PAKISTAN'S HISTORY AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

ADVENT OF ISLAM IN THE SUBCONTINENT
Trade relations between Arabia and the subcontinent dated back to ancient times. Long before the advent of Islam in Arabia, the Arabs used to visit the coast of southern India, which then provided the link between the ports of south and Southeast Asia. After the Arab traders became Muslim, they brought Islam to South Asia. A number of local Indians living in the coastal areas embraced Islam. However, it was the Muslim conquests in Persia, including the provinces of Kirman and Makran, which brought the Arabs face to face with the then ruler of Sindh, who had allied with the ruler of Makran against the Muslims. But, it was not until the sea-borne trade of the Arabs in the Indian Ocean was jeopardized that serious attempts were made to subjugate Sindh.
The initial entry of Islam into India came in the first century after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Umayyad caliph in Damascus sent an expedition to Balochistan and Sindh in 711 led by Muhammad bin Qasim (for whom Karachi's second port is named). An autonomous Muslim state linked with the Umayyad and later the Abbassid Caliphate was established with jurisdiction extending over southern and central parts of present Pakistan.20 Quite a few new cities were established and Arabic was introduced as the official language.21 Coastal trade and the presence of a Muslim colony in Sindh, however, permitted significant cultural exchanges and the introduction into the subcontinent of saintiy teachers. Muslim influence grew with conversions.

During the reign of the great Umayyad Caliph Walid bin Abdui Malik, Hajjaj bin Yousaf was appointed as the governor of the Eastern Provinces. At that time, Raja Dahir, a Brahman, ruled Sindh and was known to be unpopular with his subjects. He also gave protection to pirates who were active on the coastal areas and
whenever they got a chance, they plundered the ships passing by Daibul. During those times, some Muslim traders living in Ceylon died and the ruler of Ceylon sent their widows and orphans back to Baghdad. They made their journey by sea, and as their eight-ship caravan passed by the seaport of Daibul, Sindhi pirates looted it and took the women and children prisoner.

When news of this attack reached Hajjaj, he demanded that Dahir return the Muslim captives and the looted items. He also demanded that the culprits be punished. Dahir replied that he hadno control over the pirates and was, therefore, powerless to rebuke them. On this Hajaj decided to invade Sindh. Two small expeditions

sent by him failed to accomplish their goal. Thus, in order to free the prisoners and to punish the guilty party, Hajaj decided to undertake a huge offensive against Dahir, who was patronizing the pirates.