আরবদের সিন্ধু অভিযানঃ প্রত্যক্ষ কারণ ও তাৎপর্য | Arab Conquest of Sindh: Immediate Causes and Significance
আরবদের সিন্ধু অভিযানঃ প্রত্যক্ষ কারণ ও তাৎপর্য
অভিযানের(প্রত্যক্ষ) কারণ
অভিযানের গুরুত্ত্ব
Arab Conquest of Sindh: Immediate Causes and Significance
In the first half of the 7th century CE, Islam emerged in Arabia. The rise of Islam infused the Arabs with a renewed sense of vitality. Gradually, Islam transformed from a religion into a formidable political power. The Arabs succeeded in establishing their empire in various parts of the world. Their contact with India had existed for a long time. Through trade, they frequently visited Indian coastal regions, especially the Malabar coast. Indian and Chinese goods were transported in special ships called dhows and sold in the European markets.
In 712 CE, Muhammad bin Qasim, the son-in-law and general of Hajjaj bin Yusuf, the governor of Iraq, led a successful expedition into Sindh, bringing it under Arab Muslim control.
Immediate Cause of the Expedition
The Arabs had long coveted India. There had been several earlier attempts to invade different parts of the subcontinent. However, the 712 CE expedition had a specific immediate cause. It is reported that the king of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) had sent gifts to Hajjaj bin Yusuf on ships. These ships were looted by Sindhi pirates near the port of Debal. According to another version, the ships were carrying the families of Arab merchants. Holding Raja Dahir of Sindh responsible for this incident, Hajjaj demanded compensation. When Dahir refused, Hajjaj launched a military expedition into Sindh.
The first two campaigns under Generals Ubaidullah and Budail failed. In 712 CE, during the third expedition, Dahir was defeated at the Battle of Rawar. It is said that local Buddhists and some state officials betrayed Dahir and sided with the invaders.
Significance of the Expedition
The Arabs ruled over Sindh for almost 300 years, but their control did not extend beyond this region into the larger Indian subcontinent. Many believe this was due to the strength of the Pratihara dynasty, which discouraged further expansion. However, a more convincing reason lies in the change within the Caliphate itself. With the rise of the Abbasid Caliphs, emphasis shifted from the sword to the pen. Military conquests were neglected in favor of intellectual and scientific pursuits.
Due to this limited success, historian Stanley Lane-Poole famously described the Arab conquest of Sindh as a “barren victory.” Yet, it cannot be denied that the Arab expedition to Sindh sowed the seeds of political Islam in India.
Cultural Impact
While the political impact may be debated, the cultural significance of this expedition was far-reaching. It helped transmit Indian knowledge, philosophy, literature, and culture to the broader world. The Abbasid Caliphs showed a deep interest in Indian science and learning. Indian scholars were invited to the Caliphal court in Baghdad. One such figure was Manaka, a physician who is said to have cured Caliph Harun al-Rashid of a serious illness.
Several Indian texts were translated from Sanskrit into Arabic, notably the Brahmasiddhanta and the Khandakhadyaka. Through Arab merchants, Indian knowledge also spread to Europe. Indian architecture, sculpture, and painting left a lasting impression on the Arabs. It was also as a result of the Arab conquest of Sindh that the famous Arab scholar Al-Biruni visited India and wrote his renowned work, Tahqiq-i-Hind, which remains a vital source for the study of India’s past.
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