Conquest of Sindh
This refusal of Raja Dahir was a big challenge to the pride of Hajjaj, famous in Arab history as much for his severity as for his administrative ability. Hajjaj sought permission of Caliph Walid bin Abdul Maik to avenge the dishonour. Finding the Caliph reluctant, Hajaj promised to pay the cost of the expedition himself.
When he was finally given permission, he sent a picked body of soldiers under the command of his nephew, Mohammad bin Qasim. The Arab general with 6,000 horsemen marched against Debul by way of Shiraz and through Makran. In 712 AD, he defeated Raja Dahir and brought Sindh under the Muslim rule. Within a few years he expanded the circle of his conquest up to Multan. He was, however, recalled to his own country, where, due to personality differences, he was killed by the new caliph, Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik.
The establishment of the Muslim rule in Sindh opened the new cultural contacts between the Muslims and the Hindus. The new rulers granted full tolerance and freedom of worship. The people were greatly impressed by the justice and secularism of the Muslims. Their moral integrity, benevolence, honesty and polished behaviour attracted many people to the new religion. This provided islam a sound ground to penetrate into Sindh, Balochistan and the Punjab: The spread of Islam in the Indus valley across the Kirthar range made Sindh to be Babul Islam (Gate-way to Islam) for this region and brought revolutionary changes in the thinking and pattern of living of lócal people. The journey from polytheism to monotheism was slow and long but once the belief in one God and in the finality of the Mission of the Prophet was strengthened, the Sindhis became the masters of their own destiny. Their relationship with one of the mightiest civilizations of the world made them progressive and prosperous.
At the time of Mahmud of Ghazna's invasion, Muslim rule still existed, though in a weakened form, in Multan and some other regions. The Ghaznavids (976-1186) and their successors, the Ghurids (1175-1206), were Central Asian by origin and outlook and they ruled the territories, which covered mostly the regions of present Pakistan, from capitals outside India. It was in the early thirteenth century that the foundations of Muslim rule in India were laid with extended boundaries and Delhi as the capital. From 1206 to 1526 AD, five different dynasties held sway. Then followed the period of Mughul ascendancy (1526-1857).
From the time of the Ghaznavids, Persian replaced Arabic as the oficial language. The economic, political and religious institutions developed by the Muslims bore their unique' impression. The law of the state wae based on Shariah and in principle the rulers were bound to enforce it. Any long period of laxity was generally folowed by reinforcement of these laws under public pressure.
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