Heroes of Islam

عید مبارک♥
تقبل اللہ منا ومنکم

اللہ اکبر اللہ اکبر لا الہ الا اللہ اللہ اکبر اللہ اکبر وللہ الحمد
اللہ اکبر کبیرا
والحمدللہ کثیرا
وسبحان اللہ بکرةواصیلا
اللہ اکبراللہ اکبر
لا الہ الا اللہ
اللہ اکبر اللہ اکبر وللہ الحمد
اللہ اکبر کبیرا
والحمدللہ کثیرا
وسبحان اللہ بکرةواصیلا
اللہ اکبر اللہ اکبر
لا الہ الا اللہ اللہ اکبر اللہ اکبر وللہ الحمد
اللہ اکبر کبیرا
والحمدللہ کثیرا
وسبحان اللہ بکرةواصیلا

Eiddddddddd Mubarakkkkkkkkkk ...

تقبل الله منا و منکم

Taqqabbal Allah Mina wa Minkum. Ameen


May Allah accept all our good deeds that we performed this Ramadan, increase us in Eman and Taqwa and give us the opportunities to continue doing good at all times.

Aameen

EID MUBARAK to all of you on this page!! :) May you all have a very blessed day full of happiness and may Allah's Rehmat and Mercy surround you all!! :)

Remember me and the Ummah in your humble and sincere Dua's.. take care..
stay safe :) ♥ :)

Ya Allah! Give me the strength:
To Worship & Obey You
To Love You & Fear You
To follow our Prophet(PBUH) & his Sunnah
To have Sabr & love all Muslims
To hold my tongue & have Hayah
To read the Qur'an & not forget it
To listen to You & proudly wear Hijaab/Beard
To spread the Deen & Help Others
And strive for Jannah and live only to please You
Ameen Summa Ameen Ya RAb Ul Alameen..! ٠•●♥

ღღ Piyaray ♥ Nabi ♥ Ki ♥ Piyari ♥ Batain ღღ السَـــــــلاَمُ عَلَيــْــكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَب?

Islam The Vision Of Truth May peace mercy and blessings of Allah be on you all

In shaa Allah i will work for Allah's sake wi

Inspirational Islamic Quotes Brother's and Sister's copy page link and promote ......... JazakALLAH Khair ....

Allah is the Greatest, Allah the Master of universe. This Fan Page DOES NOT belong to any political or any particular sect or denomination. The main aim

Muhammad bin Qasim

Born 31 December 695
Ta’if
Died 18 July 715
Allegiance Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, Governor to the Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid I
Rank Emir
Battles/wars Conquest of Sindh and West Punjab for the Umayyads.

Muhammad bin Qasim Al-Thaqafi (Arabic: محمد بن قاسم) (c. 31 December 695–18 July 715) was a Umayyad general who, at the age of 17, began the conquest of the Sindh and Punjab regions along the Indus River (now a part of Pakistan) for the Umayyad Caliphate. He was born in the city of Taif (in modern day Saudi Arabia). Qasim's conquest of Sindh and Punjab laid the foundations of Islamic rule in the Indian subcontinent.

A member of the Thaqeef tribe, which is still settled in and around the city of Taif, Muhammad bin Qasim's father was Qasim bin Yusuf[citation needed] who died when Muhammad bin Qasim was young, leaving his mother in charge of his education. Umayyad governor Al-Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf Al-Thaqafi, Muhammad bin Qasim's paternal uncle, was instrumental in teaching Muhammad bin Qasim about warfare and governance. Muhammad bin Qasim married his cousin Zubaidah, Hajjaj's daughter, shortly before going to Sindh. Another paternal uncle of Muhammad bin Qasim was Muhammad bin Yusuf, governor of Yemen.[citation needed] Under Hajjaj's patronage, Muhammad bin Qasim was made governor of Persia, where he succeeded in putting down a rebellion.[citation needed]

Umayyad interest in Sindh


According to Berzin, Umayyad interest in the region because of attack of Sindh Raja Dahir on ships of Muslims and imprisoning the muslim men and womens ref name="berzin">Alexander Berzin, "Part I: The Umayyad Caliphate (661 - 750 CE), The First Muslim Incursion into the Indian Subcontinent", The Historical Interaction between the Buddhist and Islamic Cultures before the Mongol Empire Last accessed September 11, 2007 They had earlier unsuccessfully sought to gain control of the route, via the Khyber Pass, from the Turki-Shahis of Gandhara.[1] But by taking Sindh, Gandhara's southern neighbor, they were able to open a second front against Gandhara; a feat they had, on occasion, attempted before.[1]

According to Wink, Umayyad interest in the region was galvanized by the operation of the Mids and others.[2] Mids(a tribe of Scythians living in Sindh) had preyed upon Sassanid shipping in the past, from the mouth of the Tigris to the Sri Lankan coast, in their bawarij and now were able to prey on Arab shipping from their bases at Kutch, Debal and Kathiawar.[2] At the time, Sindh was the wild frontier region of al-Hind, inhabited mostly by semi-nomadic tribes whose activities disturbed much of the Western Indian Ocean.[2] Muslim sources insist that it was these persistent activities along increasingly important Indian trade routes by Debal pirates and others which forced the Arabs to subjugate the area, in order to control the seaports and maritime routes of which Sindh was the nucleus, as well as, the overland passage.[3] During Hajjaj's governorship, the Mids of Debal in one of their raids had kidnapped Muslim women travelling from Sri Lanka to Arabia, thus providing a casus belli to the rising power of the Umayyad Caliphate that enabled them to gain a foothold in the Makran, Balochistan and Sindh regions.[2][4]

Also cited as a reason for this campaign was the policy of providing refuge to Sassanids fleeing the Arab advance and to Arab rebels from the Umayyad consolidation of their rule.

