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Medieval India: Rise of Islam & First Muslim Invasion (712 AD)

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Introduction to the Study Plan

The instructor begins by recapping the previous day's introduction to history, focusing on the difference between history and the past. The course will cover Indian History in three major parts: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern India.

  • Study Order: The class will start with Medieval India, followed by Modern India, and finally Ancient India.
  • Reasons:
    • Exam questions are comparatively more from Medieval and Modern periods.
    • Starting with Medieval and Modern history is more engaging for students.

Defining Medieval India

Medieval India is defined based on the categorization by James Mill.

  • Period: From the first successful Muslim invasion (712 AD by Muhammad bin Qasim) to the death of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (1707 AD).
  • Rulers: The period is characterized by Muslim rule, as opposed to Hindu rule in Ancient India and British rule in Modern India.

The Rise of Islam (Rise of Islam)

Before studying Muslim rule in India, the origins of Islam are discussed. For a broader perspective on this topic, see State-Building in Dar al-Islam: Understanding the Spread of Islam.

  • Origin: Islam originated in Arabia (modern-day Saudi Arabia).
  • Core Belief: It is a monotheistic religion believing in one God, called Allah in Arabic and Khuda in Persian.
  • Prophets: Prophet Muhammad is considered the last messenger (Rasul) of Allah. Previous messengers include Jesus Christ (Christianity) and Ibrahim (Judaism). The first messenger was Adam.
  • Key Principle: Since Allah cannot be imagined, idol worship is strictly prohibited in Islam.

The Five Pillars of Islam

A true Muslim must follow these five pillars:

  1. Kalma (Shahada): Belief in the oneness of Allah and that Muhammad is his last prophet (La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur Rasul Allah).
  2. Namaz (Salat): Praying five times a day, with the Friday (Jumma) prayer being held at the mosque.
  3. Roza (Sawm): Fasting during the month of Ramadan.
  4. Hajj: A pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina at least once in a lifetime, if possible.
  5. Zakat: Giving 2.5% (or 1/40th) of one's annual savings to charity, done secretly.

The History of Islam and its Founder

  • Founder: Prophet Muhammad (Hazrat Muhammad). To understand the broader context, explore Early Islamic History: From Muhammad to the Islamic Empire.
  • Birth: Born in 570 AD in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
  • Enlightenment: At age 40 (610 AD), he received enlightenment (Mahagyaan Prapti) in the Hira Cave, where he received the first revelation of the Quran from the angel Jibra’il (Gabriel).
  • Hijrat (Migration): In 622 AD, due to opposition from existing religions, Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina. This journey is called Hijrat.
    • The Hijri Calendar (Islamic Calendar) begins from this year.
  • Death: Prophet Muhammad died in 632 AD in Medina.

Succession and the Caliphate

After the Prophet's death, a successor (Caliph) was needed.

  • The first four Caliphs were:
    1. Abu Bakr (Father-in-law of Prophet)
    2. Umar
    3. Usman
    4. Ali (Son-in-law and first disciple)

Split in Islam: Shia and Sunni

A dispute over who should be the first Caliph led to a division. For a concise overview, see The Rise of Islam: Crash Course World History Summary.

  • Shia Muslims: Believe that Ali should have been the first Caliph. They make up about 15-20% of the population.
  • Sunni Muslims: Accept the first four Caliphs, starting with Abu Bakr. They make up about 80-85% of the population.

Sufism

To neutralize the conflict between Shia and Sunni, a new community, the Sufis, emerged in the 9th century.

  • They reject the laws of Shariat and focus on loving Allah (their 'Mahboob').
  • Their form of worship is Sufi music (Qawwali).

Arab Invasion of India

The first contact with Islam was via Arab traders in the 7th century.

  • First Arrival: Islam first reached Kerala in the 7th century with Arab traders. The first mosque in India was built here.
  • Moplah Muslims: These Arab traders who settled in Kerala are known as Moplah Muslims.

The First Successful Muslim Invasion: Muhammad bin Qasim

The first successful Muslim invasion began in the early 8th century.

  • Year: 712 AD
  • Commander: Muhammad bin Qasim, the army commander of the Arab ruler Al-Hajjaj.
  • Target: Sindh.
  • King: The Hindu ruler of Sindh was Raja Dahar. His capital was Aror, and its port was Debal.

Story of the Invasion (from 'Chachnama')

The primary source for this invasion is the book Chachnama, originally in Arabic and later translated into Persian by Al-Kufi.

  • The Cause: Al-Hajjaj's ships were attacked and looted at the Debal port by Raja Dahar's soldiers. Al-Hajjaj demanded compensation, which Dahar refused.
  • The Invasion: Al-Hajjaj sent his 16-year-old commander, Muhammad bin Qasim, to attack Sindh.
  • Result: Muhammad bin Qasim defeated and killed Raja Dahar, conquering Sindh. He captured Dahar's daughters, Surya Devi and Parmal Devi.

Key Contributions and Policies of Muhammad bin Qasim

  • Jizya Tax: He was the first to impose the Jizya tax in India, which was paid by non-Muslims in exchange for protection.
    • Amount: 1/2 to 2/3 of total income.
    • Exempted: Initially, Brahmins, widows, and the disabled were exempted from paying Jizya.
  • Gold Coins (Dirham): He issued gold coins called Dirham (Dirham).
  • Introduction: He introduced Arabian horses to India. He also started the cultivation of dates and camel husbandry in Sindh.
  • Literal Contribution: He brought the Arabic word 'Monsoon' (for rains) to India.

Translation of Indian Texts

The Arabs translated two famous Indian books into Arabic:

  1. Charak Samhita (on medicine by Charak)
  2. Panchatantra (by Vishnu Sharma), translated as Kalila wa Dimna.

End of Muhammad bin Qasim

In 714 AD, Muhammad bin Qasim was recalled to Arabia by Al-Hajjaj, who gave him capital punishment (death penalty) after being poisoned by Raja Dahar's daughters. This marked the end of the first Muslim invasion, with no long-term rule established in India. For more on Indian history, see A Comprehensive History of India: From Ancient Civilizations to Independence and Comprehensive Overview of Ancient Indian History: From Prehistoric to Gupta Empire.

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