The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 35.2
The Chachnamah, an Ancient History of Sind 35.2
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35.2.1
When Muhammad Kasim made up his mind to cross the river, he pondered over all the details, and was anxious that Dahar should not come with his army to the bank of the Mehran, and occupy the crossing-point, or prevent the crossing. He therefore thought it advisable to make enquiries, and, accordingly, he ordered Sulaiman son of Bahnar Kuraishi to take his men, with the utmost speed, to the place opposite the fort to bar Dahar’s exit. Sulaiman departed with 600 men, and the son of Atiyyah Saalabi, with 500 men was ordered to go to the road of Agham, to keep a watch over the country of Kandrah. He appointed the late Samani Governor of the fort of Nerun to superintend the supply of corn and fodder of which the army might stand in need. Maasab son of Abdurrahman was made the Commander of the advance guard, and was asked to go ahead and keep the roads clear and safe. Bandnala son of Khantalah Kilabi, with 1,000 horse, was to form the central force, and Zakwan son of Alwan Bahkri with 1,500 horse, together with Mokah Basáyeh king of Bet, the Thakurs of Babhsi, and the Jats, who had paid homage to the Arabs and had joined them, and the men of Sakrah, were all posted at the island of Bet.
35.2.2
As soon as Muhammad Kasim learnt that the advance force had arrived on the Jhim road, and Jazi son of Bezak Jaafi had found out the crossing-point, where the river was narrowest, and the bank well-levelled, he came and stood opposite the island and viewed the contour of the Mehran. He then ordered boats to be brought and filled with ballast of sand and stones and linked together by fixing nails into their (connecting) planks, and the bridge of boats was ready. When Dáhar learnt that Mékah Basáyeh had brought boats to Muhammad Kasim, and that the enemy had come to the bank to cross the river, he sent his son Jaisiah to protect the fort of Bet and instructed him not to put trust in Basáyeh, as he and all his sons might have become renegades. Jaisiah (then) came to the fort of Bet. But Mokah’s brother, Rásil who was against his brother, came to Dáhar, and said: “Long life and victory to the king. Your majesty knows well how faithful and obedient we (your) slaves are, and how we have tried our best to render service to you by taking necessary precautions. If your majesty would order me to protect the fort of Bet, I will proceed thither and make such arrangements that the Arab army can never cross the river.” Rai Dáhar did not hesitate to appoint Rásil Governor of the country of Bet, and ordered the chiefs and grandees of the place to obey him. At the same time he called back Jaisiah from there.
35.2.3
It is related by Abul Hasan Hazlí, that "Basáyah and his son Rásil had been on bad terms with Mékah Basáyah for some time past, and their disagreement was too evident. Mékah Basáyah had renounced the cause of Dáhar and had joined Muhammad Kásim, and Rásil, owing to his enmity, proceeded to oppose Mékah and the army of Muhammad Kásim. Mékah ever since the time he had taken in the situation had never submitted or bent his head before Dáhar. He was always favourably inclined to Islám, and sincerely (so inclined). In the war between Dáhar and his enemy, Mékah played dodges and behaved deceitfully and always tried to make Dáhar's cause suffer. Those who had an opportunity to observe his conduct carefully, have related that, when Muhammad Kásim brought the boats and began to link them, Rásil collected the chiefs and nobles of his country, and hastened to the spot in order to prevent the Arabs from making the bridge and crossing the river. Muhammad Kásim, therefore, ordered all the boats to be linked together in a line along the western bank to the length corresponding to the breadth of the river at that place. After this was done, brave warriors armed themselves and put themselves in the boats. Then moving the whole block of boats, keeping one end of it fixed at the crossing-point and turning the other, the head boat was made to touch the opposite point on the eastern bank, and the Arabs, immediately, shot volleys of arrows and drove away the infidels from the bank.
35.2.4
The (connecting) planks were nailed and the bridge was complete. Horsemen and foot soldiers landed, and drew themselves up in lines, and made a vigorous assault, putting the infidels to rout. The Arab army was wild (with enthusiasm), and pursued them down to the fort of Jhím. Those of the káfirs, who had very swift horses under them, galloped, in full speed, the whole night; and early in the morning, when the light of day appeared from behind the veil of night, they came to the camp of Dáhar. Dáhar was then fast asleep in his bed, and the curtain-lifters were hesitating to awake him. Eventually, a chief attendant stepped into the royal bed-room, and awakened Rái Dáhar, and informed him, in very distinct, and unmistakeable terms of the arrival of the army of Islám on their side of the river, and of the retreat and flight of the infidels. Then Dahar jumped up from his bed. Dahar told his attendant that he had brought very bad news and he called him nearer, and in anger gave him a blow with his hand on his back. Dahar’s hand was so heavy that the man died of the blow. It is related by historians that, when Muhammad Kasim crossed the river, he sent round a crier, proclaiming: “O army of Islám these waters of the Mehrán will be behind your backs, and the army of infidels will come in your front. Whoever wishes to return, let him go back even from this spot.
35.2.5
If, after the coming up of the enemy and the commencement of battle, he turns his face, the soldiers will be disheartened, and they will run away, and our enemy will then be more pressing and powerful. Whoever so turns his face will incur disgrace, and die the death of a coward, and be liable to the torture of the next world.” On hearing this proclamation, no one returned, except 3 persons,—one who said that he had a daughter at home and there was no other person to support her; another, who said that he had an old mother, who had no other relation to bury her, when she died; and a third, who said that he had a heavy debt on him and there was none else to discharge it. Muhammad Kasim permitted them to go away. The rest of the people remained with him unanimously. When the bridge was ready, the army began to pass over it. All went over safely except one person by name ‘Imrán, belonging to the family of Baníy Hanzalah who fell down into the river while crossing it and was drowned. The army of Islám then marched on, till it came near the fort of Bet. All the horsemen were so covered with coats of mail that they appeared to be, as it were, drowned in iron. Some parties were told off to different directions for reconnoitring. A ditch was dug round the camp, and the luggage (of the army) was (carefully) deposited. Muhammad Kásim started from the fort of Bet towards Ráór and soon arrived at a town called Jitor. There was a lake between Raor and Jitor.
35.2.6
To a bank of this lake, Rai Dahar had sent his chief men and armed soldiers to station themselves there and to watch the movements of the enemy. Through these, Dahar received the news of the Arabs having crossed the river. Muhammad Kasim thought the enemy was on the offensive, and that the force had been sent to fight with him. So, he posted Muhriz son of Sabit Kaisi with 2,000 men on this side of the lake and sent up Muhammad Ziyad Abdi with 1,000 horse to the other side, in order to wait opposite to them.
35.2.7
Rai Dahar now called Muhammad Haris Alafi and thus spoke to him: "O Muhammad Alafi, we patronised you (to secure your help) in an emergency like this. As on every previous occasion you were put in charge of the van, I specially appoint you to the same post on this occasion also, because you are acquainted with the ways of the Arab army and it is advisable that you should go with my forces in advance." Alafi said: "O king, as we are indebted to you for many an act of kindness, we are bound to give you good counsel. But we are Mussalmans and will not draw our swords against, and fight with, the army of Islam. If, thus fighting, we are killed by the Mussalmans, we die the death of polluted wretches; and if we kill them, we become responsible for their murder and our punishment will be the fire of hell. But since we are under obligations to you for your kindness and patronage, and (we see that) there is no one to advise you, we should like to advise you. But if we do so this Arab army will never forgive us. So be kind enough to permit me to depart quietly."