The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 17: Dahar takes the fort of Brahmanábád.
The Chachnamah, an Ancient History of Sind 17
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Dahar takes the fort of Brahmanábád.
17.1
Dahar now fixed his residence at the fort of Brahmanábád for a year, during which period all the people of that part of the country put their heads into the yoke of allegiance and made homage to him. Dahar then called Chach son of Daharsiah, and made an alliance with him, and acknowledged him as his father’s successor. He then went to the fortified town of Siwistán, and thence to that of Ráor. The foundation of the fort at this place had been laid by his father Chach who had died before it could be finished. Dahar stayed there long enough to see the building completed. He spent in it the four months of summer, as it was a very pleasant city with a salubrious climate and with sweet water. He fixed his winter quarters at Brahmanábád, where he spent the four months of winter. The remaining four months of spring he used to spend at Alór. In this manner, 8 years passed away, during which time his kingdom was perfectly established, the fame of his sovereignty spread throughout the length and breadth of the world, and his rule was firmly fixed in the country of Hind and Sind. (Seeing Dahir's rise) the king of Ramal, one of the neighbouring princes, became jealous of his power.
17.2
The king of Ramal invaded the country with a large army consisting of brave cavalry and infantry, great warriors and furious elephants. He came in the direction of Budhiah, camped in the outskirts of it, and took possession of that part of the country. From there he crossed the river, and came direct to Alor. When Dahar got the news (of the approach) of the king of Ramal he called wazir Budhiman, and said: "A strong enemy has now invaded our country. Tell us what expedients should be adopted, and what advice occurs to you to give."
17.3
The wazir replied: "Long life to the king! If you think you are able to stand against him and fight with him in point of strength and bravery, prepare yourself for the battle, advance to meet him, smite with your sword to win name and fame, and repulse the enemy; otherwise you should sue for peace and submit and do him homage. If wealth has to be given away, (remember) it is for a day like this that kings collect treasures and bury them under ground, for, by means of gold, troops are collected, and, by means of troops, war is carried on with the enemy, in which they sacrifice their lives, for the sake of their country and their good name. In other ways (also), by means of gold, an enemy can easily be made to retreat. With the help of gold, a man can settle all the affairs of this world satisfactorily, repulse an enemy, and satisfy his vengeance. At the same time, with its help, he can make the necessary provision for his journey to the next world." Dahar said: "I would rather die than submissively bend my head before a kinsman. How is it possible for me to bear such shame?" Now there was a man, an Alafi Arab, of the tribe of Banu Asamah (or the children of Asamah) who had killed Abdur-rahman son of Ash-as for running away from a battle, and out of fear (of the Khalifah’s punishment), had come and joined Dahar with 500 Arab warriors to serve under him. Wazir Budhiman made a proposal to the king, saying: “No one knows the art of war so well as the Arab nation.
17.4
Seek the Alafi’s advice, and consult him in this matter, and he is sure to show you the right way.” Accordingly, Dahar seated himself on his elephant, and went to him and addressed him as follows:—“O Arab Chief, I have been kind to you, and have treated you with respect, in order that we may receive assistance from you, on an occasion like this. Now, a powerful enemy has invaded our country: tell us, what, in your opinion, ought to be done, and what you know, and what you can do.” The Alafi said: “Your Majesty should be all at ease as to this matter. Do not feel anxious at all, for I have a plan to check them efficiently. Give me a few selected horsemen from your own royal guard, that I may go on a round, and learn their strength and mode of life; while you, at about a league (from the city), order a ditch to be dug and make a stand there.” Dahar liked this plan; so he remained there, and the Alafi had a turn round the enemy by way of reconnoitring, and came to know that they slept soundly at night, and entertained no fear whatever. The Alafi therefore taking his 500 Arabs as well as the warriors of Hind with him, made a nocturnal attack. They came from all the four directions, with loud war-cries, and fell upon the camp of the king of Ramal. A great noise and confusion ensued, and a hand-to-hand fight took place, in which a large number of the enemy was killed, and 80,000 brave men and 50 elephants were captured.
17.5
Numberless horses and weapons of war also fell into their hands. When the day broke, all the prisoners were brought to Dahar who was for slaying them all, but the wazir interceded, and said: “Be grateful when the great God has given you victory, and offer Him thanks. It is a rule of the royal code that whenever kings and great men gain a victory, and chiefs and nobles of the enemy’s party fall into their hands, they should be pardoned. So the right course for you to adopt is to set the prisoners at liberty, and spare their lives.’ Following this suggestion of the wazir, king Dahar released the captives, and was so much pleased with him that he said: “O wise wazir, O blessed counsellor, do ask some favour of me.” The wazir said: “I have no child to keep alive my name. Do you order, that on all the silver coins that are made in the royal mint, my name be struck on the reverse as the name of the king is struck on the obverse, since thereby the name of this humble servant will last long on the royal seal owing to its being coupled with that of the king, and will not be forgotten in Hind and Sind.” The king passed such a decree. Thereafter Dahar’s sovereignty was firmly established and his power and pomp attained such a climax that he seized the presents destined for the capital of the Khalifahs, and became refractory and insolent to them.
