The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 41: A tradition.
The Chachnamah, an Ancient History of Sind 41
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A tradition.
41.1
Umar son of Mughairah Kilabi is said to have related that when prior to its departure the Arab army was arrayed before Hajjaj son of Yusif, the latter reviewed every line, and encouraged the soldiers, and when he came to Amru son of Khalid, said: "O Amru, I ask Muhammad Kasim and your other friends here to be witnesses to the deeds you would perform. Let us see whether you do what you have said you will." The tradition says that on the day when Amru encountered Déhar in the battle-field, he called Muhammad Kasim to bear witness and instantly with a blow wounded the elephant, and it was he who cleft Déhar's head into two halves. Subsequently when this same Amru came to Irak and presented Dahar's head to Hajjaj, he made a bow, and said: "May the just governor live long in prosperity. You had asked the commander Muhammad Kasim to be a witness to my deeds." "Aye," said Hajjaj "tell us what you have done." Amru, in reply read the following verses: Verses.—The whole host is witness to what you said on the day of my visit in the presence of Muhammad bin Kasim bin Muhammad. The enemy’s army is defeated. I fought—without flight—till I felled him from his high estate and brought him under the heel of Hajjaj. Behold now his fall—behold the shamed cheeks of the slaughtered foe.
41.2
It is related by Muhammad Hindi, who heard it from Mushta-ir Abi, who again had heard it from some venerable old men of Hind, that when Dahar’s wife Ladi was made a prisoner after Dahar’s death, Muhammad Kasim felt inclined to purchase Ladi for himself from her captors. Accordingly he wrote to Hajjaj asking his permission to do so. Hajjaj forwarded his application to the Khalifah Walid with his recommendation. (In due course of time) an order was received from the Khalifah granting the permission for the purchase of Ladi. Muhammad Kasim thereupon purchased her and made her his wife.
41.3
It is related by Ukail son of Umar that Muhammad Kasim asked Ladi “How were you captured amidst Dahar’s retinue, and for what reason, did you separate yourself from Dahar?” Ladi replied: “when the army of Islam came to close quarters with Dahar, the latter appointed a strict watchman over each lady of his house with instructions that as soon as the army of Islam became victorious and the infidels were defeated and routed, they were to behead all the ladies, so that none of them might fall into the hands of Mussalmans. The watchman set over me looked closely at me and said: ‘your face is so smiling that I take it your heart is inclined towards the Arabs. Methinks you will become their property.’ Shortly afterwards when the army of Islam made an attack on the infidels and put them to flight, every other watchman, appointed by Dahar, killed the lady in his charge, but I threw myself down from over my camel in the midst of the fighting and so my watchman could not kill me, and he himself took to his heels. Instantly the Mussalmans came up and seized me, and General Muhammad Kásim ransomed me and made me his wife.’ It is related by old men in Sind that when, with heavenly help and divine assistance, the Arabs became victorious, and the infidels were defeated, Muhammad Kásim wrote the following letter to Hajjáj son of Yúsif describing the victory gained by him and giving particulars in connection with it:—
41.4
“To Hajjáj son of Yúsif, the governor of Irak and Hind. After many compliments and respects, Muhammad Kásim begs to state that the glorious and omnipotent king, of holy names, has, with His universal grace and liberal kindness, vouchsafed victory and success to the army of Islám, after brave warriors and fighting heroes of both sides sacrificed themselves on sharp and shining swords. We have overpowered and defeated Dáhar and his forces, with his mad elephants and infidel horsemen, who were entirely covered with mail and weapons. Their elephants, horses, wearing stuffs, slaves and cattle have all come into our possession, and the usual fifth part of the same has already been sent to the Khalífah’s treasury. We hope that, with the grace of God, the whole kingdom of Hind and Sind will come into our possession and under our sway, as so much has already been done satisfactorily and successfully. The will of the omnipotent God be done.”
41.5
The head of Dáhar was then entrusted to Sárim son of Abí Sárim Hamadáni and Abí Kais was ordered to accompany him. Zakwán son of Alwán Bahlí, Yazíd son of Mukhálid Hamadání and Ziyád son of Hawárí Abdí and some others were also asked to accompany them. All these men were mentioned and praised by Muhammad Kásim in his letter to Hajjáj. "This victory" wrote he, "is entirely due to the intrepidity, fortitude, heroism and help of these men." Those of the chiefs of Hind, who had fought obstinately and proudly and whose heads were sent to Irák, were all enumerated with their names in that letter by Muhammad Kásim. When Dáhar's head and the heads of the tributary princes, together with their ensigns and royal umbrellas, (described in Muhammad Kásim's letter), were received by Hajjáj Yúsif, he enquired: "Which is the chief person among you?" And Kaab son of Mubárik said: "I am that person." Then Hajjáj said: "Muhammad Kásim has mentioned in his letter the names of his friends and has written what he came to see or know about them. He has written nothing about you and has not even mentioned your name. How are we to know that you were present there and that you did anything?" Kaab replied: "When the dread and awe of the Káfirs prevailed over the minds of the Arabs, and Amír Muhammad Kásim, in perplexity came down from his horse, I went and caught his saddle-bow. He put his hand round my neck, and kept on consulting with me.
41.6
Subsequently I was fighting quite in front of him, till Dáhar was deprived of his life." Hajjáj enquired: "Did Muhammad Kásim feel perplexed and appear confused at the time of battle? Did he at the time of victory express his joy and make merry? Did the hardships of war and the plots of the enemy produce any perceptible effect on him?" Kaab said "When the assault was made, horsemen stood by horsemen and foot-soldiers by foot-soldiers; reins were by reins and lances by lances. Flames of fire were visible in the air from the reflection of the spears and the lightning-like brilliancy of the swords. At this juncture, Muhammad Kásim cried out: 'give me water to drink,’ and he drank it.” Hajjaj said: ‘That is right. What my cousin has said is not wrong. By God it is not wrong, because in the holy Koran the great God has said ‘Verily God will test you by a stream; and he who drinks out of it, is not from amongst us, and he who does not drink out of it, is undoubtedly from amongst us.’’” When they placed Dahar’s head before Hajjáj, and reversed his royal umbrella and banners, and made the prisoners stand along with the menials and shoe-bearers, a man belonging to the family of Bani Sakif got up and recited the following verses:—