فتوح البلدان 85.25

85.25

قالوا: وأتى محمد بن القاسم البيرون وكان أهلها بعثوا سمنيين منهم إلى الحجاج فصالحوه فأقاموا لمحمد العلوفة وأدخلوه مدينتهم ووفوا بالصلح وجعل محمد لا يمر بمدينة إلا فتحها حتى عبر نهرا دون مهران فأتاه سمنية سريبدس فصالحوه عمن خلفهم ووظف عليهم الخراج وسار إلى سهيان ففتحها، ثم سار إلى مهران فنزل في وسطه فبلغ ذلك داهر واستعد لمحاربته وبعث محمد بن القاسم محمد بن مصعب بن عبد الرحمن الثقفي إلى سدوسا في خيل وحمارات، فطلب أهلها الأمان والصلح وسفر بينه وبينهم السمنية فأمنهم ووظف عليهم خرجا وأخذ منهم رهنا وانصرف إلى محمد ومعه من الزط أربعة آلاف فصاروا مع محمد، وولى سدوسان رجلا، ثم أن محمدا احتال لعبور مهران حتى عبره مما يلي بلاد راسل ملك قصة من الهند على جسر عقده وداهر مستخف به لاه عنه ولقيه محمد والمسلمون وهو على فيل وحوله الفيلة ومعه التكاكرة فاقتتلوا قتالا شديدا لم يسمع بمثله وترجل داهر وقاتل فقتل عند المساء وانهزم المشركون فقتلهم المسلمون كيف شاءوا وكان الذي قتله في رواية المدائني رجلا من بني كلاب وقال:

Muhammad, son of Kasim then went to Nirun, the inhabitants of which place had already sent two Samanis, or priests, of their town to Hajjaj to treat for peace. They furnished Muhammad with supplies, and admitting him to enter the town, they were allowed to capitulate. Muhammad conquered all the towns successively which he met on his route, until he had crossed a river which runs on this side of the Mihran [Indus]. He then saw approaching towards him Sarbidas, the Samani, who came to demand peace in the name of the inhabitants. Muhammad imposed tribute upon them, and then went towards Sahban, and took it. Then he went to the banks of the Mihran, and there remained. When this news reached Dahir, he prepared for battle. Muhammad, son of Kasim, had sent Muhammad, son of Mus'ab, son of 'Abdu-r Rahman as Sakifi, to Sadusan, with men mounted on horses and asses, at whose approach the inhabitants solicited quarter and peace, the terms of which were negociated by the Samani. Muhammad granted them peace, but he imposed tribute on the place, and took pledges from them, and then returned to his master. He brought with him four thousand Jats, and left at Sadusan an officer in command.

Muhammad sought the means of crossing the Mihran, and effected the passage in a place which adjoined the dominions of Basil, chief of Kassa, in Hind, upon a bridge which he had caused to be constructed. Dahir had neglected every precaution, not believing that the Musulmans would dare to advance so far. Muhammad and his Musulmans encountered Dahir mounted on his elephant, and surrounded by many of these animals, and his Takakaras [Thakurs] were near his person. A dreadful conflict ensued, such as had never been heard of. Dahir dismounted and fought valiantly, but he was killed towards the evening, when the idolaters fled, and the Musulmans glutted themselves with massacre. According to Al Madaini, the slayer of Dahir was a man of the tribe of Kalab, who composed some verses upon the occasion. * * * Various authors concur in saying that Muhammad took the village of Rawar by assault, in which city there was a wife of Dahir, who, afraid of being captured, burned herself along with her handmaids and all that she possessed. Then Muhammad, son of Kasim, went to old Brahmanabad, two parasangs from Mansura, which town indeed did not then exist, its site being a forest. The remnant of the army of Dahir rallied at Brahmanabad and resistance being made, Muhammad was obliged to resort to force, when eight, or as some say, twenty-six thousand men were put to the sword. He left a prefect there. The place is now in ruins.