Muhammad ibn Qasim

Muhammad ibn Qasim, at age 17, led the Umayyad army to conquer the Sindh region (present-day Pakistan). He defeated King Dahir at the Battle of Aror, establishing Umayyad rule in South Asia and introducing Islamic governance to the Indian subcontinent.

Ibn Qasim granted protected status (dhimmi) to Hindus and Buddhists in Sindh, allowing them to practice their religions in exchange for a tax. This policy set a precedent for religious tolerance under early Islamic rule in India.

Ibn Qasim besieged and captured the city of Multan after a prolonged siege. The conquest secured Umayyad control over the Indus Valley and opened trade routes, with Multan becoming a key center of Islamic culture in the region.

After the death of Caliph al-Walid I, the new caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik recalled Ibn Qasim to Damascus. Ibn Qasim was imprisoned and died under unclear circumstances, possibly executed, ending his brief but impactful career.