The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 39.5

39.5

The narraters of historical tales have related, that when Muhammad Kásim moved his rank and file, a few men of the infidels came out all of a sudden and asked for mercy. On Muhammad Kásim promising it, they said: “O just governor we have renounced our own faith, and have come into the fold of Islám. Give us a select detachment of your cavalry, that we may take it behind the army of Dáhar unawares, and seeing your men coming suddenly from that side, they will be frightened and will disperse. When you find them wavering, order the forces of Islám to press the attack from all sides; and our mind suggests that thereby your sword will overawe these infidels and they will be over-powered.” Without loss of time, Muhammad Kásim selected a party of cavaliers and appointed Marwán son of Ashham Yamani and Tamím son of Zaid Kaisi their leaders, and ordered them, with two standards, to the rear of the Sind forces. The infidels had no knowledge whatever of this move. As soon as the army of Islám raised their war-cry of “God is great,” as was their custom in religious wars, some of the káfirs lost their hearts and turned their faces in order to run away. Terror and awe struck the whole army of Dáhar, and in the confusion that followed, their ranks wavered.