“Chronicle of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni”, Insights UK, November 24, 2025
“He was a sultan of the Ghaznavid (in present-day Afghanistan) from a Muslim Turkish dynasty of Mameluk origin, ruling from 998 till 1030. He was a follower of the Hanafi school of law, which derives its underlying principles from the Quran, hadith, and practices of Muhammad’s companions. In 998 AD, Mahmud of Ghazni, having succeeded his father after all the family struggles. He sought to expand Ghaznavid control into Khorasan, Herat and Balkh by various unethical means. In 1002, Mahmud invaded Sistan (South Afghanistan) and dethroned Khalaf Ibn Ahmad, ending the Saffarid dynasty. From there, he decided to focus on Hindustan (land of the Hindus, i.e. Bhārat/India) to the southeast, particularly the highly fertile lands of the Punjab region.
Mahmud then set out on regular invasions in Bhārat and annexed only the Punjab region. He also vowed to raid and loot the wealthy region of northwestern India every year. Mahmud of Ghazni first invaded modern-day Pakistan and then parts of Bhārat. On 28 November 1001, his army fought and defeated the army of Raja Jayapala of the Kabul Hindu Shahis at the Battle of Peshawar. Mahmud had defeated the ruler of Narayanpur in 1009 CE and plundered its wealth. In 1014 CE, he attacked Thanesar, defeated Rama, the chief of Dera and then looted Thanesar. All the Hindu temples and the images of Thanesar were destroyed, while the principal deity of the Chakraswami temple was taken to Ghazni and placed in a public square for desecration.
He conducted 17 invasions in Bhārat in 25 years and showed the gateway of invasions to the next Islamic invaders. Utbi, the court historian of Mahmud, described the attacks of Mahmud in Bhārat as Jihads (holy wars) to spread Islam and destroy idolatry. Viewed from the circumstances of that age and the religious zeal of the Turks, who were new converts to Islam, Mahmud not only looted the wealth of Hindu temples but destroyed them and the images of Hindu gods. Therefore, it is mostly accepted that one of the aims of Mahmud was the destruction of the Hindu civilisation and the propagation of Islam in India……”
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