SERIES ONE (POST THREE)
‘’Formation of Ghaznavid State’’
This is the third post of series one. Series deal with the foundation of ‘’Ghaznavid State’’, first state of Indian Muslims. In Post One, I have explained the motives of this series. In Post Two, I have explained a brief history of Caliphate from State of Medina to Abbasid Revolution- overthrowing the Umayyad Family from the position of Caliphs. If you haven’t read my previous posts yet, I have mentioned links, as follows, to read in order for you to connect the Post Three-
Post 1-
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=243717003474723&id=100035092741319
Post 2-
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=243773003469123&id=100035092741319
Abbasid Revolution was not a result of day one. Preparation for the rebellion against the Umayyad, in fact, began right after the Karbala. Is it possible that the Muslims forgive the enemy of House of Mohammad and transformation of Caliphate from Islamic Principles of electing Caliph through Mashawarat to Hereditary appointment? ‘’Arab Hegemony’’, however, a few will disagree, was a factor, at least, in the regions of Persia and Khorasan (include Transoxiana as well), two major Ajami bloc in Caliphate with more Warrior History and Clans.
Abu Al-Abbas As Saffah was a Military Commander during the rule of Umayyad’s Sitting Caliph, Marwan II. Al-Abbas rebelled against Marwan and defeated him in a battle near Zab River, North of Baghdad- ended Umayyad Rule. After the accession to the Caliphal Authority, Al-Abbas will change Capital from Damascus (Harran) to Kufa, Anbar and finally, Baghdad for the reasons that majority of his supporters/the rebels were the Persians (Persia was always a Sunni region, recently converted to Shia) and Khorasani. Abbas appointed ‘’Abu Muslim Al Khorasani’’ his Military Commander. Saffah restructured the Caliphate on lines of Iranian/Sasanian lines like the reformation in Bureaucracy, Army, King-size Caliphal Life Style- officially ending ideals of Omar Ibn Al Khattab- and adopting Persian as Second Language. Rustom, Pre-Islamic Persian Holy Warrior, began to be immortalised at place of Salman the Persian, a companion of Mohammad (PBUH).
It is said that Khorasan never forget favours and betrayals so will be the case with Abassids. Abbasid betrayed the rebel forces by again making the Caliphal Authority Hereditary. Before death, As Saffah appointed his brother, Al-Mansur, and following him, his nephew, Isa Ibn Musa as succeeding Caliph. The Second betrayal for Khorasan was the ‘’assassination of Abu Muslim Al Khorasani’’, the Military Commander, by Al-Mansur, the new Caliph, fearing that Abu Muslim will rebel to the hereditary succession. Uproar, in Khorasan, was brutally supressed and legendary warriors will be butchered mercilessly by Al-Mansur.
I think the history of Muslims would have been different if Abu Muslim were not to be assassinated. Khorasan will remember, forever, and will make the ‘Seat of Caliphate’ a grave for Abbasids, until the Ottomans, siblings of Ghaznavids and children of Khorasan, assume the seat. These legendary children of Tur will rebel at the right time and the right opportunity in the years to come. Historically, Turan is an ancient land that include present day Northern Iran, Northern Afghanistan, western half of Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uyguristan, and Kazakhstan. After Turkification of Turan, it was dominated by Turks for centuries. Firdausi, in Shahnameh, Epic of Kings, writes about Rustom and Afrasiyab. Many Turkic People have claimed themselves to be the descendants of Afrasiyab.