17.6
It is related by the historians and the narrators of these events, that it was in the reign of the Commander of the Faithful, Umar son of Khattab (may the great God be pleased with him), that an army of Islam was first sent out to different parts of Hind and Sind, to carry on religious war there. In the eleventh year of the Hijrah, that is to say, after the flight of His holiness the prophet of God, (may the blessings of God be on him and his descendants) Usman son of As Sakifi was the first person who was sent by Khalifah Umar to Bahrain. Usman himself started in the direction of Amman or the high sea, and his army was sent in a small fleet of boats, by way of the sea under the command of Mughairah the father of A’s to Bahrain, and thence to Debal. At that time, the country of Sind was in the hands of Chach son of Selaij, 35 years of whose reign had already passed. The people of Debal were mostly merchants. Samah son of Dewaij was the ruler of the place, on behalf of Chachrai. When the Arab army arrived at Debal, he issued out of the fort and engaged with them in fight. It is related by one of the intelligent men who were with him, that when the two armies stood opposite each other, Mughairah the father of A’s drew his sword, (and attacked the enemy’s force) crying: “In the name of God and in the cause of God” and fought till he was killed.
17.7
The people questioned the above narrator as to how he himself was fighting then, and he replied: “I was fighting with my arm but was hearing his (Mughairah’s) cries with the ear of my heart.” This same Usmán son of A’s was again appointed by Khalifah Umar son of Khattab, (may God be pleased with him) to lead an expedition to Irak, and Rabiah son of Ziyád Harisi was sent under him to take an army to Makrán and Kirmán. A letter was written to Abú Músá Ash-ari (the governor of Irak) from the capital of the Khalifahs requiring him to write a report about what passed in Irak and in the country of Hind. Accordingly when Abú Músá got the news of Mughairah’s defeat and murder, and learnt that in Hind and Sind there was a king who was very headstrong and stiff-necked, and was determined to behave offensively, he sent a communication to that effect to the Commander of the Faithful, Umar, (with whom may God be pleased) urging at the same time that he should think no more of Hind.
17.8
About this time occurred the sad event of the martyrdom of Umar son of Khattab, (may God be pleased with him). And the Khalifate came into the hands of the Commander of the Faithful, Usman son of Affan (with whom may God be pleased). He became desirous of sending an expedition to Sind to carry on a religious war, and he forthwith sent an army to Kandáíl and Makrán under the command of Abdulláh son of A’mir son of Rabíah, who was instructed to gather full information about the country of Sind, and depute a clever, wise and good man to make full enquiries as to the true state of Hind and Sind, and to communicate the result in full detail. Accordingly Abdullah son of A’mir sent Hakim son of Hailah Abdi for the purpose. It is related by Abdullah son of Umar, son of Abdul Kais, that Hakim was an eloquent speaker and a very good poet, though he was an illiterate person. For example, the following verses in the praise of Ali son of Tufail Ghanawi are his:— Verse.— Ever confer favours on me and on my tribe, May I and they be elevated and abide for ever; May you attain the abode of bliss, And may the low be raised to your kindness.” He has also composed the following verses in praise of our lord, the Commander of the Faithful, Ali son of Abí Talib (may the great God glorify his nature) on his return after a victory:—
17.9
Verse.—Oh Ali, owing to your alliance (with the prophet) you are truly of high birth, and your example is great, and you are wise and excellent, and your advent has made your age an aya of generosity and kindness and brotherly love. Some of the narrators of this history have stated that the Commander of the Faithful, Usman son of Affan (with whom may God be pleased), wrote to Abdullah son of A’mir to send Hakim son of Hailah to Hind and Sind to gather information about that country, and so Abdullah nominated him for the work. When, after acquainting himself with the state of affairs there, he returned, and came to the son of A’mir, and gave him a detailed account of the rules of war and strategy and of the confederation and unity of the residents of the town and the country (in that part of the world), Abdullah sent him to Khalifah Usmán son of Affan (may God be pleased with him). When he arrived in the Khalifah’s presence and went through the usual formalities of paying respects, the Khalifah asked him: “O Hákim have you seen Hindustán and learnt all about it?” “Yes, O Commander of the Faithful,” replied Hákim. “Give us a description of it,” asked the Khalifah, and Hakim gave the following epigrammatic reply: “Its water is dark (and dirty); its fruit is bitter and poisonous; its land is stony, and its earth is saltish.
17.10
A small army will soon be annihilated there, and a large army will soon die of hunger.” Khalifah Usman then enquired: “How are the people with regard to their promises and treaties? Are they faithful or violators of their word?” Abdullah replied: “They are treacherous and deceitful.” After hearing this account the Khalifah prohibited Abdullah from invading Sind, and no one was sent thither.