All the above reason have their own importance for attack on sindh. But Immediate causes of the conquest of the Sindh was the plunder of the gifts of Ceylon’s ruler to Hijjaj and attack on ships of Arab that were carring the orphans and widows of Muslim soldiers who died in Jihaad against Africa. These arab were imprisoned later on by the Governor Deebal Partaab Raye. A letter written by the an escaped girl from the arab that are put in the prison of the Partab Raye. She asked Hajjab Bin Yousaf for help. When Hijjaj asked Dahir for release of prisoners and compensation, the later refused on the ground that he had no control over those. Hajjaj sent Muhammad Bin Qasim for this great exepidation in 711 A.D. It was during this time when Spain and many parts of Africa and Central Asia were brought under the Muslim rule and war was continue and muslims were not in position to start a new expidation. The only reason of this conquest was to rescue pilgrims that were taken captive by Hindu governor.

The mawali; new non-Arab converts; who were usually allied with Hajjaj's political opponents and thus were frequently forced to participate in the Jihads on the frontier - such as Kabul, Sindh and Transoxania.[5] Through conquest, the Umayyads intended to protect its maritime interest, while also cutting off refuge for fleeing rebel chieftains as well as Sindhi military support to the Sassanid rump state; akin to those received at several prior major battles during the their conquest of Persia - such as those at Salasal and Qādisiyyah and the finally at the Battle of Rasil. An actual push into the region had been out of favor as an Arab policy since the time of the Rashidun Caliph Umar bin Khattab, who upon receipt of reports of it being an inhostipable and poor land had stopped further expeditionary ventures into the region.

The campaign

Muhammad bin Qasim's expedition was actually the third attempt, the first having failed due to stiffer-than-expected opposition as well as heat, exhaustion.[citation needed]

Hajjaj had put more care and planning into this campaign than the first campaign [5] under Badil bin Tuhfa.[citation needed] Hajjaj superintended this campaign from Kufa by maintaining close contact with Muhammad bin Qasim in the form of regular reports and then regularly issuing orders.[5] The army which departed from Shiraz in 710 CE under Muhammad bin Qasim was 6,000 Syrian cavalry and detachments of mawali from Iraq.[5] At the borders of Sindh he was joined by an advance guard and six thousand camel riders and later reinforcements from the governor of Makran transferred directly to Debal by sea along with five catapults.[5] The army that eventually captured Sindh would later be swelled by the Jats and Mids as well as other irregulars that heard of successes in Sindh.[5] When Muhammad bin Qasim passed through Makran while raising forces, he had to re-subdue the restive Umayyad towns of Fannazbur and Arman Belah (Lasbela)[6] The first town assaulted was Debal and upon the orders of Al-Hajjaj, he exacted a bloody retribution on Debal by giving no quarter to its residents or priests and destroying its great temple.[5]

From Debal the Arab army then marched north taking towns such as Nerun and Sadusan (Sehwan) peacefully.[5] Again the main temples were razed and masjid were built to replace them, often using their components; additionally one-fifth of the b***y including slaves were dispatched to Hajjaj and the Caliph.[5] The conquest of these towns was accomplished easily; however, Raja Dahir's armies being prepared on the other side of the Indus[7] were yet to be fought.[5] In preparation to meet them, Muhammad bin Qasim moved back to Nerun to resupply and receive reinforcements sent by Hajjaj.[5] Camped on the east bank of the Indus, Qasim sent emissaries and bargained with the river Jats and boatmen.[5] Upon securing the aid of Mokah Basayah, "the King of the island of Bet", Muhammad bin Qasim crossed over the river where he was joined by the forces of the Thakore of Bhatta and the western Jats.[5]

At Ar-rur (Rohri) he was met by Dahir's forces and the eastern Jats in battle.[5] Dahir died in the battle, his forces were defeated and a triumphant Muhammad bin Qasim took control of Sind.[5] In the wake of the battle enemy soldiers were put to death - but not artisans, merchants or farmers - and Dahir and his chiefs, the "daughters of princes" and the usual fifth of the b***y and slaves was sent on to Hajjaj.[5] Soon the capitals of the other provinces, Brahmanabad, Alor (Aror) and Multan, were captured alongside other in-between towns with only light Muslim casualties.[5] Usually after a siege of a few weeks or months the Arabs gained a city through the intervention of heads of mercantile houses with whom subsequent treaties and agreements would be settled.[5] After battles all fighting men were executed and their wives and children enslaved in considerable numbers and the usual fifth of the b***y and slaves were sent to Hajjaj.[5] The general populace was encouraged to carry on with their trades and taxes and tributes settled.[5]

With Sindh secured Qasim sent expeditions to Surashtra, where his generals made peaceful treaty settlements with the Rashtrakuta.[1] Muhammad bin Qasim wrote out letters to "kings of Hind" to surrender and accept Islam, and subsequently 10,000 cavalry were sent to Kannauj asking them to submit and pay tribute before his recall ended the campaign.[5]


Military and political strategy


The military strategy had been outlined by Hajjaj in a letter sent to Muhammad bin Qasim:[8]
“ "My ruling is given: Kill anyone belonging to the combatants (ahl-i-harb); arrest their sons and daughters for hostages and imprison them. Whoever does not fight against us..grant them aman (safety) and settle their tribute (amwal) as dhimmah (protected person)..." ”

