Muslim Invasion in Punjab

Islam first arrived in Punjab after the conquest of Sindh by Muhammad-bin-Qasim in 712 for the Umayyad Caliphate. His conquest enabled further Muslim conquests on the Indian subcontinent. The first significant Muslim conquest of Punjab was carried out by Mahmud Ghazni.

Mahmud Ghazni

Mahmud Ghazni was the son of Sabuktigin, who was the founder of the Ghazni dynasty ruling from 367 to 387 CE. He was a Turkish Slave Commander. Punjab was under the Hindushahi dynasty when Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni invaded India. Raja Jaipal of the Hindushahi dynasty built up an empire from Sirhind to Lampaka with Bathinda as its capital.

They ruled over a large part of Punjab but could not resist the incessant invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni. Ghazni first encountered the ruler Jaipal in 1001 CE. In 1004-06 CE, Mahmud Ghazni attacked the rulers of Multan, and soon he conquered Punjab. The Ghaznavids had their control over parts of Punjab and Sindh, which continued till 1135 CE.

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MCQs on Muslim Invasion in Punjab

1. Who was responsible for the conquest of Sindh in 712 for the Umayyad Caliphate?

   • a) Mahmud Ghazni
   • b) Raja Jaipal
   • c) Sabuktigin
   • d) Muhammad-bin-Qasim
   Answer: d) Muhammad-bin-Qasim

2. Which dynasty ruled Punjab when Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni invaded India?

   • a) Ghaznavids
   • b) Umayyads
   • c) Hindushahi
   • d) Tughlaqs
   Answer: c) Hindushahi

3. Who was the founder of the Ghazni dynasty?

   • a) Raja Jaipal
   • b) Sabuktigin
   • c) Mahmud Ghazni
   • d) Muhammad-bin-Qasim
   Answer: b) Sabuktigin

4. During which years did Mahmud Ghazni first encounter the ruler Jaipal and later attack the rulers of Multan?

   • a) 990-1001 CE
   • b) 1001-1004 CE
   • c) 1004-1006 CE
   • d) 1006-1010 CE
   Answer: c) 1004-1006 CE

5. What empire did Raja Jaipal of the Hindushahi dynasty build from Sirhind to Lampaka with Bathinda as its capital?

   • a) Ghaznavid Empire
   • b) Umayyad Empire
   • c) Hindushahi Empire
   • d) Multan Empire
   Answer: c) Hindushahi Empire

6. When did the Ghaznavids have control over parts of Punjab and Sindh?

   • a) 1100 CE
   • b) 1050 CE
   • c) 1135 CE
   • d) 1001 CE
   Answer: c) 1135 CE

7. Who was the Turkish Slave Commander and son of Sabuktigin?

   • a) Muhammad-bin-Qasim
   • b) Raja Jaipal
   • c) Sabuktigin
   • d) Mahmud Ghazni
   Answer: d) Mahmud Ghazni

8. What geographical region did Raja Jaipal's empire cover from Sirhind to Lampaka?

   • a) Gujarat to Delhi
   • b) Kashmir to Kanyakumari
   • c) Sirhind to Lampaka
   • d) Multan to Lahore
   Answer: c) Sirhind to Lampaka

9. Which ruler of the Hindushahi dynasty faced Mahmud Ghazni's invasion in 1001 CE?

   • a) Sabuktigin
   • b) Raja Jaipal
   • c) Muhammad-bin-Qasim
   • d) Mahmud Ghazni
   Answer: b) Raja Jaipal

10. Who carried out the first significant Muslim conquest of Punjab?

    • a) Raja Jaipal
    • b) Sabuktigin
    • c) Mahmud Ghazni
    • d) Muhammad-bin-Qasim
    Answer: c) Mahmud Ghazni

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