The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 44: Hajáj’s reply to the letter about the victory.
The Chachnamah, an Ancient History of Sind 44
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Hajáj’s reply to the letter about the victory.
44.1.1
Hajjaj then wrote a letter in reply to that of Muhammad Kasim, and he gave him warm encomiums, (but at the same time, he did not omit to reprimand him,) for he wrote to him: “You have praised the emancipated slave of Sakif so much; where was the necessity of praising a wicked man like him? There were so many worthy men in your army, as for instance the men of the family of Bani Salim or of that of Bani Tamim or of your own mother Habibah the great, your own brother Salb son of Kasim, your own uncle and father, these all were not less worthy; and yet you have said nothing about them. I do not find fault with you, nor do I charge you with any mischievous behaviour. I would not exchange you for them, and would value and love you more than them. I only say that it was improper for you to have praised a hypocrite, in connection with the victory over Dahar, when there were better men from Syria and Irak like Haziraah son of Amrú or Daris son of Ayyúb, or Banánah son of Kantilah, or Hazil son of Sálim or Jehm son of Zajr Jaafi or Zakwan son of Alwan Bahkri, or Kaab son of Mubárik and some other noteworthy persons who were superior in every way. You must patronize all these men and keep yourself aloof from ambition, deceitfulness, hypocrisy and vanity. I conclude with compliments.”
44.1.2
The following is related by Abú Ayyúb Háshim one of the children of Jaafar son of Abi Talib an emancipated slave of Abú Abdullah son of Abbas, who heard it from Kaab son of Mubárik. Kaab said “I went to visit ‘Abdul Malik son of Marwan (the Khalifah) on the day when they brought Dahar’s head, sent by Hajjaj Yusif. The slaves, who were chiefly daughters of princes and Râhas, were made to stand in a line along with the menials. The Khalifah of the time asked those, who knew the prisoners, to bring up Dahar’s niece. (When she was brought) the Khalifah was full of admiration on seeing her face and features. He then said: ‘O Kaab, this girl is a princess and has a beautiful face. Take her away and make her your wife.’ At that time I was a young man. I took her away to my house and married her. She was so wise that many women used to come to her to consult her and take her advice and they learnt many things from her. But she bore me no child.” It is related by several historians, all of whom agree, that when Dahar was killed, his son Jaisiah and queen Bai who was his sister but whom he had placed with himself on the throne and under his royal umbrella or canopy as a queen,—went to the fort of Raôr with the forces of their kinsmen of royal blood, and protected themselves within its walls. Jaisiah was very proud of his bravery and prowess and rank. Having much confidence in himself, he prepared to carry on war, and Muhammad Alafi co-operated with him.
44.1.3
When they heard that Dahar was killed and his white elephant severely wounded, Jaisiah Dahar said to the noblemen around him: “we will face the enemy and smite him with our swords to win fame and honour. Even if we are killed we shall not have lost our lives in vain.” Wazir Siyakar said: “what the prince thinks is not right. Our king is killed, our army is defeated, our numbers are dispersed, and our hearts, over-awed by the fear of the enemy’s sword, are sick of fighting. Under these circumstances, how can you manage to war with the Arabs? Our country still stands where it did before, and our impregnable forts are still strongly fortified, and are alive with warlike men and the natives of the soil. The best plan is that we should go to the fort of Brahmanâbâd. That fortified town is an hereditary possession of our king’s ancestors and a residence of Dahar. The treasure there, whether over the surface of the earth or buried under it, is still at our disposal. The dwellers in the town are on friendly terms with and favourably inclined towards, the family of king Chach, and, will all assist you in fighting with the enemy.” Jaisiah consulted Aláfi: “What is your advice in this matter?” asked he. “My advice” replied Aláfi ‘is also the same as given by the Wazír.’’ Rai Jaisiah therefore resolved to act accordingly, and he took all his dependents and followers with him and shifted to Brahminábád.
44.1.4
On their departure, Dáhar’s queen Bái made preparations for war in the fort of Ráor with the assistance of some other princes. She appealed to the men, and 15,000 brave warriors enlisted themselves on her side. All stood up ready for death, with one mind. When the next morning they heard the news that Dáhar was killed in the gulf of Dháwáh, in the waters of the Mehrán, the princes and chiefs who had joined queen Bái, sheltered themselves within the walls of the fort. Muhammad Kásim, on learning this, turned his steps towards the fort of Ráor, and soon arrived at the foot of the fort. Instantly drums were beaten and trumpets sounded from the top of the fort and the towers, and volleys of catapult and sling stones and arrows and spears were showered down upon the Mussulmans.