The Arabs' first concern was to facilitate the conquest of Sindh with the fewest casualties while also trying to preserve the economic infrastructure.[8] Towns were given two options: submit to Islamic authority peacefully or be attacked by force (anwattan), with the choice governing their treatment upon capture.[8] The capture of towns was usually accomplished by means of a treaty with a party from among the enemy, who were then extended special privileges and material rewards.[9] There were two types of such treaties, "Sulh" or "ahd-e-wasiq (capitulation)" and "aman (surrender/ peace)".[9] Among towns and fortresses that were captured through force of arms, Muhammad bin Qasim performed executions as part of his military strategy, but they were limited to the ahl-i-harb (fighting men), whose surviving dependents were also enslaved.[9]

Where resistance was strong, prolonged and intensive, often resulting in considerable Arab casualties, Muhammad bin Qasim's response was dramatic, inflicting 6,000 deaths at Rawar, between 6,000 and 26,000 at Brahmanabad, 4,000 at Iskalandah and 6,000 at Multan.[10] Conversely, in areas taken by sulh, such as Armabil, Nirun, and Aror, resistance was light and few casualties occurred.[10] Sulh appeared to be Muhammad bin Qasim's preferred mode of conquest, the method used for more than 60% of the towns and tribes recorded by Baladhuri or the Chachnama.[10] At one point, he was actually berated by Hajjaj for being too lenient.[10] Meanwhile, the common folk were often pardoned and encouraged to continue working;[9] Hajajj ordered that this option not be granted to any inhabitant of Daybul, yet Qasim still bestowed it upon certain groups and individuals.[10]

After each major phase of his conquest, Muhammad bin Qasim attempted to establish law and order in the newly-conquered territory by showing religious tolerance and incorporating the ruling class – the Brahmins and Shramanas – into his administration.[9]

Reasons for success

Muhammad bin Qasim's success has been partly ascribed to Dahir being an unpopular Hindu king ruling over a Buddhist majority who saw Chach of Alor and his kin as usurpers of the Rai Dynasty.[4] This is attributed to having resulted in support being provided by Buddhists and inclusion of rebel soldiers serving as valuable infantry in his cavalry-heavy force from the Jat and Meds.[11] Brahman, Buddhist, Greek, and Arab testimony however can be found that attests towards amicable relations between the adherents of the two religions up to the 7th century.[12]

Along with this were:

1. Superior military equipment; such as siege engines and the Mongol bow.[4]
2. Troop discipline and leadership.[4]
3. The concept of Jihad as a morale booster.[4]
4. Religion; the widespread belief in the prophecy of Muslim success.[4][12]
5. The Samanis being persuaded to submit and not take up arms because the majority of the population was Buddhist who were dissatisfied with their rulers, who were Hindu.[12]
6. The laboring under disabilities of the Lohana Jats.[12]
7. Defections from among Dahirs chiefs and nobles

Administration by Muhammad bin Qasim

After the conquest, Muhammad bin Qasim's task was to set up an administrative structure for a stable Muslim state that incorporated a newly conquered alien land, inhabited by non-Muslims.[13] He adopted a conciliatory policy, asking for acceptance of Muslim rule by the natives in return for non-interference in their religious practice,[13] so long as the natives paid their taxes and tribute.[4] He established Islamic Sharia law over the people of the region; however, Hindus were allowed to rule their villages and settle their disputes according to their own laws,[4] and traditional hierarchical institutions, including the Village Headmen (Rais) and Chieftains (dihqans) were maintained.[13] A Muslim officer called an amil was stationed with a troop of cavalry to manage each town on a hereditary basis [13]

Everywhere taxes (mal) and tribute (kharaj) were settled and hostages taken - occasionally this also meant the custodians of temples.[9] Non-Muslim natives were excused from military service and from payment of the religiously mandated tax system levied upon Muslims called Zakat,[13] the tax system levied upon them instead was the jizya - a progressive tax, being heavier on the upper classes and light for the poor.[13] In addition, three percent of government revenue was allocated to the Brahmins.[4]
[edit] Incorporation of ruling elite into administration

During his administration, Hindus and Buddhists were inducted into the administration as trusted advisors and governors.[4] A Hindu, Kaksa, was at one point the second most important member of his administration.[14] Dahir's prime minister and various chieftains were also incorporated into the administration.[15]

Religious Policy

Records from the campaign recorded in the Chach Nama record temple demolitions, and mass executions of resisting Sindhi forces and the enslavement of their dependents. This action was particularly extensive in Debal, of which Qasim is reported to have been under orders to make an example of while freeing both the captured women and the prisoners of a previous failed expedition. Bin Qasim then enlisted the support of the local Jat, Meds and Bhutto tribes and began the process of subduing and conquering the countryside. The capture of towns was also usually accomplished by means of a treaty with a party from among his "enemy", who were then extended special privileges and material rewards.[19] However, his superior Hajjaj reportedly objected to his method by saying that it would make him look weak and advocated a more hardline military strategy :
“ It appears from your letter that all the rules made by you for the comfort and convenience of your men are strictly in accordance with religious law. But the way of granting pardon prescribed by the law is different from the one adopted by you, for you go on giving pardon to everybody, high or low, without any discretion between a friend and a foe. The great God says in the Koran [47.4]: "0 True believers, when you encounter the unbelievers, strike off their heads." The above command of the Great God is a great command and must be respected and followed. You should not be so fond of showing mercy, as to nullify the virtue of the act. Henceforth grant pardon to no one of the enemy and spare none of them, or else all will consider you a weak-minded man.[20] ”

