The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c7.s1.15

c7.s1.15

Before closing the discussion on the Arab invasion of Sind, a few aspects of the campaign may be evaluated. As Andre Wink points out, In contrast to Persia there is no indication that Buddhists converted more eagerly than brahmans. The theory that Muslim Arabs were invited to Sind by Buddhist traitors who aimed to undercut the brahmans power has nothing to recommend itself with. If Buddhists collaborated with the invaders, the brahmans did so no less There was in short, no clear-cut religious antagonism that the Arabs could exploit. At the same time, points out Gidumal, It is extremely doubtful if Sind could have been conquered at all, had these (Sindhi) chiefs remained true to their king, and, curious as it may seem, it was ostensibly astrology that made traitors of them. For they said: Our wise men have predicted that Sind will come under the sway of Islam. Why then should we battle against fate? And lastly, the misleading belief in the tolerance and kindness of Muhmamad bin Qasim stands cancelled on a study of the campaign in depth. The statement of Mohammad Habib that Alone among the Muslim invaders of India Muhammad Qasim is a character of whom a concentious Musalman need not be ashamed, and similar conclusions do not hold ground if his massacres, conversions and iconoclasm detailed in the *Chachnama* alone are any indicator.²⁹