44.1.5
Muhammad Kásim arrayed his army and set some to dig subterranean passages. He divided his army into two divisions, one of which commenced offensive operations by means of battering rams, arrows and lances, while the other threw naphtha torches and burning stones at night-time. The towers and bastions of the fort were thus soon destroyed. Dáhar’s sister Bái then collected all the women in the fort and addressed them thus: “Jaisiah,” said she, “is separated from us, and Muhammad Kásim has come. It is certain that we cannot escape the clutches of these Chandáls and cow-eaters. Our glory is gone, and our term of life has come to its close. As there is no hope of safety and liberty, let us collect firewood and cotton and oil. The most expedient course for us, I think, is to burn ourselves to ashes, and thus quickly meet our husbands (in the other world). Whoever of you is inclined to go and ask mercy of the enemy, let her go. It is possible she may be saved and set at liberty.” But all of them were of one mind, and so they entered a house and set fire to it, and were soon burnt to ashes. Muhammad Kásim now took possession of the fort, and halted there for three days, during which time he massacred 6,000 fighting men who were found in the fort. Some of them were shot with arrows. Their followers and dependents, as well as their women and children, were taken prisoners.
44.1.6
It is related that when the fort of Ráor was taken, all the treasures and arms that were in it were secured, except what had been taken away by Jaisiah with himself. All this booty was brought to Muhammad Kásim. The slaves were counted, and their number came to 60,000. Out of these, 30 were young ladies of royal blood, including Rái Dáhar’s niece whose name was Hasanah. Muhammad Kásim sent all these to Hajjáj, together with Dáhar’s head, and one fifth of the treasure obtained as booty, for the royal coffers, in charge of Kaab son of Mubárik Rásti. When the head of Dáhar and the women and the treasure were brought to Hajjáj, he placed his forehead on the ground and offered prayers of thanksgiving, by two genuflections to God, and praised him, saying: “Now have I got all the treasures, whether open or buried, as well as other wealth and the kingdom of the world.”
44.1.7
Hajjáj then sent the head, and royal hostages and treasures to Walíd, the Khalífah of the time. When the Khalífah read the letter, brought with the presents, he praised the great and glorious God. He sold some of those female slaves of royal birth, and some he presented to others. When he saw Hasanah, Rái Dáhar’s niece, he was struck with her beauty and fine features. Abdullah son of Abbás applied to him for her hand. Walíd said “O my cousin, this girl is exceedingly beautiful and perfect in every way. I have become so enamoured of her that I should like to keep her for myself. But as you want her, it is much better that she should be your wife and bear you a son. She is more fit for you.” Accordingly, with his permission, Abdullah married her. They lived together for a long time but she never bore a child.
44.1.8
The historian relates that when Raor was taken, and the public affairs of the place were settled and Muhammad Kasim's report of his victory came to Hajjáj, the latter wrote the following letter in reply:— “My dear cousin, I have received your life-augmenting letter. On its receipt my gladness and joy knew no bounds. It increased my pride and glory to the highest degree. It appears from your letter that all the rules made by you for the comfort and convenience of your men are strictly in accordance with religious law. But the way of granting pardon prescribed by the law is different from the one adopted by you, for you go on giving pardon to everybody, high or low, without any discretion and without any distinction between a friend and a foe. The great God says in the Koran:—‘O true believers, when you encounter the unbelievers, strike off their heads.’ The above command of the Great God is a great command and must be respected and followed. You should not be so fond of showing mercy, as to nullify the virtue of the act. Henceforth grant pardon to no one of the enemy and spare none of them, or else all will consider you a weakminded man. Concluded with compliments. Written by Náfia in the year ninety-three.”
44.2.1
The writers of history, in giving an account of Déhar’s death and Muhammad Kásim’s victory, have stated, on the authority of some old Bráhmans, that when Rái Déhar departed to Hell, Jaisiah threw himself within the walls of the fort of Bráhmanábád to defend himself. When Ráor was completely lost, Jaisiah began to prepare for war again by collecting men and materials. He sent letters in different directions. First he wrote to his own brother Fófi son of Déhar who was in the fort of the capital city of Arór, then to his nephew Chach son of Daharsiah at Bátiah, then to his cousin Dhal son of Chandar in the country of Budhia and Kíkáván. He informed all of them that Déhar had been killed, and he invited them to join him and fight against their common enemy. Meanwhile he made the necessary preparations for war, and with some brave men made a stand against the enemy at Bráhmanábád.