In a subsequent communication, Hajjaj reiterated that all able-bodied men were to be killed, and that their underage sons and daughters were to be imprisoned and retained as hostages. Qasim obeyed, and on his arrival at the town of Brahminabad massacred between 6,000 and 16,000 of the defending forces.[21] The historian, Upendra Thakur records the persecution of Hindus and Buddhists:
“ When Muhammad Qasim invaded Sind in 711 AD, Buddhism had no resistance to offer to their fire and steel. The rosary could not be a match for the sword and the terms Love and Peace had no meaning to them. They carried fire and sword wherever they went and obliterated all that came their way. Muhammad triumphantly marched into the country, conquering Debal, Sehwan, Nerun, Brahmanadabad, Alor and Multan one after the other in quick succession, and in less than a year and a half, the far-flung Hindu kingdom was crushed, the great civilization fell back and Sind entered the darkest period of its history. There was a fearful outbreak of religious bigotry in several places and temples were wantonly desecrated. At Debal, the Nairun and Aror temples were demolished and converted into mosques. Resistors were put to death and women made captives. The Jizya was exacted with special care. Hindus were required to feed Muslim travellers for three days and three nights.[22]

Death

Muhammad bin Qasim had begun preparations for further expansions when Hajjaj died, as did Caliph Al-Walid I, who was succeeded by Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik, who then took revenge against all who had been close to Hajjaj. Sulayman owed political support to opponents of Hajjaj and so recalled both of Hajjaj's successful generals Qutaibah bin Muslim and Qasim. He also appointed Yazid ibn al-Muhallab, once tortured by Hajjaj and a son of Al Muhallab ibn Abi Suffrah, as the governor of Fars, Kirman, Makran, and Sindh; he immediately placed Qasim in chains.[23]

There are two different accounts regarding the details of Qasim's fate:

1. The account from the Chachnama narrates a tale in which Qasims demise is attributed to the daughters of King Dahir who had been taken captive during the campaign. Upon capture they had been sent on as presents to the Khalifa for his harem. The account relates that they then tricked the Khalifa into believing that Muhammad bin Qasim had violated them before sending them on and as a result of this subterfuge, Muhammad bin Qasim was wrapped in oxen hides,[24] and returned to Syria, which resulted in his death en route from suffocation. This narrative attributes their motive for this subterfuge to securing vengeance for their father's death. Upon discovering this subterfuge, the Khalifa is recorded to have been filled with remorse and ordered the sisters buried alive in a wall.[25][26]
2. The Persian historian Baladhuri, however, states that the new Khalifa was a political enemy of Umayyad ex-governor Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, Muhammad bin Qasim’s paternal uncle and thus persecuted all those who were considered close to Hajjaj. Muhammad bin Qasim was therefore recalled in the midst of a campaign of capturing more territory up north. Upon arrival, he was howevere promptly imprisoned in Mosul, (in modern day Iraq) and subjected to torture, resulting in his death.[4][26]

Whichever account is true, is unknown. What is known however is that he was 20 years old when he was killed by his own Caliph. None have read the tombstone marking his grave for none know where he lies.

Muhammad bin Qasim had a son named Umro bin Muhammad who later became governor of Sindh.

Legacy

* Qasim's presence and rule was very brief. His conquest for the Umayyads brought Sindh into the orbit of the Muslim world.[29]

* The next Arab governor died on arrival. Dahir's son Jaisiah recaptured Brahmanabad and c. 720, he was granted pardon and included in the administration in return for converting to Islam. Soon, however, he recanted and split off when the Umayyads were embroiled in a succession crisis. Later, Junaid Ibn Abdur Rahman al-Marri killed Jaisiah and recaptured the territory before his successors once again struggled to hold and keep it. During the Abassid period, c. 870, the local emirs shook off all allegiance to the caliphs and by the 10th century the region was split into two weak states, Mansurah on the lower Indus and Multan on the upper Indus, which were soon captured by Ismailis who set up an independent Fatimid state.[4][30] These successor states did not achieve much and shrank in size. The Arab conquest remained checked in what is now the south of Pakistan for three centuries by powerful Hindu monarchs to the north and east until the arrival of Mahmud of Ghazni.[31]

* Coastal trade and a Muslim colony in Sindh allowed for cultural exchanges and the arrival of Sufi missionaries to expand Muslim influence.[32] From Debal, which remained an important port until the 12th century, commercial links with the Persian Gulf and the Middle East intensified as Sindh became the "hinge of the Indian Ocean Trade and overland passway."[29]

* Port Qasim, Pakistan's second major port is named in honor of Muhammad bin Qasim.[33]

* Yom-e-Babul Islam is observed in Pakistan, in honor of Muhammad bin Qasim.[34]

