KARACHI, Oct 16: Nations should be aware of their history in order to build a better future. These views were expressed in a lecture arranged to celebrate “Yaum-i-Babul Islam”, arranged by the Hamdard College of Science and Commerce at the Madinatul Hikmat, on Saturday.

“Madinatul Hikmat was the place from where young Mohammad Bin Qasim entered Sindh, which was then spread up to Mianwali in the North, Malwah and Gujrat in South, Deepalpur in East and Seestan and Makran in the West besides some areas of Afghanistan including Helmand,” Dr Nigar Sajjad Zaheer, chairperson Islamic History Department of the University of Karachi, said while delivering the lecture.

There were several reasons behind the success of Mohammad Bin Qasim and the spread of Islam in this region, she added.

She said that the main reasons were religious tolerance, justice and good behaviour by the Muslim conquerors with the locals. The political wisdom of Bin Qasim also played a significant role as he kept all the local administrators remain working at their offices.

She further explained that the native people at that time had been fed up with the atrocities of the then Sindh ruler, Raja Dahir, due to which they had welcomed Muslim forces and later embraced Islam in a large number.

Earlier, Principal Hamdard College Munira Gulzar delivered the welcome address. Renowned historian and General Secretary Hamdard Educational Society Dr Ansar Zahid, Dr Khalid Naseem also spoke.—PPI