The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 41.1

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.