Mighty Raja Dahir’s Fierce Battle With Muhammad Bin Kasim — II
(Continued from Part I)
The battle between Raja Dahir and Muhammad bin Kasim raged on relentlessly, with both the armies suffering heavy losses. Raja Dahir’s warriors kept charging and engaging with the Arabs, column after column and Muhammad bin Kasim kept on exhorting the Muslim troops to fight in the name of God.
At one point, Raja Dahir took up his shield on the white elephant and charged at the enemy with 400 warriors, armed from head to toe, “bearing swords and iron shields and half lances with iron handles called sel in the Hindi language… and fought with such unceasing vigour that the skin of his mens’ hands cracked. Now and then Dahar made his elephant rush upon the enemy. He himself carried a circular disc in the form of a mirror with sharp knives. He threw it as men throw a noose at every one whether a horse, man, or a footsoldier who approached, and severed his head from his body.” [The Chachnama: Volume 1 (1900), P 130 — Translated from Persian by Mirza Kalichbeg Fredunbeg]
A ferocious Abyssinian soldier, whose “bravery was unbounded, and in the field of battle he had already worked miracles,” [The Chachnama: Volume 1 (1900), P 131 — Translated from Persian by Mirza Kalichbeg Fredunbeg] came to Muhammad bin Kasim and swore that he would not eat or drink till he fought Raja Dahir and wounded his elephant.
The Abyssinian charged on his black horse towards Raja Dahir to engage with him in battle. Raja Dahir also charged his elephant towards the Abyssinian. As the Abyssinian spurred his horse towards Raja Dahir, the horse became frightened of Raja Dahir’s elephant and tried to steer away to another side. The Abyssinian immediately took off his turban and tied it upon the horse’s eyes and charged at the elephant. He made a forceful blow and wounded the elephant’s trunk. “Rai Dahar placed a bifurcated arrow of the shape of scissors on his bow string, and with his usual firmness and skill discharged it at the Abyssinian, and it sheered off the Abyssinian’s head from his neck, his body still remaining on the horse.” [The Chachnama: Volume 1 (1900), P 131 — Translated from Persian by Mirza Kalichbeg Fredunbeg]
As Raja Dahir loudly announced the beheading of the Abyssinian soldier, his warriors approached and found the Abyssinian’s body collapsed on the saddle of the horse. Fired by their king’s aggression and expert warfare, the warriors of Raja Dahir charged at the Arabs from all directions. “Thus the infidels made a rush on the Arabs from all sides, and fought so steadily and bravely that the army of Islam became irresolute, and their lines were broken up in great confusion. It was generally believed that the Arabs were defeated and put to flight, and men were struck dumb and overawed.” [The Chachnama: Volume 1 (1900), P 131 — Translated from Persian by Mirza Kalichbeg Fredunbeg]
Distraught and perplexed at the sudden turn of events, Muhammad bin Kasim called for his water-boy and after drinking water, exhorted his soldiers to fight and not run away from the battlefield. He shouted loudly, “Here am I, your commander Muhammad Kasim. Whither are you running away. Up with your shields and on to the attack, that the infidels may be killed and victory be ours.” [The Chachnama: Volume 1 (1900), P 131 — Translated from Persian by Mirza Kalichbeg Fredunbeg] He rallied all his forces to fight in the name of the Islamic God and ordered them to assault Raja Dahir’s men.
Raja Dahir’s valiant warriors held their positions firmly, as they sensed that victory was very near. The battle raged furiously for the entire day as the “flourishes of brilliant swords caused flames of fire to appear in the air, and swords and lances struck against one another till they broke. Then the men began to wrestle and tussle with one another.” [The Chachnama: Volume 1 (1900), P 132 — Translated from Persian by Mirza Kalichbeg Fredunbeg] Huge numbers of soldiers were killed on both sides in the fierce battle that went on till the evening.
Raja Dahir’s Unpredictable Martyrdom While Defending Sindh
Unfortunately, as Raja Dahir was seated atop his elephant, he was also an easy target for the archers and naptha-shooters of the Arab army.
In the middle of the raging battle, as Raja Dahir charged yet again towards the Arabs, one of Muhammad’s naptha-shooters aimed and shot a naptha-arrow at Raja Dahir’s elephant. The arrow hit the mark and the elephant’s howdah or saddle caught fire. The elephant panicked and rushed towards the lake in confusion and plunged into the water and there was commotion in Raja Dahir’s troops. As the elephant came out of the water, some Muslim archers shot a volley of arrows at Raja Dahir,”one of which pierced his heart and he fell with his head downwards” [The Chachnama: Volume 1 (1900), P 133 — Translated from Persian by Mirza Kalichbeg Fredunbeg] on the back of the elephant.
As the news of Raja Dahir’s fall spread like wildfire among his soldiers and warriors, they were bewildered and disarrayed. In the confusion and chaos that ensued, the Arabs fell upon them and overpowered them completely.
Thus, with this sudden and unfortunate turn of events, the mighty and powerful king Raja Dahir, who had nearly won the battle for Sindh, was martyred after a furious battle with the invading army.
