Page "Muhammad bin Qasim" Paragraph 46

Various polemical perceptions of Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism are also reflected in this debate.

Elliot perceived Islam as a religion of " terror, devastation, murder and rapine " where the conquering Arabs were characterized as " ruthless bigots " and " furious zealots " motivated by " plunder and proselytism ".

The period of Qasim's rule has been called by U. T.

Thakkur " the darkest period in Sind history ", with the records speaking of massive forced conversions, temple destruction, slaughters and genocides ; the people of Sindh, described as inherently pacifist due to their Hindu / Buddhist religious inclinations, had to adjust to the conditions of " barbarian inroad ".

On one extreme, the Arab Muslims are seen as being compelled by religious stricture to conquer and forcibly convert Sindh, but on the other hand, they can be seen as being respectful and tolerant of non-Muslims as part of their religious duty, with conversion being facilitated by the vitality, equality and morals of the Islamic religion.

Citations of towns taken either violently or bloodlessly, reading back into Arab Sindh information belonging to a later date and dubious accounts such as those of the forcible circumcision of Brahmins at Deybul or Qasims consideration of Hindu sentiment in forbidding the slaughter of cows are used as examples for one particular view or the other.