Review of the book "Muslim Sultans and Freedom Struggle Quiz" 

Author: Maulana Muhammad bin Abdullah Qasmi 

✍🏻 *Gul Raza Rahi Arriyavi* 

   India's history is very ancient, its civilization is also old. Just like the Persian civilization, Greek civilization, Egyptian civilization, and Babylonian civilization, there is also the Indian civilization. Thus, it is one of the countries with ancient civilizations.
India is one of those regions where humans have lived since early times.
Some people have the misconception that India is called Hindustan because people of the Hindu religion live here, whereas the correct fact is that 'Hind' is a word of the Arabic language, which is called 'Al-Hind' in Arabic; later it became Hindustan. 
Some historians have explained that 'Hind', the daughter-in-law of Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him), stayed in this region, which is why it is called Hindustan.
Some historians say it is attributed to the Indus Valley or Sindh, which is why it is called Hindustan. Whatever the case may be, it is called Al-Hind in Arabic. Later, after independence, it was called Bharat, in English it was called India, and in Urdu and Persian, it was referred to as Hindustan. Therefore, the inhabitants here are called Indians, Bharati, and Hindustani (History of India, p. 19).
That is why our famous Indian historian Syed Ghulam Ali Bilgrami has written in "Subhat al-Marjan fi Athar Hindustan" that if seen from this perspective, India is the first abode of mankind because Adam (peace be upon him) descended here. It is the first abode of Prophethood because Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) first descended here with Prophethood. It is the first abode of Islam because Adam (peace be upon him) descended here with Islam. Similarly, it is also the abode of worship and the abode of the Adhan, because Sri Lanka was a part of India at that time, and Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan were all included in India. 
Under the "Divide and Rule" policy, the British divided everyone as states, and now it is divided into different countries.
 India was famous for its external growth, simplicity, archaeology, and abundance of wealth. It was always eyed by Sultans, Amirs, and warriors, which is why different people ruled it at different times.
 The arrival of Islam in Gujarat, India, had occurred much earlier through the Companions (Sahaba), about which some research has been mentioned by Hazrat Maulana Manazir Ahsan Gilani (may Allah have mercy on him) in his book "An Indian Companion", and other historians have also presented different research that seventeen or eighteen Companions came to India, whose shrines are here. 
 The Hindus of Kerala were divided into two groups, Nair and Pulayar. Nairs were of the upper community and the others, Pulayars, were considered an inferior community. Distressed by these things, a group of Pulayars accepted Islam.

 Historians have written about a Raja that he saw the miracle of the splitting of the moon with his own eyes, and since the fame of the Prophethood of Muhammad had already reached through traders, he became convinced and accepted Islam along with his subjects. Then he traveled to Arabia to meet the Prophet (peace be upon him), but unfortunately, he passed away on the way before reaching.
 
Some similar mention is also found in "Tarikh-e-Firishta". 
The first attack on India by Muslims was made in 711 AD by Muhammad bin Qasim during the reign of Raja Dahir, because oppression against Muslim men and women was increasing and complaints of their imprisonment were being received. At first, it was taken lightly, but lies were told, due to which Hajjaj bin Yusuf sent Muhammad bin Qasim to India for the attack. (Aab-e-Kausar, History of India)

Presenting the matter briefly, it is submitted that a formal attack by Muslims was made by Shahabuddin Ghori in 1193 AD, then through the Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Babur, Akbar, Humayun Kabir, and the Mughals, the rule ended with the last king, Bahadur Shah Zafar.
The British had started planning to loot India since 1490, but they came here in 1600 with the East India Company and continued to advance their plans in the guise of traders. Gradually, they started interfering in government affairs, then they started challenging the government. Rulers of various states fought wars with bravery and fearlessness; Alivardi, Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah, and Tipu Sultan Shaheed are noteworthy.
After the martyrdom of Tipu Sultan, they gained more courage and said that from today this India is ours. In 1803, they completely occupied India. 
The Ulama (scholars) had started the struggle against them in the beginning. Accordingly, Shah Abdul Aziz gave the fatwa of Dar al-Harb. Then after him, Shah Ismail Shaheed, Syed Ahmed Shaheed, Maulana Qasim Nanotwi, Maulana Mazhar Nanotwi, Maulana Mamluk Ali Nanotwi, Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, Sayyid al-Taifa Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki, etc., fought wars.

After the failure of the 1857 War of Independence, Darul Uloom was established. Then the students here carried forward the mission of their teachers. Various movements were run, among which the Silk Letter Movement, the Khilafat Movement, and the Non-Cooperation Movement are very important. Then Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind was established, which made it easier to unite people. Then the continuous struggle continued. Among those who played a key role in this are Maulana Mahmud al-Hasan Deobandi, Maulana Husain Ahmad Madni, Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani, Allama Zafar Thanvi, Maulana Jafar Thanesari, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, etc. Due to their wisdom, strategies, and united power, this country became independent in 1947.

This history is not a fiction but a long story of oppression and pain of about three centuries, reading which the eyes become moist and the heart becomes restless.

This is a reflection of our bright past; but unfortunately, whatever others did, they did, but we have a complaint against our own people that they too are unaware of their history. Even those who are aware, some of them do not know the full history; there are only a few who remember the history of Muslims in India and the sacrifices of Muslims in the freedom struggle.
If the correct history is not preserved and presented to the new generation, there is a fear that in the future there will hardly be anyone who can keep an eye on history.
In such an environment where the passion for study is generally decreasing and the tradition of reading is also ending, there is a need to include a concise but comprehensive book of history in the curriculum so that Muslims remember their history.
The writer was also thinking a few days ago that a short book or booklet on the freedom struggle should come forward. 
Infinite thanks and grace to Allah Almighty that He fulfilled this wish through Hazrat Maulana Muhammad bin Abdullah Qasmi. 
The respected author has created ease for the new generation by compiling the "Muslim Sultans and Freedom Struggle Quiz" from the study of various books. 
The respected author sent this on August 15. I read it, read it several times, and the heart became happy at how concisely it is written that this book was read in just a few minutes.
In it, the date of arrival and the duration of the rule of Muslim rulers were described in order, then the arrival of the British government, various important wars were mentioned, and what was the role of Muslims and Ulama in it was also clearly described. 

It is my wish that by adding some more to it and compiling it in the style of "Tarikh-ul-Islam" and including it in the curriculum, some windows of history will always remain in the mind.

 May Allah Almighty accept the fine compilation of the respected author and grant the best reward for it. Ameen.