Q. With reference to the Arab conquest of Sindh in the 8th century CE, consider the following statements:
1.The primary motive of the Umayyad Caliphate’s expedition was solely religious conversion and the establishment of a permanent Islamic state.
2.The administration established in Sindh was relatively tolerant, granting the local Hindu and Buddhist populations the status of Zimmis (protected people).
3.The invasion led directly to the annexation of the entire Indus Valley region and its inclusion as a centrally administered province under the Umayyad Caliphate.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: A
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Incorrect. Incursions were “both a pursuit of riches and a part of the broader imperial strategy.” It was not solely
- Statement 2: Correct. Historical sources confirm that Muhammad bin Qasim adopted a policy of relative tolerance, granting the status of Zimmis to Hindus and Buddhists, allowing them to practice their religion in exchange for the Jizya
- Statement 3: Incorrect. The Arab rule was largely confined to Sindh and Multan, with little effort to expand beyond this frontier province into the rest of the Indian subcontinent.
