The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c5.s5.2

c5.s5.2

Astrology was practised by Muslims as by all other medieval people. Muhammad bin Qasim, the first invader of India, was despatched on his mission only after astrologers had pronounced that the conquest of Sind could be effected only by his hand.⁴⁴ Mahmud of Ghazni too believed in the predictions of astrologers.⁴⁵ Timur the invader writes in his *Malfuzat*: About this time there arose in my heart a desire to lead an expedition against the infidels and become a ghazi, and felt encouraged when he opened a *fal* (omen) in the Quran which said: O Prophet, make war upon infidels and unbelievers and treat them with severity-and he launched his attack on Hindustan.⁴⁶ The practice of consulting the Quran for *fal* was common among medieval Muslims.⁴⁷ The savant Alberuni gives details of Hindu literature on astrology and astronomy seen by him.⁴⁸ By and large Muslim kings and commoners in India decided their actions on the advice of the astrologers, soothsayers and omen mongers.