The Sultanate of Delhi, 711–1526 A.D. c8.s16.1

c8.s16.1

From the political point of view the Arab conquest of Sindh was an insignificant event in the history of Islam and also in that of India. Nor did it permanently influence the language, art, traditions, customs and manners of our people. In fact, the Arabs left few memorials in the shape of buildings or administrative or cultural institutions that might have exerted influence on us or served as memorial of their rule. There is, however, the other side of the picture. It will be a mistake to suppose that the Arab adventure produced no effect whatever on our countrymen. The Arab conquest of Sindh was destined to sow the seed of Islam in this land. A considerable portion of the population of the province was compelled to abandon its ancestral religion and become convert to Islam. The new religion, foreign in its doctrines and ways of life, thus acquired a footing which proved to be permanent. It became the endeavour of future invaders from the north-west to help this religion to expand and flourish and to exploit the presence and sympathy of the Indian converts. This became the first of a series of fateful events which eventually led to the partition of our country and the establishment of Pakistan in 1947.