Tipu Sultan


Saringapattam, the capital of Mysore, was surrounded on all sides by the formidable invading forces, comprising the British, the Marhattas and the Nizam. This triple alliance strengthened by the subversive activities of the state traitors had compelled the "Lion of Mysore", as he was called, to make a strategic retreat and fall back to defend his capital. The alien generals had conspired with some of the highest dignitaries of the state to storm the capital on an appointed day when, as pre-planned, one of the principal traitors, Mir Sadiq, started distributing salaries to the state soldiers. Just at that moment, the alien forces stormed the opening in the front wall guarded by zealous soldiers, many of whom had been summoned to receive their pay, and entered the fort without much resistance.
The Sultan was taking his lunch, when he was informed of the treachery of his trusted officers and the entry of the alien forces. Leaving his meals aside and with sword in hand, he rushed forth towards the danger spot. He gallantly fought a hand to hand fight. In the heat of the battle, he was advised to accept the British offer of subsidiary alliance. But the reply which the lion-hearted Tipu gave will go down as the most chivalrous recorded in history. He said: `One days's life of a lion is preferable to hundred years' existence of a jackal'. With these words he fought heroically to the last drop of his blood and became a martyr to the cause of national freedom.
Tipu Sultan, one of the most talented, valiant and enlightened monarchs that India has produced, was destined to struggle against heavy odds at a time when the British power had, to a great extent, established its supremacy over the major pat of the subcontinent and had successfully conspired with the Marhattas and the Nizam to overcome the only formidable hurdle in the south--- the Muslim state of Mysore. Tipu Sultan put up a gallant fight against much superior forces. But, for the treachery of his own men, the history of the subcontinent would have been different from what it has been during the last 150 years.
Sultan Fateh Ali Khan Padshah, popularly known as Tipu Sultan, was born on November 21, 1750 at Devanhali, a small town near Bangalore. He was the eldest son of Haider Ali, the ruler of Mysore. He was named Tipu after the name of Tipu Mastan, a saint of Arcot, whose tomb Haider Ali and his wife had visited a few months before Tipu's birth and prayed for the birth of a son.
Young Tipu was given the best possible education by his father, who employed competent teachers for the purpose. He soon became well versed in different branches of learning and could speak Urdu, Persian and Arabic very fluently. He received excellent coaching in the art of war from Ghazi Khan, an experienced warrior. Even in his young age, the prince used to attend military parades and reviews along with his father.
Tipu Sultan married three wives one after another. After the death in 1797 of his last and favourite wife Khadija Zamani Begum, a lady of great culture and scholarship, he remained a widower for the rest of his life. He was an affectionate father and an obdeient son of his mother, who exercised tremendous influence over him.
Tipu, during the time when he was a prince, made no mean contribution to the victories of his father over the British and the Marhattas on several occasions. In fact, he was the right hand man of his father in almost all the campaigns which he fought during his last days. The swift movements of Tipu Sultan surprised the enemy in several sectors and led to his victories. He was a terror for the English army. English mothers used to silence their naughty children by terrorizing them: `Tipu has come; be silent'.
Even during his teens, Tipu Sultan exhibited dauntless courage and great military skill in wars waged by his father, who was proud of him and conferred on him the command of 200 horses, later increased to 500, and also gave him several districts as `Jagir'.
On June 19, 1767, Tipu Sultan was given his first military assignment. He joined his father, who was in a precarious position. By his swift movements, he dodged the British Generals who tried their best to intercept him. This resulted in the conquest of the forts of Tirppatur and Vaniyambadi.
Later, he was ordered to rush to the help of Lutf Ali Beg who was fighting against the British forces on the Malabar coast. The prince captured the Mangalore fort from the English who retreated towards Madras, in great panic.
During Haider Ali's compaigns against the Mahrattas (1769-78), Tipu played a heroic role in harassing, defeating and recapturing a ceded property from the enemy. In July 1780, when Haider Ali with his 80,000 men came down like an avalanche on the plains of Carnatic, Tipu Sultan was deputed to intercept Colonel Baillie's forces that had made a bold bid to join the main British forces and inflicted on them a crushing defeat. Colonel Baillie, along with 150 soldiers, was taken prisoner. Sir Thomas Munroe described the disaster of Colonel Baillie's army as `the severest blow that the English ever sustained in India'. `Had Haider Ali followed up his success at that time to the gates of Madras', writes Sir Eyre Coote, `he would have been in possession of the most important fortress', and the history of southern India would have taken a different turn. But, instead, he hurried to capture Arcot and, thus, let slip from his hands the prospects of dominating southern India.
Another notable achievement of prince Tipu Sultan was his victory over the British Commander, Colonel Braithwaite, on February 18, 1782 at Tanjore which seriously foiled British designs in this area. Tipu Sultan was engaged in the seige of Ponnani, when he received the news of his father's death. He hurried to Chittoor, the place where his father, Haider Ali, had died and reached there on December 26, 1782. There, at the age of 32, he ascended the throne and succeeded to a large principality bordered by river Krishna in the north, by the Arabian Sea in the west, by the Eastern Ghats in the east and by the state of Travancore in the south.
