The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 31.2
The Chachnamah, an Ancient History of Sind 31.2
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31.2.1
When Muhammad Kásim read this letter and learnt its purport, he returned to Nérún. After travelling many a stage, he halted by a fort, which was situated on the hills of Nerun. There was a pond in its vicinity whose water was brighter than the eyes of lovers, and whose meadow land was more pleasant than the garden of Iram. There Muhammad Kasim pitched his camp, and wrote the following letter to Hajjáj son of Yúsif:— “In the name of God, the most merciful and gracious. To the exalted court of the great Amir, the learned sage having no equal, the crown of religion, the shield of Ajam and Hind, Hajjáj son of Yúsif. This servant Muhammad Kasim, after paying proper compliments and respects, begs to state that this true friend of yours, with all the noblemen and retinue and attendants and the Mussalman armies and troops, is quite safe and sound. Our affairs are all managed very well and we are all feeling quite cheerful and happy. May it be known to Your Highness that after travelling through deserts, and by distant and dangerous stages, we arrived in the country of Sind, and we are (now) encamped on the bank of the Sehún, which is called the Mehran. The part of the country from Budhiah up to the place opposite the fortified town of Aghrúr on the Mehran has been conquered, but the castellated city of Alór is still in the possession of Rái Dáhar. Those who proved refractory and head-strong were brought under control, and the rest being frightened, have fled.
31.2.2
When the ever-to-be-obeyed order of Amir Hajjáj was received, directing us to return, we came back to the hilly fort of Nerún. This fortified town is nearer to the capital of the Khalifahs. We entertain strong hopes that by means of the assistance of God, the kindness of the king and the good luck of the Great Amir (Hajjáj) we shall conquer many more strong forts of the infidels, and take possession of their towns and treasures. Only recently the forts of Siwistán and Sísam have been taken, and Dáhar’s cousin, with several brave men and nobles, has been driven out. It is hoped that all the forts of the infidels will be conquered and taken possession of, and in lieu of the káfirs’ places of worship, mosques and (Mussalman) prayer-houses will be built, and pulpits for calling the faithful to prayer and preaching sermons constructed, in order that the obligatory services may be performed at stated times, and morning and evening the great and glorious God be remembered and praised, as is directed by the text of the Koran, viz.
31.2.3
:—‘Keep up prayers at the declension of the sun and towards nightfall and the prayer at day-break, &c.’ It is also hoped that idols and other signs of idolatry will be removed and clean swept off, with the help of God and the blessing of that verse of the Koran which says : ‘If God help you none will overpower you.’ Further the servants of the devils and their forces will be subdued and degraded and pushed away to Hell, and there subjected to severe tortures. For the present we have encamped in the vicinity of a fort, which surpasses the strong wall constructed by the Grecian Alexander. We depend for power and protection on God the great and the glorious. This letter is submitted to Your Highness (may your greatness last long!) in the hope that distinct orders and positive commands will be issued. We are anxiously awaiting them and are quite ready to obey whatever instructions are given under the guidance of God. Let it also be known to the generous prince, that there is one of the tributary rulers under Dáhar, who is the owner of the fortified town of Bet, to the east of the Mehran, on the bank of a rivulet in an island of the gulf of Khambhat and is called Basámi Rásal. All the chief officers and noblemen of Rái Dáhar, as well as most of the princes of Hind and Sind are under his influence, and have a strong and solemn compact with him and they implicitly follow his guidance.
31.2.4
From the party of Debal, that came over and joined us, we learnt that this prince, by the grace of God, has been advising and inducing every one of these great men and nobles to submit to us. They have (now) great confidence in us, and have sent us humble messages promising to be loyal to us. If the great and glorious God brings this measure to its consummation, and they faithfully render allegiance to us, the difficulty of crossing the river Mehran will be removed, and we can then very easily and successfully achieve our object under the guidance of the Great God.” To the above letter the following reply was received:— “In the name of God, the most merciful and gracious. I have received the letter of my dear son Karimuddin Muhammad Kasim (may God perpetuate his power and dignity) which was adorned with a variety of deferential and respectful language. I quite take in the state of affairs, as described in your letter. But why, my son, don’t you use your discretion and act according to your own reason and good sense? I earnestly wish you to overpower in battle all the princes of the East and bring destruction on the unbelievers. Why have you become dilatory and dispirited in doing this work? I know you are able to overcome their villainy, and I hope that their plots and evil designs will be frustrated. He (Dáhar) wishes to send away the army of Islam, but you should take heart. Spend as much money as you can. Give them large rewards and presents.