44.2.2
Muhammad Kásim now determined to march against Bráhmanábád. There were two fortified towns between Ráor and Bráhmanábád, called Bahrór and Dahlelah and there were about 16,000 fighting men in those forts. Muhammad Kásim went to Bahrór where the fighting was so prolonged that he was obliged to remain there for two months. Eventually he ordered that some of his men should fight during the day, and others should throw naphtha arrows and mangonel stones at night. In this way, almost all the fighting men of the enemy were killed, and the castle walls were broken down. The survivors were taken prisoners, and a large booty was secured, one-fifth of which was duly sent to the royal treasury. When the news of the fall of Bahrór reached the people of Dahlelah, and they further learnt that Muhammad Kásim was so very powerful in war that safety was impossible, those of them who were merchants and traders went to various towns of Hind but those who belonged to the military class remained behind to defend their country.
44.2.3
Muhammad Kásim now came up to Dahlelah, and there he halted for about two months, (to lay siege to the place). When the occupants of the fort were pressed very hard and they despaired of help from any direction, they put on the clothes of death and applied otto of roses and other sweet herbs to their bodies (as they used to do to dead bodies), and taking their families with them issued from the gate facing the town of Ramal and managed to cross the waters of the Manjhal, without the knowledge of the Mussulmans. When day-light made its appearance from behind the curtain of dark-night, Muhammad Kásim came to know of their (secret) departure. He then despatched a band of soldiers in pursuit who overtook them just when they were crossing the small river. Some of them were caught and immediately struck down, but those who had already passed over, made their way viâ Ramal to Hindustan, and sought shelter in the country of Sírí, which was then ruled by King Deurái, a cousin of Rái Dáhar’s. When the war with Dahlelah was over, and Muhammad Kásim took possession of the town, he sent the fifth share of booty to the treasury of the Khalifah, and wrote a letter to Hajjáj, in which he gave a detailed account of his successes at Bahrór and Dahlelah.
44.2.4
Muhammad Kásim, then wrote letters to the rulers of Hind and other places, calling upon them all to surrender and to accept the faith of Islam. When Siyákar, Dáhar’s wazír, heard of this he sent some of his confidential servants to Muhammad Kásim offering to surrender if his life were spared. He followed his messengers, and appeared before the Arab general with those very Mussulman women, who had been captured and had been retained as hostages. These were the same women who had called Hajjáj by name to hear their complaint and to come to their help. Muhammad Kásim received Siyákar, in an honourable manner, and poured innumerable favours upon him, and entrusted to him the office of wazír. By Muhammad Kásim’s advice, he became a Mussulman, and thenceforth he became Muhammad Kásim’s counseller, and on all occasions of confidential consultation he used to be with Muhammad Kásim who always sought his advice. In the disposal of political matters and the settlement of state affairs, he was always useful to the Arab general. He used to tell him:—“The scheme enunciated by the just Amír is so sensible and expedient that all the kingdoms of Hind will come into his possession. The laws of government, and the permanent elements of empire of which it is composed will ultimately disarm and subdue all your enemies.
44.2.5
It soothes the subjects and tributaries, secures strict obedience to the law laid down by you, dispenses with any necessity for oppression or compulsion in regard to increased taxes or extraordinary contributions, and gratifies your friends and subordinate officers.” He gave the governorship of Dahlelah to Banbínah son of Dháran. Some say after taking Dahlelah Muhammad Kásim called Banbínah son of Dháran, received homage from him and entrusted to him the work of collecting and superintending the boats along the bank of the river from Dahlelah to a place called Wadhatíah. The distance between that place and Bráhmanábád was one league, and before long Jaisiah son of Dáhar got the news that the army of Islám was on its way to Bráhmanábád.
44.2.6
Muhammad Kásim now moved on till he came to the bank of the small channel of Halwáí to the East of Bráhmanábád, and he fixed his camp there. He sent messengers and trustworthy men to Bráhmanábád, calling upon the people of the place to submit and to be enlisted among the faithful. He proposed to them the alternative of accepting Islám or giving tribute. If they would not choose either, they were told to prepare for war. Jaisiah son of Dáhar had gone to Jankan, before the arrival of the above messengers. He picked out 16 men from the notables of the place and posted four of them at each of the four gates of the city, with their respective bands of soldiers. One of these gates was called Jarbateri or Bahdyr and another Satia, the third Manérah and the fourth Salbah. When Muhammad Kasim arrived, he ordered a ditch to be dug, and on Saturday the first of the month of Rajjib, fighting commenced. Every day the infidels came out with drums and gave battle. They were about 40,000 fighting men in number. From morning till late in the evening, both the parties used to fight fiercely with each other, and when the sun, the king of stars, was about to set, they used to go back to their respective camps; that is, the Mussulmans to their trenches and the káfirs to their fort. In this way they warred for six months. When Muhammad Kasim despaired of taking the fort, his mind became full of anxiety. It was now the close of the month of Zi Hajj 93.