Tipu's life mission was to save his country from the machinations and political domination of a foreign power, which, with its political intrigues, had established its supremacy over the major part of India and was now threatening his own state of Mysore. His whole life and his entire efforts were directed towards the fulfilment of this mission of saving his motherland from being dominated by a foreign power. He had seen with his own eyes how this foreign power had step by step established its power over different states of India by entangling them into a Subsidiary System. Tipu Sultan was made of a different metal. He was a farsighted ruler, who could foresee the danger ahead and like a true patriot he waged war against the evil forces which had conspired against the freedom of his country and even sacrificed his life at last. He implored other Indian states, the Mahrattas and the Nizam to sink their differences and unitedly face the common danger against their country. He even sought the help of foreign powers like Turkey and France for driving out the British from India, as he rightly considered them the greatest Imperialist Power in the world which, later, proved to be the greatest threat to the unity and glory of Islam in the world.
Practically, the whole life of Tipu Sultan was spent in warfare. He was a real "Mujahid" and a true patriot, who fought against the enemies of his state and his country. Despite his troubled life, the extent of reforms introduced by him in different departments of his government and the social life of his people, is simply amazing. This places him at par with the most enlightened and progressive monarchs of the world. Despite the heavy drain on the national exchequer due to his incessant warfare, his people passed a happy and prosperous life. Being a true Muslim, he was not only just but generous towards the minorities. His subjects both Muslims and non-Muslims were happy and contented.
Tipu Sultan was a great warrior and an outstanding general. He was the hero of hundreds of battles in which he had inflicted crushing defeats on his enemies. The British forces had suffered some of their worst military disasters in India at his hands. He successfully adopted the military strategy of swift movement and sudden surprise blitzkrieg against his enemies who would either surrender or retreat in panic.
On his accession, he found formidable forces arrayed against him. The Marhattas tied up with the British by subsidiary alliance, were jealous of their machinations. The Nizam, on the other hand, was won over by the clever Lord Cornwallis on the promise of being granted the conquered territory of Tipu Sultan.
Thus the triple alliance of the Mahrattas, the Nizam and the British formed against the rising power of Mysore, was, in reality, aimed at achieving British supremacy in India, which the two shortsighted Indian partners could not foresee. Among the Indian chiefs, Tipu Sultan alone had the vision to foresee the danger of foreign domination and he staked his all to expel it from India.
Earlier, the British Governor-General Warren Hastings had concluded treaties with the Mahratta chief and the Treaty of Salbai in May 1782, brought to an end the Anglo-Mahratta hostilities. Then his entire diplomacy was directed against the rising Muslim power of Mysore which led to the second Anglo-Mysore war.
Soon after his accession, Tipu's territories on the Malabar coast were threatened by British forces under the command of General Matthews. The treachery of the Mysore Governor Ayaz led to the surrender of Badnur on January 28, 1783. Luft Ali Beg, who was sent by Tipu Sultan for the defence of Badnur reached there too late. Before he could reach Mangalore, he heard of the sack of this port by the British forces on March 9, 1783 in which even women, children and old men were not spared. According to Mill `orders were given to shed blood of everyman who was taken under arms: and some of the officers were reprimanded for not seeing those orders rigidly executed'.
The Sutlan was much distressed by the atrocities committed by the British soldiers on helpless citizens. He hurried to Badnur and after making a dangerous thrust in the enemy ranks defeated General Matthews who retreated into the fort. The British forces shut up into the fort were besieged by the Sultan's army.
At last, the British General was forced to capitulate on terms dictated by the Sultan. But on search, the British soldiers were found in possession of about 40,000 pagodas, which being a clear violation of surrender terms the British General and his men were placed under arrest. The Sultan arrived at Mangalore on May 20, 1783 and in the very first engagement, the British army was defeated with heavy losses. The remaining British forces shut themselves in the fort which was besieged by Tipu Sultan himself. Their commander Campbell disheartened by the hardships which he had endured for several months, capitualated on January 29, 1784. He delivered the fort to Tipu Sultan; `under articles', says Campbell, `the most beneficial I could ask for the garrison, and which the Nawab has most honourably and strictly adhered to.'
His primary aim was the expulsion of the British from India and for this purpose he sought assistance wherever he could. But the two other important powers of southern India, namely, the Mahrattas and the Nizam, had shut their eyes to the impending danger of foreign domination and the British used them as tools to achieve their objects.
The British were not happy with the treaty of Mangalore concluded with Tipu Sultan. Ever since then, they were planning against him. The British Governor-General, Loard Cornwallis, started preparations against Mysore which was the greatest stumbling block in the realization of his dream of dominating India. After organizing the East India Company's army and finances on a sound basis he started negotiations for an alliance with the Mahrattas and the Nizam directed against Tipu Sultan. He promised them the distribution of the conquered territories of Tipu Sultan. Having achieved this triple alliance, Lord Cornwallis sought some excuse of waging war agianst Mysore. This was soon forthcoming. Tipu Sultan wanted to punish the Raja of Travancore for his misdeeds. The British decided to intervene as, according to the text of the letter by Cornwallis to the Governor of Mardras, they had every prospect of aid from the country powers, whilst he (Tipu Sultan) could expect no assistance from France. The British Governor-General was not content with the triple alliance. He even tried to win the support of the tributaries and refractory subjects of Tipu Sultan. He also bribed and conspired with the state dignitaries to work against their own ruler.
Having achieved all this, he started the Third Mysore War through an assault made by General Meadows on May 26, 1790. He advanced towards Coimbatore and occupied it on July 21st. The first encounter of Tipu Sultan was victorious. This was followed by rapid blows inflicted on the British forces by him in different sectors. The swift movements of Tipu Sultan was a problem for the enemy forces. The Sultan was preparing for a final attack on the main British forces when the treachery of Krishna Rao foiled his designs. His treachery led to the fall of Bangalore into the hands of Lord Cornwallis who was commanding the British forces. The Sultan was shocked at the fall of Bangalore. The allied forces made a final assault on Saringapattam, the capital of Mysore, but they were badly beaten by Tipu Sultan and, therefore, retired to Bangalore. The assault was put off for the next year.
