The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 41.3

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:—