Imaad-Ud-Din-A Heart Rending End

He knew from his experience in Sind how eager the Indian masses were to enjoy the good life promised by Islam. But events at home were taking a sad turn. The hey day of young hero was rapidly drawing to a close. His career of conquest was going to cut short.

All was ready for a march in the heart of Hindustan when the news of Hajjaj's death reached to Sind. The news made Mohammad very very sad. Hajjaj was his uncle and father-in-law. But he was much more to him than just this. It was he who had given him a chance to show his rare abilities. Again it was Hajjaj to whom he turned for advice throughout the campaign.

Walid thought that the success in Sind was solely due to Hajjaj. Now that Hajjaj was no more, the Caliph thought it was wise to call a halt in Sind. He knew almost nothing about the monumental talents of young Conqueror of Sind. This was pretty bad for the high spirits of a conquering army. But worse things were to follow.

In the year 715 Walid died. The new Caliph Suleman was deadly against the men who were close to Walid. Hajjaj was one of these men. But Hajjaj had died before Walid's death and Suleman's hands could not reach him so his hand fell heavily on the relatives and trusted men of Hajjaj.

Suleman's actions did much harm to the cause of Islam.

Under Walid, the Muslim Empire had expanded rapidly both in the East and the West. In the east Hajjaj and Mohammad bin Qasim carried the standard of Islam to the Indus Valley. In the west Musa bin Nusair and Tariq bin Ziyad carried this standard to Spain and from there to Southern France. Under Suleman the expansion suddenly stopped. The new Caliph dismissed the able generals who had made these conquests. The only fault of these heroes was that they had been appointed by Walid.

Suleman dismissed the brave young conqueror of Sind and sent a new governor in his place. The new Caliph ordered that Mohammad bin Qasim be put in chains and sent a prisoner to Iraq.

When these orders reached to Mohammad, the young hero was all powerful in Sind. He was loved by the army and the people alike. It was easy for him o disobey the Caliph. Nobody in Sind wanted him to go. He could throw off the nominal yoke of Suleman and become an independent ruler or even he gave up the command in Sind, he could refuse to be taken a prisoner. The people of Sind almost worshipped him. He could live here as a free citizen and no one could lay hands on him.

It was open to Mohammad to do any of these things. But he was a true son of Islam. The words of the Holy Quran;

"Obey Allaah and the Apostles and those from among you who have been raised to authority."


rang in his ears. He could not disobey the command of Allaah. Silently by boldly, he carried out the Caliph's orders. He knew what fate awaited him in Iraq. But he accepted his fate with a smile. With cool courage he gave up all he had won with his sword and allowed himself to be put in chains. He thereby set a lofty example of a keen sense of duty to Allaah and to his country.

As soon as Mohammad bin Qasim reached Iraq ,Salih shut him up in the prison at Wasit. No attempt was made to bring any charges against him. To be related to late Hajjaj was the worst crime in the eyes of the men in power. But even at this dark moment, the young hero was not sorry for himself. He was only sorry for his people.

The gallant young Conqueror of Sind never came out of prison. It is not known how he met his end, but he was certainly tortured to death.

At the time of death, Mohammad was in his early twenties(just 21). His sun set long before it was even midday. History will never forgive the men who committed this act of barbarity.

Mohammad bin Qasim is undoubtedly one of the noblest sons of Islam. The most remarkable thing about him is that he combines the innocence of youth with the highest level of achievement. He was hardly seventeen when he led an army into Sind. In a little more than three years he not only conquered whole Sind but also gave it a just and good government. History has very few examples to put beside this one.

One cannot help wondering at the ready obedience of Mohammad to an unjust order of the Caliph. Had he so chosen, he could easily have saved his life and his future. For all purposes he was the ruler of the lands he had conquered. The Caliph could not remove him by force. But Mohammad chose to respect the Caliph's authority even though he knew what it meant. He prized the unity of his people more than he prized his own life.

The cool courage with which the young hero met his unjust fate is beyond praise. He understood the temper of his age and without a word of bitterness, passed through the hardest of ordeals to which a man can be subjected.

Allaah's peace and blessings be on this gallant young conqueror of Sind who so selflessly worked for the glory of Allaah!