In this Video you will know how raja dahir was killed at the Battle of Aror which took place between his dynasty and the Arabs at the banks of the Indus River, near modern-day Nawabshah at the hands of the Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim. His body was then decapitated and his head was sent to the governor of Basra, Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf.
Why Raja Dahar's body was hidden from Muslims?
The battle between Raja Dahir and Muhammad bin Qasim was indeed no different than any other battle in history between two powerful personalities.
Muhammad Bin Qasim led the invasion into Sindh in 712 AD bringing the whole of the Sindh and Multan under Ummayad control. He fought the last Hindu ruler of Sindh, Raja Dahir in the battle of Aror. In this war, Raja Dahir was killed that resulted in the first Arab conquest of any region in India. For many Muslim historians, Muhammad Bin Qasim’s victory against Raja Dahir was the first step in the spread of Islam in India.
Background of the invasions
Muhammad Bin Qasim supported by an advanced guard and 6000 Syrian camel cavalries, attacked Debal in 712. In addition to it, extra troops along with 5 catapults had reached Debal for support in the attack. In the ensuing battle, the Arab army succeeded in defeating and conquering Debal. With Debal conquered, Muhammad Bin Qasim marched in the northeast direction taking important places without facing any resistance.
On an ``auspicious day'' in A.D. 711 -- fixed by astrologers -- Mohammed Bin Qasim started for Sindh at the head of the Iraqi, Syrian, and other Arab soldiers of fortune. His horses and camels were given coats of mail to look like lions and elephants, respectively!
When the Arab army besieged Debal (meaning ``Deval'' or ``Devalaya'', `place of god' temple) the battle raged for ten days even though it was not a major town of Sindh like Alor, Sehwan Nerunkot (Hyderabad), or Brahmanabad. The fortified temple fell when a frightened Brahmin crept out and told the Arabs to knock off the tall flagpole flying the huge red flag, to demoralise the defenders. At this stage, Jahin Budh, the incharge of Debal, surrendered. Carnage followed. And so did general collapse.
At a time when the Arabs were short of both food and fodder, Bhandarkan Samani, the man incharge of Nerunkot, surrendered that town. The Samanis or Shamans -- the Buddhist counterparts of Brahmins -- took the line that, as Buddhists, they were men of peace and not interested in who ruled the country. They would not let Bachehra, the governor of Sehwan, to continue the defence of the town after one week. At a time when the Arabs did not know how to cross the Sindhu, one Mokah, the son of Besayeh, a princeling, made boats and provisions available in return for crown and estate. The astrologers now began to predict the ``inevitable victory of the Arabs''. But Dahir still continued to be over-confident. Contrary to the Arab Alafi's advice, he allowed the Arabs to cross the river to be able to fight, ``lest it be imagined by them that we are in perplexity and have become very weak and powerless.''
As the battle raged between the Sindhis and the Arabs, Ubaid, a lieutenant of Alafi, went over to the Arabs and told them of Dahir's plans. Even so, the Sindhi army fought so well that, says the Chachnama, on the eleventh and last day, ``the army of Islam became irresolute and their lines were broken up in great confusion. It was generally believed that the Arabs were defeated, and put to flight.''
Mohammed Bin Qasim was then ``so perplexed that he called out for water''. At this stage traitor Mokah with his men arrived on the scene and joined the Arab forces. Simultaneously a cry went up that the princesses in the Sindhi army had been cornered. This led to confusion. Dahir was heard by the Arabs shouting something like ``nisi man, nisi man'', (meaning ``here I am, here I am'') -so as to tell his men not to lose heart. But then a fiery arrow hit Dahir's howdah and set it on fire. Soon after, another arrow pierced his heart. And then all was over. It was on the evening of Thursday the 16 June A.D. 712. After fifteen attempts by nine Khalifas over a period of seventy-four years (638-712 A.D.) the Arabs had conquered Sindh. It was one of the saddest days in Indian history.
In this series you will know all the details about his Origin early life career Relations with the caliphs & his Death and legacy.
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