✦ Historical Truth Behind the Spread of Islam in Sindh: A Critical Analysis ✦
Derived from: Fatawa of the Scholars of Hadith, Volume 9
❖ Secular Narrative and Its Evaluation:
The secular viewpoint asserts that Islam spread in Sindh solely through the efforts of Sufi saints, not through Arab rulers. While it is true that Sufis were representatives of Islam, this stance is driven by a particular ideological agenda.
✔ Origin of the Narrative:
The primary source of this view is Orientalist writers, especially Sir Thomas W. Arnold, whose book “The Preaching of Islam” assigns the success of Islamic propagation entirely to the Sufis.
✔ Underlying Strategy:
Arnold’s objective was not to refute the Islamophobic claim that Islam spread by the sword. Rather, he aimed to:
① Diminish the role of jihad and Muslim rulers like Muhammad bin Qasim
② Promote the idea that Islam can spread without any political or military struggle
❖ Orientalist Propaganda and Historical Distortion:
Western historians such as M.A. Tait and Lord Ellenborough falsely accused Muhammad bin Qasim of forcibly converting people and destroying temples.
But historical investigation proves the contrary.
Even James Fergusson, in “Islamic Architecture in India” (Jamia Osmania, 1932), debunks such propaganda through archaeological and historical evidence.
❖ Key Factors in the Spread of Islam in Sindh:
① Efforts of Arab Traders:
Their ethical conduct and integrity inspired admiration and conversion among locals.
② Tolerance of Muslim Rulers:
Conquests were accompanied by justice and kind treatment toward the native population.
③ Scholarly Contributions:
Ulema engaged in education and writing, guiding people through religious instruction.
④ Sufi Preaching and Spiritual Influence:
Sufis played a role through personal example, teachings, and miraculous experiences.
⑤ Islamic Equality and Brotherhood:
Islam’s message of egalitarianism appealed to the caste-ridden Hindu society.
⑥ Intellectual Debates and Public Dialogues:
Religious debates exposed the intellectual strength of Islam and attracted genuine seekers.
(N.C. Mehta, Islam ka Hissa Hindustani Tahzeeb Mein, p. 10, Nizami Press, Budaun, 1935)
❖ Special Focus: The Role of Arab Rule in Sindh
✔ Muhammad bin Qasim and the Arab Administration:
According to Raheem Dad Khan Molai Shedai in “Jannat al-Sindh”:
- Muhammad bin Qasim built mosques in major cities such as Debal, Nerun Kot, Multan, and Alor
- These mosques became centers of Islamic learning
- His era produced prominent scholars in Sindh
(Jannat al-Sindh, p. 102)
✔ Caliph ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz’s Visionary Efforts:
- He sent missionaries and muftis to Sindh to educate the local population about Islam.
- Many Hindu leaders, including Jay Singh bin Dahar, accepted Islam after receiving his letters.
(Jannat al-Sindh, p. 103)
✔ Propagation of the Qur’an:
- Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf initiated the addition of diacritical marks (iʿrāb) to the Qur’an, enabling non-Arabs to recite it.
- The first Sindhi translation of the Qur’an was done during the reign of Walid ibn ʿAbd al-Malik.
(Jannat al-Sindh, p. 102)
✔ Educational Legacy:
- According to Dr. Memon Abdul Majeed Sindhi, Sindh produced renowned scholars in Hadith, Fiqh, Tafsir, and other Islamic sciences.
(Sindh Sayāḥan Ji Nazar Mein, p. 21)
❖ Conclusion:
The spread of Islam in Sindh was not the result of a single factor but rather a comprehensive and coordinated effort involving:
✔ Traders
✔ Scholars
✔ Rulers
✔ Sufi Saints
While Sufis played a valuable role, their influence could not have reached the masses without the foundation laid by political stability and governance brought by Muslim rulers.
Thus, it is historically inaccurate and ideologically biased to attribute the spread of Islam solely to Sufis while ignoring the foundational role of Arab conquests and scholarly efforts.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