7th Caliph of Abbasid Family, Al-Mamun, was an infamous Caliph because he supported Mu’tazilism, imprisoned Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and killed many religious scholars. During a civil war, a Military Commander, Tahir Ibn Husaiyn, helped Al-Mamun to assume position of Caliph against his step brother, Al-Amin. In reward, Al-Mamun appointed him ‘Governor of Khorasan’. After Husaiyn, his descendants assumed the positions and finally declared ‘Independent Emirate’ of ‘’Tahirid Dynasty’’. It was the first Independent Persian ‘Emirate’. The dynasty adopted Persian as Informal Language, used to speak outside the court, and Pahalvi Script to write Persian. It was succeeded by ‘’Saffarid Dynasty’’ which, in real sense, kicked off ‘’Iranian Intermezzo’’ (Persian Renaissance), on ruins of which all the Sultanates of East and West will be founded in future. Persian was adopted as Court Language and Literature both. Weak Caliphs were forced to ‘’Negotiate’’ with Saffarids and granted them Independent Kingship because Abbasids already had lost the support of Khorasan and Persians were more attracted to the dynasty that kicked off ‘Iranian Intermezzo’.
In 900, Ismail Samani, at the Battle of Balkh, defeated Saffarids and assumed the power of the Sultanate. Samanids considered themselves the descendants of Pre-Islamic Sasanian Empire. It was the first completely independent Persian Kings like kingdom. They, revived Persian Culture more than Buyid Dynasty, a Shia Persian Dynasty emerged after them, and, were in rivalry with the Arab Caliph in Baghdad. Samanids were also a part of ‘’Iranian Intermezzo’’ and they also made few advances that they imposed Persian Language and Culture on Non-Persian subject too in the Sultanate. That, in turn, will lead to formation of ‘’Turco-Persian Culture’’ because the Sultanate ruled on Persia (Southern Iran), Khorasan and Transoxiana (on all lands of Turks). These legendary Turco-Persian children in Khorasan will take seat of Caliphate form Abbasid in centuries to come. They will rule from Bangladesh to Bosnia and Russia to Africa under one flag and will assume the title from ‘’Amir Ul Momineen’’ to ‘’Jahan Padishah’’ (Emperor of the World).
Alp Tagin, a Semi- Nomadic Turkic Muslim, was a Military Commander of Turkic Army in Khorasan, and ‘’nominal vassal’’ in Samanid Empire, conquered Ghazna in 962 from Lawik Dynasty. Alp Tagin died shortly after conquering Ghazna. Then, Ghazna was consolidated by his son in law, Subug Tegin. He ruled from the capital, Ghazna, twenty years with a title, the most Noble Commander. Samanids facing challenges from Baghdad and other warlords on western/eastern borders were becoming weak. ‘Karakhanids’’ in Transoxiana rebelled against Samainds and gave an opportunity to consolidate the rule in Ghazna to Subug Tegin. After having taken control of southern provinces (today’s Afghanistan), he consolidated rule of Ghaznavids in whole province of Khorasan and Transxiana. Just like Ertugrul Ghazi, in 1235, who founded Sogut and his son expanded it in Ottoman Empire, Subug Tegin founded Ghazna, in 977, and his son, Mahmood, will expand Ghaznavid Sultanate from Tigris to Ganges (Bangladesh to Eastern Border of Turkey, Syria and Iraq) and Mawra E Nahar to Persian Gulf (From Kazakhstan to Persian Coasts).
In Turkic Historiography, Ghaznavid Empire, a precursor of all Muslim Turkic Empires, has foremost importance because it was the first independent Muslim Turco-Persian Empire emerged after Gokturk Empire (first largest empire on earth), a Buddhist Turkic Empire and will unite ancient lands of Turan (Land of Turks). Apart from this, section of legendary children of Ghaznavids, later came to be known as Ottomans, will move westward, due to the rise of Mongols in east, whose descendants will claim the authority of Caliphate in centuries to come. Lastly, Ghaznavids, the Holy Warriors of Turan, will move East of Indus ‘’to liberate Dalits from slavery of Brahmans’’ and to settle in India forever that will form a New Civilisation on Earth, the ‘’Ganga Jamuni Taheeb’’ and give birth to ‘’Urdu Language’’.
Allama Iqbal said-
Dasht To Dasht Hain, Dariya Bhi Na Chhode Hamne,
Behr E Zulmaat Mein, Doda Diye Ghode Hamne.
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