small band of followers to leave the city. Muhammad accepted an invitation to settle in the oasis of Yathrib, located some eleven days (280 miles) north by camel, for the oasis had been nearly torn apart by wars between the clans, of which many were Jewish.

Therefore, he migrated to Medina in 622 Arab Conquest of Sind (712 A.D.) Religion Islam was born at Mecca in Arabia. Its founder was Prophet Muhammad. But his teachings made the wealthy people of Mecca his enemies.

Therefore, he migrated to Medina in 622 A.D., which was the starring point of the Muslim calendar and the Muslim era called hijra.

After eight years he returned to Mecca with his followers. He died in 632 A.D. The followers of Muhammad set up an empire called the Caliphate.

The Umayyads and the Abbasids were called the caliphs. They expanded their rule by conquests and spread their religion Islam.

In 712 A.D., Muhammad bin Qasim invaded Sind. He was the commander of the Umayyad kingdom. Qasim defeated Dahir,the ruler of Sind

Qasim organized the administration of Sind. The people of Sind were given the status of zimmis (protected subjects).

There was no interference in the lives and property of the people. Soon, Qasim was recalled by the Caliph.

Muslims could not expand their authority further into India due to the presence of the powerful Pratihara kingdom in western India.

Although the conquest of Sind did not lead to further conquests immediately, it had resulted in the diffusion of Indian culture abroad.

Many Arab travellers visited Sind. Indian medicine and astronomy were carried to far off lands through the Arabs.

The Indian numerals in the Arabic form went to Europe through them. Mahmud of Ghazni and his Invasions

By the end of the ninth century A.D., the Abbasid Caliphate declined. The Turkish

Governors established independent kingdoms and the Caliph became only a ritual authority. One among them was Alptigin whose capital was Ghazni