Islam first reaches the subcontinent (India, Pakistan)

By 712AD (93AH), Islam had spread westwards from Makkathrough the Middle East, along
 the north coast of Africa, into Spain and even France. Eastwards, it had reached central Asia
Iran and Afghanistan. Arab traders were sailing to the coasts of India, Sri Lanka and even
 southeast Asia. Most of these ships sailed across the Persian Gulf and
 along the Makran coast.As they carried precious cargo, they were sometimes
attacked by pirates. Near the port of Daibul, not far from where Karachi now stands,
the pirates were especially fierce. In 71 DAD, they seized
an Arab ship that was carrying expensive gifts and slaves frcthe king of Sri Lanka to Caliph
Walid in Damascus.

Caliph Walid demanded that Raja Dahir of Sindh, should return the prisoners and treasures,
 but Dahir refused, saying he had no control over the pirates. The governor of the eastern Arab
empire then sent an army under the command of his 17-years
old nephew, Muhammad bin Qasim, to the region. Muhammad bin Qasim was a brave young man
 and a good leader. Led :' him, the army quickly captured Daibul and Raja Dahir was killed
in battle. The Arabs then marched inland along the Indus valley.



With the Surrender of Multan and Sehwan, Sindh and southern
Punjab now become Arab territory.

At first,the new territory was part of the Caliphate, but in 871AD it became two indepenjent
 Muslim states. Muhammad bin Qasim was recalled to Iraq, but Sindh continued as part of the
Arab Empire for the next 200 years,

Governors were appointed by the Arabs but actual administration was in the hands of the
local people, both Muslims and non-Muslims. Jizya (non-Muslim tax) and zakat (poor tax) were collected.
Qazis were appointed to resolve disputes between Muslims while non-Muslims referred their
problems to their own chiefs or priests.
Besides the construction of mosques, temples were also built and repaired.
The Arabs married among the Sindhis and settled down in Sindh, and the interaction
between the two races was a rich cultural blend, Arabic was the official language,
and Sindhi was the first eastern language for the translation of the Quran.

The rulers were good to the people of the country: they were allowed to worship as
they pleased, and most of the Hindu officials kept their jobs.
With the land now free from pirates, the number of Muslim traders increased rapidly.
As well as goods, they took back to Arabia and Persia, many new ideas, such as how
to navigate their ships by using the stars, and much knowledge about medicine.
They learned new things about mathematics, especially the use of 'zero' (0),
which later led to many important discoveries.


The Arabs learned a lot about astronomy

The Arabs allowed people to worship their own gods

There was a great increase in trade