The war was renewed next year and a treaty was signed in which Tipu Sultan lost much of his territory. But the gallant Sultan, though hard hit by this treaty, did not lose his heart. He had fought against overwhelming odds. His continuous warfare had been a heavy drain on his finances. But he was not a man who could be unnerved or disheartened by misfortunes. He reorganized his finances and army, improved his agriculture and industry to a great extent and regained his past glory. He again rose to be a formidable power which could meet the challenge from any quarter.
Lord Wellesely, who had become the Governor-General of British India, reached Madras in January 1799. Here he conspired with the Mahrattas, the Nizam and the highest dignitaries of Mysore state to wipe out Tipu Sultan, the only serious obstacle in his way of domination over India. In utter disregard of the treaty concluded after the third Mysore War, Lord Wellesley made an unprovoked attack on Mysore. On February 3rd, 1799 General Harris marched from Vellore and General Stuart from Cannanore. The Mahrattas and the Nizam too moved their forces into Mysore territory. Arthur Wellesley was in command of an army from Hyderabad. Tipu Sultan, who was surprised by this unexpected as well as unprovoked attack, fought valiantly, displaying brilliant strategy. But the treachery of his own generals foiled his efforts and the allied forces appeared before Seringapattam on April 17, 1799.
A siege was laid to the capital of Mysore. High dignitaries of the Mysore Government, including Dewan Purnia, Prime Minister Mir Sadiq, and Mir Ghulam Ali, were in secret league with the British. The final assault on the city was fixed for May 4th. On that day, according to the plan, Mir Sadiq started distributing salaries to the army. The soldiers left their posts and hurried to receive their pays. At that moment, the British troops in conjunction with the treacherous elements in the fort, crossed the Kaveri, stormed the opening guarded by Syed Abdul Ghaffar together with his few gallant soldiers, and entered the fort. Syed Abdul Ghaffar was killed in action. The Sultan was taking his meals and when informed of this disaster, he hurried to the spot and gallantly fighting a hand to hand battle fell a martyr to the cause of national freedom. Thus perished on May 4th, 1799, Tipu Sultan, one of the most chivalrous and enlightened monarchs that India has produced. He preferred an honourable death to a life of humiliation and subjugation to a foreign power.
Tipu Sultan was an embodiment of nobility, chivalry and magnanimity. His life was a constant struggle for a noble cause against heavy odds. He sacrificed his life for the realization of his ideal of freeing his country from foreign domination and thus set an example for future generations. He was a true patriot, and a true Muslim who practised what he preached. He was a farsighted ruler who foresaw the danger which loomed on the Indian horizon and staked his all to remove it.
Tipu Sultan was an outstanding administrator and a great reformer, endowed with great vision and calibre. Despite his troubled life, he introduced great reforms in almost all departments of the state administration which brought unprecedented peace and prosperity to his people. He highly developed agriculture and industry in his dominion and initiated progressive agricultural reforms beneficial to the peasantry. Mill, the celebrated English historian, considers his territories to be `the best and its population the most flourishing in India' and Tipu Sultan a ruler who `sustains an advantageous comparison with the greatest princes of the east.' He kept a watch over his people and received reports to make annual tours of their districts for this purpose. The `patels' could not subject the poor cultivators to forced labour.
The Sultan took effective steps towards the promotion of trade and industry in his country. He established several factories and built an Armada to protect his marine commerce from pirates. This led to the development of international trade with several countries, specially of the east. He set up trading agencies in several coastal towns and established large factories for manufacturing watches, ammunition, cutlery and paper. Cottage industries also thrived. His state was surplus in foodgrains, sugar, glassware, paper, silk and cotton cloth. Buchanan who visited his state acknowledges that `Tipu was born with a commercial mind'.
He set up his military machine on a sound footing and divided the army administration into eleven different departments. He adopted modern weapons of war and divided his dominion into 22 military districts. His reforms, both in civil and military spheres, were far in advance of those of his predecessors and contemporaries. He was a well-wisher of his people and considered them as a `unique trust held for God, the real Master'. He was generous towards his non-Muslim subjects and bequeathed to them rich grants for the maintenance of their sacred places. He held the Swami of Sringri Temple in high esteem and protected him when the temple was raided by the Mahrattas. In a leter to the Swami, he stated: `People who have sinned against such a holy place are sure to suffer the consequences of their misdeeds'.
Being himself a very learned man, well versed in Persian, Arabic and Urdu, he immensely promoted learning. During his short troubled reign, he popularized education. The Imperial Library of Saringapattam was the finest of its kind in the east. He was also a writer of repute. He wrote "Fath ul Mujahidin", an army manual and "Muwaa`iz ul Mujahidin", the collection of his Friday Sermons.
The enlightened and good administration of Tipu Sultan made Mysore the most prosperous state of the east and him as unquestionably the most powerful of all native princes of India. He was rightly considered as the greatest stumbling block in the way of foreign domination over the subcontinent.
The real greatness of Tipu Sultan, therefore, lies in his struggle against heavy odds and in ultimately laying down his life for a noble cause. This has earned for him an immortal place among the great men of the world.
he was the first muslim ruler fight against the british after jihad was declared by ulema.
lastly it is said that one of his pet tiger came to the battlefield to pay tribute to him

