711-712 CE: Conquest of Sindh and Carrying of Slaves Caliph during this time Al-Walid ibn ‘Abd al-Malik (Capital, Damascus). Background: Muhammad bin Qasim (695–715 CE) was a teenage Umayyad general who conquered the Sindh and Punjab regions (modern-day Pakistan) for the Caliphate at age 17, acting under the direction of his powerful uncle, governor, Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf. Qasim defeated Hindu King Dahir of Sindh in 712 CE. According to Chacahnama, when Brahmanabad fell to Muslims, in which 8000 to 26000 men were slain. As with the Quranic injunction one fifth of all the prisoners, which was 20,000 and booty were set aside for the Caliph and the rest were given to the sodiers (Elliot & Dawson, Vol 1). The number of prisoners taken were 30,000 among who were the daughters of Rai Dahir’s sister, who were taken as slaves. When the Caliph of the time read the letter, records Chachnama,he praised Almighty Allah. He sold some of those daughters of the chiefs…. When he saw the daughters of Rai Dahir’s sister, he was so much struck with their beauty and charms he began to bite his fingers with astonishment (Summarized from Chachnama). References Asif, M. A. (2016). A Book of Conquest: The Chachnama and Muslim Origins in South Asia. Harvard University Press. Chachnama. (1900). Translated from Persian by Deputy Collector, Naushahro, Hyderabad District. Karachi: PRINTED AT THE COMMISSIONERíS PRESS. 1900. DEDICATED TO H. E. M. JAMES, Esq., C.S.I., I.C.S., COMMISSIONER IN SIND ( https://sanipanhwar.com/uploads/books/2024-08-29_12-25-42_e71cf3129a872847501f513688242c12.pdf. And https://archive.org/details/20220909_20220909_1559.
Dr Rinita Mazumdar
About Author
Dr. Rinita Mazumder is a distinguished scholar and professor with deep expertise in philosophy and social thought. She teaches at Central New Mexico Community College and serves as an affiliate professor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Mazumder is also a renowned author.