MAHOMED KASIM was nephew of Hejaj, governor of Basra. During the khalifat of Walid, Hejaj sent his nephew from Shiraz with an army 6000 strong, to attack Dewal (A.D. 711, A.H. 92), a seaport connected with Sind, belonging to Raja Dahir. It had numerous Brahman inhabitants, but was garrisoned by Rajputs. A shot from a catapult carried away the flagstaff displayed on the tower of the temple ; the garrison, dispirited by the event, yielded, and the town was occupied. At first he contented himself with circumcising the Brahmans, but they still refused Muhammag anism, on which he ordered all above seventeen years of age to be put to death, and all under it, with the women, to be reduced to slavery. The rich booty obtained was equally divided, after re serving one-fifth for Hejaj. A son of Dahir was in the garrison, and retreated to Brahmanabad, where he was followed by Kasim, and surrendered on terms. Kasim then advanced on Neiruu (Hyderabad), and thence to Sehwan, which the garrison evacuated after a seven days' siege. Kasim then waited till reinforced by 2000 horse from Persia, and, after several indecisive combats, reached the neighbourhood of Alor, where he was opposed by Dahir, who fell fighting in the midst of the .Arabian cavalry. His son. fled to Brah inanabad, but Dahir's widow defendeil the city against the attacks of the enemy until the failure of provisions rendered it impossible to hold out longer. Then the whole garrison resolved to die.
The women and children were first sacrificed in flames of their own kindling ; the men bathed, and, with other ceremonies, took leave of each other and the world, threw open the gates, rushed out sword in hand, and, throwing them selves on the weapons of their enemies, perished to a man.
One more stand was made at Asheandra, after which Multan and the other parts of the dominions of Dahir seem to have been occupied without resistance, and tribute enforced from the Hindus who refused to be converted.
Kasim sent to the court of Walid two daughters of Dahir, but when the eldest was brought into his presence she burst into tears, and said she had been dishonoured by Kasim, on which Walid gave orders to sew Kasim into a raw hide, and send him to Damascus. This was done, and the khalif showed the body to the princess, who now exultingly declared that Kasim had been innocent, and that she had thus revenged the death of her father and the ruin of her family. About 36 years after the death of Kasim, the Muhammadans were expelled by the Rajput tribe of Sumera, A.D. 750, A.H. 132.—Elphin. pp. 264-65 ;- Ayin-i Akbari, p. 119 ; Tod's Rajasthan, i. p. 243 ; Tarikh-i-Hind-wa-Sind.