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Arab conquest of Sind was of great significance and impact, politically, socio-culturally,
religiously, intellectually and even economically. Though the Arabs were not the actual
conquerors of India, they were the path finders and torch bearers. The conquest was a
great give and take. Historians attach little importance to Arab rule in Sind, but though the
visible traces of Arab ascendancy have been obliterated, its invisible effects were many and
far-reaching. Most of them, of course, relate to the province of Sind, which has been called
³the Hijaz of the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent´.

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Stanley Lane Poole, ³the Arab conquest of Sind is an episode in the history of India and of
Islam, a triumph without result´.

Professor Syed Abdu Qadir Shuja-ud-Din, ³ After the conquest of Sind a large number of
scholars, traders inhabited in Sind. Local people embraced Islam. Today Sind is the same
Islamic region like the Iraq and Egypt, in these circumstances we cannot deny the greatness
of the Arab conquest of Sind, its historical importance and its consequences´.

M.Kabir , ³ undoubtedly establishment of Islamic government in Sind is the greatest event

in the history of Islam and sub-continent´.

   
  

There is no doubt that Arab conquest was confined to Sind and Multan only and the major
portion of northern India was not directly affected. Expeditions were send against Hindu
princes of the north, but the Rajputs were too strong to be defeated. The sudden death of
Muhammad bin Qasim and fruitless help of the Khalifah had greatly shaken the Arab
stability in Sind. Within the decline of the power of the Khalifah, territories of Sind were
divided into independent states.







  


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The Indo-Pakistan sub-continent presented a chequered picture of warring dynasties and of

small kingdoms hostile to one another on the eve of the Arab invasion. There was no central
government in the country. All these states enjoyed complete independence and
sovereignty. The same situation was on the occasion of the invasion of Alexander the Great.
Throughout the history of the sub-continent they united on few occasions otherwise they
were fighting for the supremacy on one another.

It was proved from the Muhammad bin Qasim¶s invasion that people of sub-continent could
not unite from against their common enemy. If they are managed to form a confederation
against a common enemy then they also cannot get their goals. Because in their army there
is lack of uniformity and discipline. They belong to different areas and princes thus could not
fight bravely and secondly their main problem was lack of leadership. Thus the attack on
Sind revealed their political and military weakness which were helpful for the establishment
of Muslim Empire in the sub-continent in the later periods.

The arrangements made by Muhammad bin Qasim with the non-Muslims provided the basis
for later Muslim policy in the sub-continent.

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Most of Arab soldiers settled in Sind for good and some of them married Sindi women. The
Arab and Hindus lived side by side in peace and amity for a long time. The Arabs left a
legacy behind in the shape of buildings or administrative or cultural institutions that might
have exerted influence on India.

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The Arabs were not only great warriors and conquerors, but also good administrators. The
administration introduced by Muhammad bin Qasim in Sind leads us to believe that the
Arabs possessed experience in the art of administration and were not cruel and fanatic as it
is general supposed by the people.

The Arab governors were farsighted statesmen and great politicians. They did not disturbed
the existing system of administration in Sind. According to Chach Nama, ³Reposing full
confidence in them, Muhammad bin Qasim entrusted them with high offices and placed all
important affairs of the place in their hands.´ Steps were taken to improve and encourage
agriculture and trade. Artisans and merchants were free from molestation.

Justice was administered without fear or favour. The Qazis who were well-versed in Islamic
Law and Jurisprudence, filled the seats of Judgment. In matter of pubic and political
offences the law made no distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims. Some cases
among the Hindus were decided according to Hundu Law by the Panchayats.

When Muhammad bin Qasim was dismissed and arrested by the orders of Khalifah the
people started worship of his statue due to his good administration and justice. The Arab
administration was based on the principles of Justice, equality, toleration and welfare. It
was a role model for the later Turk sovereigns.

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Muhammad bin Qasim was a genius administrator. He established many cantonments in

different places for the internal peace, law and order and for discipline. He permitted the
Arab soldiers to settle and marry with Sindi women. Mansura, Kanda, Baiza, Mehfooza and
Multan were the famous cantonments of that time. These cities proved to be the centre of
culture and civilization.

Dr. Ishwari Prasad, ³ It may by conceded at once that the Arab conquest of Sind from
political point of view, was an insignificant event in the history of Islam´ The statement is
nullified by the above mentioned facts.

  


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The establishment of Muslim rule in Sind had profound and far reaching effects in the field
of culture and learning of the land. ³The Arabs had brought with them a new religion and a
new civilization which they introduced among the conquered people. They brought India into
direct contact with the Islamic world and opened immense possibilities of commercial and
cultural progress´. (K.Ali)

 
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Before the conquest of Sind the Arabs were not only nomads but also bandits. The were
uncivilized. The terrirotory of sind became civilized after the inasaion of Arabs. They got
awareness of law, its importance and obedience.

