Alí Kúfí,* the writer of this book on the histery of Hind and the recorder of the conquest of Sind,* the household slave of Muham­mad * son of Alí, who was a son of Hámid wd. Abíbakr Kúfí, had spent a period of his life in leisure and repose, and obtained a good deal of pleasure and enjoyment in this world. But subsequently, owing to the vicissitudes of time and changes of fortune, he left his dear native place and took his residence in the sacred town of Uch,* where he rested for some days. Again, the divine o der “We cause these days of different success interchangeably to succeed each other among men”* was received, and the wine-server of destiny changed the drink of joy into the poison of sorrow. During the stay of the writer at the above place, he had to experience pleasures successively, and again, owing to the hardships of the revolving heavens, he had to taste many adrink of poison and to bear many a blow of calamity. In 613 A. H.,* at the age of 58, he put aside-every other occupation and busied himself in reading exquisite books He began to reflect (and to wish) that, as something of every science or branch of knowledge and other miscellaneous subjects had been already inscribed on the mind of the writer, and as learned men and erudite philosophers of the time have, in their respective ages, written some history or other book, with the help of their patrons and masters, and thus left behind them a relic of their memory; [as for instance, the conquest of Khurásán, of Fárs (Persia), of Rúm (Turkey), of Shám (Syria), the account of which has been given, both in prose and poetry, with full details, by the writers of the past]; and as the conquest of Hindustan by Muhammad Kásim and the chiefs of Arabia and Syria, the spreading of Islam in that country, the building of mosques and pulpits from the sea to the limits of Kashmír and Kanúj; the death of Rá?? Dáhar Chacb, son of Seláij, who resided at the capital city of Alór, at the hands of the great Amir, the pillar of state and religion; Muhammad son of Kásim son of Ukail, Sakifí (may God have mercy on him!), and the transfer (of that) whole territory together with its dependencies to him, had not yet been known to the world, a history should be written by him* describing all those events. With this object in view, I began to trouble myself, in obedience to what had then become my ruling passion, and I started from the blessed town of Uch for the towns of Alor and Bakhar,* the leading men of which places are descended from the Arabs. When I arrived at that city (Alór), I visited my lord and master the Kázi, the great Imám (or leader in prayers), the learned man excelling in virtue and science, the paragon of religion and religious belief, the chief of rulers, Ismáil son of Alí, son of Muhammad, son of Músá, son of Táí, son of Yákúb, son of Táí, son of Músá, son of Muhammad, son of Shahábuddín, son of Usman Sakifí* (may God perpetuate his excellence, and pardon his fore fathers and ancestors in the name of Muhammad and all his descendants), who is the type of superiority in eloquence and the very soul of wisdom in oratory, and who has no equal in the Persian arts and sciences, and no sharer in the trea ures of rhetoric. He informed me that an account of this conquest had been written in the Arabic language by his ancestors in a manuscript which had been handed down as a heritage from one to another to his time, and that as it was covered under the veil of the Arabic language, it had not come to the notice of the people of Persia and other countries.

When I became acquainted with that book, (I found it to be) a book adorned with jewels of wisdom and embellished with pearls of morality. Various deeds of bravery and valour of the people of Arabia and Syria were depicted in it, and various sorts of courage and wisdom were described in it. (It was clear from it that) every fort that was con­quered was the cause of a number of victories, and was (the light of) morning to the night of error and depravity; and every district that in those days was ennobled with the honour of Islám and secured, was illumined with pulpits and mosques, and enlivened by religious and devout men. Even down to our own time, every day in that country has marked an increase in the beauty of Islam and righteousness and the excellence of knowledge and conscientiousness; and every period has resulted in the acquisition of a firm footing on the throne of sove­reignty and power, through (the exertions of) the State servants of Muhammad (may the blessings of God and peace be on him and his descendants!). Ever afresh, the rust of error and ignorance is being rubbed off from the face of the mirror of Islam.

