THE%20SINDH%20STORY

A couple of centuries later, when Muslim power in the north weakened, not
because of Hindu resistance, but, because of inter-Muslim quarrels, some
semblance of a Hindu revival took place in the Empire of Vijayanagar in the
south of India. Even this last strong-hold of Hindu culture and independence
was crushed in 1565 A.D. As usual, Muslims destroyed the magnificent city of
Vijayanagar, one of the most remarkable Hindu cities that ever existed.
In the sordid history of Hindu India’s collapse, Mr. Malkani manages to find
some comfort in the exploits of the Sumras and Sama Chieftains of Sindh. Even
Mr. Malkani’s research has not been able to discover when and how they became
Muslims, but, obviously, the Muslims of Sindh were different from the Muslims
of rest of India, as indeed, they continue to be till today.
The Arabs who spread Islam in 7th and 8th Centuries, were literally following
the Prophet’s injunction, enjoining search for knowledge. From the Chinese, they
picked up the use of paper and the first Paper Manufacturing Plant in Islam was
opened at Baghdad. They picked up mathematics, chemistry, physics, astronomy
and every branch of available knowledge, from wherever they went. Most
mosques had libraries and some cities had public libraries of considerable
content. When Baghdad was destroyed by Mongols, it had 36 public libraries,
and private libraries were numberless A Muslim physician refused invitation of
the Sultan of Bukhara to come and live at his Court, on the ground that he would
need 400 camels to transport his library. The mosques produced scholars as
numerous as the pillars in their buildings. They moved people’s minds with their
eloquence. The country was adorned by innumerable geographers, historians
and theologians seeking knowledge and wisdom. The Courts of Princes
resounded with poetry and philosophic debates. No rich man would deny
support to literature and art. The old cultures of the conquered were eagerly
absorbed by the quick-witted Arabs. That was the glory of Islam.
There came, however, some time in the history of Islam when somebody seems
to have decided that no book except the Koran, was worth reading. Independent
thought was banished and the Gates of Ijtihad were closed for ever. Modern
Muslim reformists have been trying in vain to re-open these gates but, no
significant success seems to have been registered anywhere in the world of
modern militant Islam. Even Mohammed Iqbal, before he ceased to be the Iqbal
that he once was, in his challenging Book --- “Reconstruction of Religious
Thought in Islam” dealt with only reconstruction of thought; but, not in any
significant manner, the reconstruction of religious thought in Islam. He did
suggest that Islam must be re-thought in modern times, but, made practically no
contribution towards fruition of this idea. Sadly enough, he became the first to
put forward the idea of a separate Muslim State, which later on emerged as
Pakistan. Till then, except for a brief period during the reign of Akbar, no serious
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