44.2.7
Jaisiah had shifted to the country ruled by king Ramal, called Batiah, and from there he used to harass the army of Islám and rob them on highways. Muhammad Kasim sent a confidential servant to Mékah Basáyeh, and informed him that Jaisiah caused trouble off and on, injured grass-cutters and harassed the troops in many other ways, and he consulted Mékah as to how Jaisiah should be checked. Mékah sent the following reply: “He is at present residing near your camp, and so you should move thence and send a few respectable and trustworthy men from your army after him to extirpate him and his party. There is no other remedy.” Accordingly Muhammad Kasim asked Banánah son of Khantilah Kilábi, Atiyyeh Saalabí, Sérim son of Abi Sérim Hamadáni and Abdul Malik Madani to prepare for that undertaking with their horsemen, and appointed Mékah Basáyeh and Hazím son of Amrúi Musá as their leaders. He supplied them with sufficient provisions for the journey, and sent them off, and they soon arrived at their destination. When Jaisiah received the news of the approach of the Arab army, he lost no time in leaving the place with his valuables and his family, and, passing through a sandy desert, he came to Chankan and Ura Okayah belonging to the province of Jétór. There Aláfí separated from him, and proceeded to the province of Takiah, and thence, with the intention of taking shelter with the king of Kashmir, came to the frontier of Rawím, close to Ráwistán.
44.2.8
The country was all a desert and an extensive plain. From there he wrote letters to the king of Kashmir whose capital was situated further up in the midst of hills, protesting his sincerity, and praying for a refuge. The Ráná of Kashmir, after reading the letters, ordered one of the towns, in the skirts of Kashmir, known by the name of Shakalbár, to be granted to Aláfí. Later on when Aláfí paid a visit to the Ráná, the latter gave 50 saddled horses and 200 valuable robes of honour, as presents to his companions. Aláfí then asked Jehm son of Samah Shámí to go with him and remain in the alienated town of Shakalbár. When Aláfí went again to pay a visit to the Rái of Kashmir, the latter again received him with due honour and distinction, and made gifts to him of an umbrella, a chair and a palanquin. Such honour, according to the prevalent custom of those days, was accorded only to kings. He then sent him back with honour and eclat to the land assigned to him, which was situated in a valley. After some time Aláfí died at Shakalbár and was succeeded by Jehm son of Samah, and his line survives up to this time. He built many mosques and enjoyed great respect and dignity at the Kashmir court.
44.3
Jaisiah went to the province of Jitor and resided there temporarily. He wrote a letter thence to Fofi son of Dahar at Alor communicating to him the reasons for his movements and changes of camp, and advising him strongly to defend the fort of Alor. That letter buoyed up Fofi Dahar’s spirits.
When Muhammad Kasim’s siege of Brahminabad was prolonged to 6 months, and when it was known that Jaisiah was at Janesar, four of the leading citizens, heads of mercantile houses residing in the fort of Brahminabad, met at the fort gate called Jarbateri to confer with one another. They said: “The Arab army has proved triumphant over the whole of the country, Dahar is killed, and for the last 6 months we have remained confined within the walls of this fort. We have not strength enough to cope with the Arab general in the battle-field, and there seems no probability of peace or even of a truce. If he continues in this way for a few days more, he will be ultimately victorious, for there is no one anywhere to hear us and to come to our help, and we must give up every hope of succour. There is among us no king to whom we can appeal, and it is impossible for us to fight on any longer against this army. Now, therefore, let us unite in going out of the fort and fighting till we are killed. For, even if peace is made they will put to death all the men among us who are capable of bearing arms; only common folk, the traders the artisans and the cultivators will be spared. (There is yet another alternative.) If we could be sure of our safety, we would prefer to hand over the fort to him after a solemn covenant is made between us. If we submit to him, he may show us some regard, and we may thus save ourselves through his intervention.” Having (eventually) formed this (latter) resolution, they threw themselves with their families and children on his mercy, and prayed for pardon. Muhammad Kasim granted pardon to them, after solemn promises were mutually made. All the other people capable of bearing arms were beheaded and their followers and dependents made prisoners. All prisoners of or under the age of 30 years were put in chains, and many were killed, while tribute was fixed on the rest.
When Muhammad Kasim received the message of the men of Brahmanábád, he called all the nobles and the grandees and communicated it to them and said: “The envoys from Brahmanábád have come. Hear what they say and give them a reply after due consideration.” Mókáh Basáyeh said: “O commander, of all the cities of Hind, this fortified city is the chief. It is the capital of a whole kingdom. If you conquer this one city, the whole of Sind will come into your possession, and many a strong and impregnable fortress will be within your power and control. The people of the surrounding places will, then, break their connection with and cease to have any regard for, the children of Dáhar. Some will run away and others will voluntarily put the yoke of allegiance on their necks.”