When this religious record was taken out from the curtains of the Arabic language and covered under those of the Persian language, and when it was translated into prose and adorned with chains of style and orna­ments of virtue and religiousness, I began to ponder in my mind, and came to the conclusion that such a won­derful new present and elegant book on conquest was worthy of the servants of the Minister, as thereby pro­sperity would guide my steps, and good fortune would smile on me. I said to myself: “For a long time, since the lapse of many a day and year of the past, I have been laying foundation for securing the favour and patronage of the master of the people, the Minister of the world, the Wazír of Sahib Kirán,* the honour of kings, the helper of the State and of Religion, the might of ministers, and the professor of both the pen and the sword (may God brighten his resting place and sanctify his earth), and I have been trying to shape the object of my soul so as to deserve his generosity and protection. And as his obli­gations as well as those of his descendants (may they be perpetually exalted and their ancestors absolved) are clinging to my neck, let me bring this book to his notice, since it is a book of conquest, which is based on spiritual rectitude and temporal excellence, and of which learned philosophers and generous kings would be proud, because all men attain advancement to perfection by acknow­ledging as true the belief of the people of Arabia and professing the faith of the possessors of sound principles.” (1 was thus anxious to dedicate) this book of conquest, which treats of the acts of valour and bravery of the people of Arabia and Syria, to this great and noble family which is by descent and lineage an Arabian family, because in former years the conquest of Khurásán and Ajam had been completed by their noble grandfather, the great Amir, the glory of the chief men of Arabia, the administrator of religious affairs, the supporter of mankind, the pride of the children of Kuraish, Abú Músá Ash-harí. There are several books and detailed accounts written about his being the leader of armies and the conductor of forces. Wherever the unbelievers have been defeated and routed, the banners of Islám have been carried by their and his ancestors, as if this was a hereditary mono­poly of theirs. This record of their successes goes up to the Commander of the Faithful, Umar son of Khattáb* (may the great God be pleased with him!), who, in ad­dressing the true believers publicly, used to speak highly of the valuable services of this family. It is, therefore, but proper that this book be dedicated and presented to the exalted audience-hall of my lord, the best of masters, the possessor of the sword and the pen, the great and the glorified one, the victorious and brave, the chief of the country, the pride of the State and of Religion, the administrator of (many) regions, the glory of the minis­ters, Husain son of Abí Bakr, son of Muhammad Ash-harí. May God redouble his greatness and honour, as long as the day and night succeed each other, and the stars shine above, and diversity of ways continues, so that he may honour it (the book) by condescending to look at it and peruse it, and graciously accept it, as thereby it will be counted among the great things of the time.

Although it is beyond my ability to dress myself in the clothes of learning and know­ledge, and appear conspicuously before the Court, which is the fountain of excellence and the resort of the wise, still, when good luck called out my name, and universal generosity came to my assistance, and the sun of prosperity guided my way to this auspicious rising place, I prepared myself to bless and to praise that Chief, in whose eulogy the great and the learned men of the time have plied their tongues, and to bless whom the sages and the philosophers of the age have raised up their hands, This servant Alí Kufí, in order to perform the duties of service incumbent on him, sincerely prays: “May the garden of prosperity of this seat of happiness and power be refreshed with the sweet and pure water of beneficence and benignity, and may it become green and fruitful with the moonlight of greatness and glory. The intrinsic truth and justice of the saying: ‘Verily God is to be found among His servants, and the best provision is to be found in the next world’* is applicable to the subject of which the writer has been speaking, and of which he cannot express the importance sufficiently, not even in the proportion of one to a thousand or a particle to a heap. He has ventured to offer what he has been able to secure, in the hope that his trifle will find ad­mittance to his august presence, and be honoured with acceptance, (as thereby) this book on conquest will remain permanently on the pages of (monumental) records, as long as the world lasts, and God is the lord of grace.”