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No one in the early 8th century could have predicted

that the first chapter of Islam's history in India

would begin with a mere teenager.

But there, Muhammad bin al-Qasem was barely 17 years old, commanding troops at the very edge

of the Muslim world.

What lay beyond the Indus were the legacies of ancient civilizations, powerful local dynasties,

thriving Buddhist centers, fortified river cities, and maritime networks

that had shaped global trade for centuries. And into the uncertainty of this new world,

stepped our young hero. His mission would begin as a response to a border disturbance.

But Muhammad Ibn Al Qasim would eventually lead a conquest

laying the first foundation of Islam's presence in South Asia.

Let us set up the stage.

Since the time of Omar Radi al-Anne's rule, the Muslim world had been looking at India as the

next frontier of Muslim expansion. In fact, there's a

Hadith reported in the Sunan of a Nassai from Thouban, Radi al-Adi-A-N, in which the Prophet, Sallu'll Allah aili-a-u-Slam is reported to make doa for two groups of his Ummah that Allah will protect from the fire of hell. One group, he said, that will conquer Hind India and another group that will be

with Issa Bne Mariam. And in fact, minor skirmishes had already begun from the time of the

Khulafā'arashidun, a small town known as Kandabeel, which is now known as Gandava in

Balochistan. This town, by the way, connects its way to Moulton

and other areas. This town was actually conquered in the time of Omar,

...