31.2.5
Do not disappoint those who want estates and lands, but comply with their requests. Encourage them by giving them written promises of protection and safety. You must know that there are four ways of acquiring a kingdom—1stly, courtesy, conciliation, gentleness, and alliances; 2ndly, expenditure of money, and generous gifts; 3rdly, adoption of the most reasonable and expedient measures at the time of disagreement or opposition; and 4thly, the use of overawing force, power, strength and majesty in checking and expelling the enemy. Try to grant every request made by the princes and please them by giving them solemn promises. When they submit and settle a tribute upon themselves, receive from them whatever they bring for the treasury, whether money in coins or any shining metal; and show them favour in every way. If you want to send an envoy to the enemy, first test his wisdom, faith, intelligence and honesty; and let not Islám suffer from his going or speaking. Protect yourself from and guard against the misfortunes (arising) from the stratagems and plots and arts of the enemy; and be very cautious and careful in the disposal of important affairs. Be careful, when Déhar sends a confidential envoy to you; be wary in mixing and associating with him, and give him sound counsel. When he presents himself before you to deliver his message, let him say what he has to say in the presence of your grandees and nobles, and in a meeting of your wise counsellors.
31.2.6
Let him not depart disrespectfully, and let him have plain answers to his questions. Let not his error or hypocrisy deceive you. Always encourage your messenger and envoy by giving him fair promises, and telling him that the whole army of Islam regards him as their leader or forerunner, and depends upon what he utters, and so he must deliver his message honestly and carefully. The messenger of the Musalmans should be a man of pure faith, who should speak fearlessly and faultlessly and invite and induce the infidels to accept the true creed, and belief in the unity of God. Whoever turns to the unity of God and submits to you, let him have back his property and wealth and estate; and whoever does not submit to Islam, treat him harshly and cause injury to him till he submits. Again, if any person, having once submitted to you, withdraws himself from your allegiance, you must make him understand that, as he has taken out his head from the yoke of submission he must be ready for an onslaught. Do not allow (the enemy) to cross the Mehran at their will. Tell them that if they would come over to your side of the river they would not be checked, and that you, having come from a very long distance, have the right to cross the river freely and without any hindrance and confront them in battle. Make such arrangements that there may be no doubt or misunderstanding, on this point, between the two parties.
31.2.7
Wherever you meet the enemy, in order to give them battle, let the battle-field be an open plain, so that foot-soldiers may move freely in it in fighting against foot-soldiers, and horsemen against horsemen. Above all, when you are engaged in fight put your trust in God’s kindness. Catch hold of that ring of the chain firmly and you need have no fear of a fall. Then wait patiently, and see what the Divine Providence and fate brings out from behind the curtain of mystery, and what orders the king passes (for your guidance). If they send a message to you asking whether you would cross the Mehrán or whether they should, give them no choice or authority. Tell them that you would cross the river—first, so that your enemy may be overawed, and they may know that if the army of Islám was not sufficiently strong and powerful it would not venture to meet them on their own ground. As for your own men, let not the Arab troops that are under you entertain any hope of returning, and let them not turn their face from battle. They should fight with the utmost zeal and depend entirely upon the kindness of God for the issue. They should be fond of battle and fight manfully and make a firm stand. They should be true and faithful in warring against the enemy and in co-operating with you. Then only the great and glorious God will be pleased with them. You should select a place for crossing the river, where it would be possible to put a strong and stable bridge, and make your passage.
31.2.8
After consultation (with your officers) and after taking tests, take every necessary precaution and care. After you cross the river, at once array your army in proper divisions—the right wing, the left wing, the centre, the van and the rear. Send your infantry ahead. Do not leave the armours of your animals to be carried by the main body. (But) God knows better (than man).” When this letter of Hajjáj was received, Muhammad Kásim determined to cross the river and took measures for the purpose.