Tipu Sultan : Dream of India and nightmare of British invaders

Tipu Sultan had ruled over Malabar for about 36 years. He had introduced many administrative reforms in the land especially issues relating to land distribution. The land owning class could not tolerate his welfare approach towards the poor farmers. Hence, during the Mysore Rule, they took refuge with the Thiruvidamkur kingdom. It was natural for the oppressive landlords to hate and oppose the support of Tipu Sultan towards the oppressed class of the society.

Tipu’s army consisted of many communities and the Muslims of Malabar were active in his Kerala section of the kingdom. It is highly possible that the fearless Tipu may have met the versatile Umar Qazi, although history does not offer any solid evidence for this.

When the oppressive British rule was imposed on Malabar in 1792, the landlords, who were earlier in exile, returned. The British was prepared to install them as full-fledged landlords. Before leaving for exile, the landlords had sold their land for a meager price to the Muslims of the place. When they returned, the land they had sold had become evergreen with coconuts and other crops. In the clashes that followed between the two parties, the British sided with the landlords. The only king who fought until death despite being sure of his defeat

The Anglo Mysore War

Two centuries ago, Tipu Sultan fell martyred in the Srirangam fort marking the end of Anglo Mysore war. He could have remained safe in the invincible fort had he stayed back. The war had begun at a time least expected by Tipu. The English East India Company had declared war at a time when they were sure of no support would come to Tipu from neither the French nor the help from Persia or Afghanistan nor any kind of assistance from the native kingdoms. They began attacking with no reason. Although East India Company and allies were confident of defeating Tipu, they were doubtful of entering the Srirangam fort. By repairing the damages without further ado, the Mysore army remained invincible in terrifying the enemies. The treacherous men in Tipu’s army

As was their usual practice, the British finally chose to bribe Tipu’s generals and guards. Although, generals close to Tipu had informed him about the treacherous men, the great patriotic son of India was not ready to accept his men as unfaithful. Hence the fort praised for its security was easily accessible to the enemies.

Mir Sadiq, the chief conspirator, started to give away the pay to the soldiers when the enemies entered the fort.

Allama Iqbal has referred to this traitor in the following couplet :

Jafar of Bengal and Sadiq of Deccan
Are a shame on humanity
Shame on religion and shame on country.

A heart-breaking scene

Tipu was having lunch when he heard some clatter not far away. Sensing some danger, he rushed to the scene like a fearless lion. What he saw was a heat-breaking scene – The British had entered the fort unscathed. Realizing the bitter truth that he and his men were victims of cold-blooded betrayal, the Mysore Hero could have still escaped through the secret pathways along with his family, like other kings have always done in history. Or else he could have made peace signing a treaty and thereby saving his and family’s life. But here lies the greatness of the patriotic warrior of Indian independence. In midst of battle, he was offered the chances for treaty with the British. But his chivalrous reply became the slogan of bravery for all time to come : “One day’s life of a lion is preferable to hundred years’ of a jackal”.

The sword of Tipu Sultan

What inspired Bhagvan Gidwani to write ‘ The sword of Tipu Sultan’ was this unfailing courage of Tipu. This is how he explains the reason for conducting research on Tipu and writing his books: A French research colleague came running from the rain to stand under he same umbrella while coming out of the Indian House in London. When Gidwani solicited him about the topic of research, the colleague replied, ‘my purpose is to explore history in search of a king who fought until death in spite of being certain of his defeat. When the author asked him to name the kings he had found, the reply he received was astonishing: “What I understand from my studies is that there was only one king who fulfilled such a condition: It was your Tipu Sultan.’

Struck with pride and embarrassment (embarrassed because Tipu was virtually unknown in his homeland), Gidwani set out to study on this brave king with an open-minded approach. Despite the author’s claim his book is not a historic novel, the work has received extraordinary acceptance from the laymen as well scholars.

The author is not a partisan of Mysore sentiment. His father was the president of Hindu Maha Sabha and as himself an officer of high standing. He was successful in rightly identifying the distorted facts the historical facts penned down by Anglo historians and those who followed them to deliberately malign the Mysore rulers. His victory lies in overcoming these distorted tales and rewriting the true story based on authentic records.

Tipu: A large hearted ruler

Gidwani tells us that Tipu was never a fanatic, neither a temple demolisher nor a bloody dictator rather he was a large-hearted ruler who practiced religious tolerance, respected all religions and its institutions alike and also gave grants for building their places of worship. Gidwani, a Hindu devotee and leader, need not take the sides with Haider Ali or Tipu Sultan.

But unfortunately, many of us have not yet fully reckoned to the accounts of this sincere historian. About 35 editions have come out of this bestseller book. A Calicut based publisher has also brought out a Malayalam version.

Even the so-called historians are adopting a fascist communal approach towards these facts on the great Hero of Indian freedom struggle. Tipu Sultan, who never destroyed a single temple, gave hundreds of acres of land as grants to temples and religious heads.

Had Tipu been a fanatic

Had Tipu Sultan been a cruel and fanatic king, people would only be happy on his death. Instead, as witnesses Lieutenant Colonel C. Patrick and Lieutenant Colonel Beatson reports, both the sides of the road were filled with crowd, weeping and beating their chests, mourning the death of their great leader. The two officers also say that the funeral procession had brought the traffic to a standstill.

The Legendary Tipu in the hearts of Mysoreans

‘As Tipu Sultan was buried, the atmosphere blackened and dark clouds hung over the place. A fierce storm followed and heavy thunders terrified the area. Three officers were killed hit by thunder’ says Chric Patrick and Beatson.

Due to this incident, the Mysore residents attributed legendary devotion to Tipu Sultan. His tomb in Lal Bagh is visited by hundreds of devotees, the majority of whom are Hindus and other communities.

Wanted: Humans with rationality.

We should approach these fats with an open mind. When we see facts as facts, we are only being just to our homeland and its people. It adds to our national integrity.

Finally, it is not the politicians or their vested interests that should judge these matters, rather the human beings, who have not lost their rationality.