respect for all members of the society irrespective of age, sex OF posi. THE ADVENT OF ISLAM IN THE SUB-CONTINENT Islam was not an alien concept for the people of the sub-continent. The Arab traders had been coming to the Indian shore to sell their goods which brought them in close contact with the local people. Whenever they came they stayed for months on the Indian soil for the purpose of trade. These Arab Muslim traders stepped on the Indian soil for the first time in the first hijra century. They impressed the local people by their fair dealings in business and made an ever-lasting impact of their simplicity and piety of their personal lives. Alongside their business dealings, they preached the principles of Islam and the teachings of the Holy Prophet.(Peace be upon him). The first Indian national to embrace Islam was the ruler of a small state known as ‘Kirnig Noor’, who entered the fold of Islam on the preaching of Sheikh Sharof Bin Malik, the leader of the preaching group. The Muslims fought their first battle on the Indian shore during the Khilafat of Caliph Umar when the governor of Balwain invaded a sea port ‘Tana’ situated near Bombay. Caliph Umar, however, was not very happy with these activities and ordered the Bahrain governor to stop them forthwith. MUHAMMAD BIN QASIM Hajjaj Bin Yoosuf was the governor of Iraq and was known for his strict administrative qualities. He was an administrator of high merit and also a great soldier and commander. During his days Sindh was ruled by a Hindu, Raja Dahir, who was notorious for his cruelty and oppressive rule. Muslims were the most oppressed class in Dahir’s domain and were treated in a cruel and barbaric manner. Meanwhile two incidents took place which paved the way for the Muslim invasion of India. Dahir had given asylum to Mo’avia Bin Haris and Muhammad Bin Haris, the two murderers of the Mekran governor Saeed BinCultural & Historical Background to the Pakistan Movement 7 Aslam. The murderers were wanted for their heinous crimes. When their repatriation was demanded, Dahir refused to hand over the culprits. A few years later another incident took place which made it obligatory for the Muslims to take a strict action against Dahir. A number of ships, carrying Muslim widow women and orphaned children of Arab traders, were sailing towards Iraq. These ships were also loaded with gifts for Hajaj and valuables of the peoples on board. When the ships reached Deabal, a sea port near Sindh and within the domain of Dahir, sea pirates attacked them and took away everything including women and children, The women and children were taken as prisoners and put in jail where a widow cried out an appeal to Hajjaj to save them. Hajaj Bin Yoosuf, moved by the cries of the widow sent a message to Dahir to release the women and children and to punish the pirates for their crimes. Dahir refused and insisted that the sea robbers were not under his control and argued if Hajjaj wanted the release of women and children, he could do so himself. Hajjaj was extremely annoyed with this arrogant reply. He sent two expeditions under Ubaidullah Nibhal and Budial Bin Tahfa which, however, failed when their commanders were Killed in the battles against the Hindus. Hajjaj then decided to send another army under his young nephew Muhammad Bin Qasim who was only seventeen at that time. Muhammad Bin Qasim was given a well trained army equipped with the latest weapons to invade India. Muhammad Bin Qasim attacked India on 10th Ramazan-ul-Mubarak, 92 Hijri, 28th October 711 A.D. and laid a strong siege around Deabal, which was a strong fortification of the Hindu armies. Raja Dahir and his armies fought intensely. A Catapult (Manjanig) known as ‘Al-Aroos’ was used to dislodge the Hindu armies. Eventually Deabul was conquered and Dhahir was killed. The captive women and children were set free and sent back to their homeland. Muhammad Bin Qasim proved his mettle as a great soldier and commander and annexed other parts of Indian upto Multan. Muhammad Bin Qasim, a devout Muslim, was thus the first Muslim commander to have entered India as a conqueror. He introduced Islam as a faith and a system in India. He proved a merciful ‘and efficient governor. During three years of his stay in Sindh, he promulgated very wise enactments, treated the peoples with kindness and leniency and did justice to everyone thus setting the glorious example of Islamic justice and equality. His exemplary and humanitarian behaviour extremely impressed the people of India. He showed great deal of generosity towards the conquered people and allowed them to profess and practise their own religions. He did not erase8 New Millennium Introduction to Pakistan Studies Hindu laws and customs but allowed his Hindu subjects to practise their religion and worship in their temples freely. He set the splendid examples of piely and simplicity by his personal character and attracted a great number of followers to Islam. In this way Muhammad Bin Qasim did meritorious services to the cause of Islam and contributed greatly to popularising Islam in India By the end of 715 A.D. when Muhammad Bin Qasim had completed the conquest of Sindh some changes came about in the Ummayyed dynasty. Suleman Bin Abdul Malik became the new ruler. He did not like Hajjaj Bin Yoosuf and when Hajjaj died Muhammad Bin Qasim was recalled and put in the prison where the great Muslim soldier died.