Arab Invasion in India

The rise and growth of Islam has been considered as one of the most important events of the history of the world. Islam grew up in the desert of Arabia and its first converts, the Arabs, made it a powerful force in the Asian politics. Islam inspired a war-like spirit and national consciousness among the Arabs who decided to spread their religion and carry out military conquests across the globe. The successors of Prophet Muhammad were called Caliphs (Caliphs). It was under the Umayyad Caliphs that the Arabs succeeded in conquering Sindh.

The Arabs had been the ‘carriers of Indian trade’ with Europe for a very long time. After conversion to Islam, they cast their greedy eyes on the rich seaports of Western India and made a number of unsuccessful attempts to establish their foothold there.

Condition of India at the time of the Arab invasions

• Politically, India was divided into many states which were competing with each other. However, the division of India was not its chief weakness. India is a sub-continent and it was not possible to keep it under one rule at that time. Besides, even after its division, there were some extensive kingdoms at that time that were capable to meet the challenge of foreign aggressors. The weakness of India was not its division into many states but persistent fighting among them for power and glory.
• During the period under investigation, Afghanistan was ruled by Hindu kings. Politically and culturally it had been a part of India since the Mauryan period. Later on, it was divided into two kingdoms, viz., the kingdoms of Jabul and Kabul.
• The kingdom of Kabul extended up to the borders of Kashmir in the North-East and touched the borders of Persia in the West. The kingdom of Jabul was located between the territories of Baluchistan and the kingdom of Kabul.
• Being situated in the North-West of India, these kingdoms had to meet the challenge of the Muslims first. However, the Hindu rulers of these kingdoms succeeded in maintaining their independence till the end of 9th century CE Kashmir was also an independent state. It became a powerful state during the reign of Lalitaditya (725-755 CE) who even succeeded in defeating Yasovarman, the powerful Pratihara ruler of Kannauj. Yasovarman was also a powerful ruler of North India whose empire extended from East Punjab in the West of Bengal in the East and from the Himalayas in the North to the banks of the river Narmada in the South. The Pala dynasty ruled from Bengal. Thus, there were powerful states in North India at that time. Similarly, the Vakatakas, Pallavas, Pandyas, and the Cholas had strong kingdoms in the South.
• Even Sindh was an extensive kingdom whose boundary touched the border of Kashmir in the North, Kannauj in the East, and the Arabian Sea in the South. King Dahir captured the throne of Sindh after a contest against his cousin. Thus, he got little time to consolidate his position at the time of the invasion of the Arabs. Besides, his policy remained somewhat oppressive towards the Shudras from whom his family had snatched away the throne of Sindh and also towards the Jats of Sindh. Thus, Sindh suffered from internal rebellions and unstable rule and, thus, was comparatively a weak state of India at that time. But beyond the border of Sindh, there were powerful kingdoms in India, both in the North and the South, which though fought among themselves, were yet powerful enough to resist foreign invaders.
• The Indian society was divided into castes and sub-castes and generally inter-dining and inter-caste marriages were not allowed. Yet, the caste system had not grown very much rigid. Intercaste marriages, change of caste, and absorption of foreigners among Hindus were possible.
• Women did not enjoy equal rights with men, yet they occupied a respectable place in society. The Purdah system was not prevalent at that time. Women received education, participated in social and religious functions and even in administration, and had the right to choose their husbands. However, while a man could marry several women, the women enjoyed no such right. Besides, the Sati system was gaining popularity among the ruling class. The people observed high morality and the common people led a simple life.
• Education was also widely prevalent and besides religious education, all other subjects of the study were also taught to the students. At that time, Nalanda, Vallabhi, Kashi, Kanchi, etc. were great centers of learning. Hinduism was the most popular religion, though Buddhism was also fairly widespread.
• India was economically prosperous. Agriculture, trade and commerce, handicrafts and industries were all in a progressive stage which had brought all- round prosperity to India. Of course, the major share of this prosperity was enjoyed by the rich minority class, yet, the common people did not suffer economic hardships.
• Thus, politically, economically and culturally India did not suffer from any weakness at the time of the invasion of the Arabs. Yet, the rivalry and constant fighting of different rulers among themselves, indifference to improvement of their arms and fighting skills as compared to foreigners and lack of emotional unity for the country as a whole were the weaknesses which were slowly coming up and, when these were not attended to properly, it weakened India in the coming centuries and, finally, led to her defeat and disgrace by foreigners.