In my new book The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS, I recount how in 711, Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, the governor of Iraq, sent the general Muhammad ibn Qasim into Sindh, modern-day western Pakistan. It was the beginning of the jihad conquest of India. Hajjaj gave his commander ruthlessly precise instructions:
My ruling is given: Kill anyone belonging to the combatants [ahl-i harb]; arrest their sons and daughters for hostages and imprison them. Whoever submits…grant them aman [protection] and settle their tribute [amwal] as dhimmah.
Hajjaj rebuked Muhammad ibn Qasim for being more lenient to the Hindus than Islam commanded:
Hajjaj’s instructions to Muhammad ibn Qasim were ruthlessly precise:
Allah says, “Give no quarter to infidels but cut their throats.” Then you shall know that this is the command of the great Allah. You shall not be too ready to grant protection, because it will prolong your work. After this give no quarter to any enemy except those of rank.
Click here to preorder The History of Jihad, the first and only comprehensive history of jihad worldwide — not just against Europe, but against India, Africa, Israel, the U.S., and more — in the English language.