Until recently the social pattern in Sind was largely tribal, the place of Arab Shaikh being
taken by the Sindi Wadera. The world Wadera itself is a literal translation of Arabic
counterpart. Such Arab virtues as hospitality have always distinguished Sind, and the
standard of Arabic scholarship has also remained high. After the interaction of two different
nations a new civilization came into existence, whose vivacious example ³Sindi Language´ is
still present today.

Arab scholars inhabited in Sind and several Hindu scholars embraced Islam and
permanently settled in Arabia. The Muslim treated the Sindi generously and granted them
complete religious freedom. In a result a lot of Sindi Brahman and Buddhist embraced
Islam.

Arab had started some new kind of industries in Sind. They planted in Sind some new kind
of plants. The Arab brought horse and camels Sind and still today they inhabitants use the
camel.

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Toleration was shown by the Arab governors of Sind to their subjects irrespective of caste
and creed. Some of the temples were no doubt destroyed during the days of war, but that
was a temporary phase, for the destruction was not due to religious bigotry or fanaticism
but to the fact that the temples were the repositories of India¶s aglong accumulated wealth.
Once a place was occupied and peace restored or the people submitted to the ruler and
sought peace, the conqueror adopted a kind and conciliatory policy towards them. When the
people of Brahmanabad, for instance submitted to the conqueror, they were allowed to
rebuild their temples which were destroyed during the time of war.

The Brahmins were permitted to perform their rites and ceremonies in the manner
prescribed by their religion. Hajjaj bin Yusaf sent a farman to Muhammad bin Qasim
instructing him to grant the population of Sind rights to life and property in lieu of their
submission and willingness to pay taxes to the Muslim administration. They were also given
the right to perform their religious rites as they pleased.

The Arab believed on the policy of toleration, they have given complete religious freedom.
They also given the permission to repair the ruined temples and construct the new ones.
Due to the High moral and character the Muslims attracted the local population. In a result
majority of the population of Sind accepted Islam.
Numerous Ulema, scholars, preachers, traders from Arabia settled in Sind. Ulema and Sufis
had given great importance to the propagation of Islam and majority of the Sindis embraced
Islam.

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The Arab acquired from the Hindus some new knowledge in Indian religion, philosophy,
astronomy, medicine and folklore and carried it to their own country as well as to Europe.

Many of the Sanskrit works on astronomy and mathematics were translated into Arabic
under the patronage of the Abbassid Khalifahs. During the reign of Harun-ar-Rashid Hindu
scholars were invited to Baghdad to translate into Arabic Sanskrit works on medicine,
philosophy, astronomy and other subjects. Similarly many Arab savants studied Sanskrit to
satisfy their thirst for knowledge of Indian culture.

The digit system was first invented in the sub-continent. Arabs adopted that procedure.
Even today the Arabic digits form one to nine are same like written in Hindi and these are
called Arabic Numerals. Famous Arab mathematician Khuarzami translated Hindi
mathematics into Arabi.

Once the Khalifah Harun-ar-Rashid fell ill. For his treatment a physician was called from the
sub-continent. Khalifah recovered with his vedic treatment. After that vedic physician was
appointed in the hospital of Baghdad. Hindi herbs were imported and several books on
medicine were translated into Arabic.

Ishwari Prasad opines, ³It must be admitted that Muslims soon secularized the learning they
borrowed from India and presented it to the European world in a new garb which was
perhaps more acceptable to the European mind´. Amir Khusrau mentioned that the Arab
astronomer Abu Mashar came to Benares, the seat of Hindu learning, and studied
astronomy there for ten years.

Thus we find that the exchange of ideas and the cultural contact between the Arabs and the
Hindus were possible as a result of the Arab conquest. To the natives, particularly to the
lower class, the Muslim rule symbolized prosperity and emancipation. This is why the Jats
and the Meds accorded welcome to the Arabs by blowing conch-shell. So from the cultural
point of view, the invasion of Sind cannot be regarded as an isolated military event.

The Arabs left a legacy behind in the shape of buildings or administrative or cultural
institutions that might have exerted influence on India. The Sindi language shows Arab
influence even today. It is wrong to say that the Arab conquest of Sind had absolutely no
effect on India. (K.Ali)

K.Ali rebutted, ³From the political, religious, social, cultural and literary point of view, the
invasion of Sind cannot be regarded as an isolated military event. Hence the statement, that
the Arab conquest of Sind was a triumph without results, cannot be accepted in toto´.