Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud

"Sultan Saiyyed Salar Masud Ghazi" was son of the Shah Salar of Persia (the crown prince of Persia). He was related to Mahmud of Ghazni and raided Indian subcontinent during early 11th century (1031 AD). He had a fanatic zeal of conquering India and converting the country to Islam. The zeal that he had to spread Islam earned him the title Ghazi Mian.

In the year 1031, with an army of over one hundred thousand troops, he crossed the Hindu Kush ranges and entered the Punjab plains. The Hindu king of Lahore Anand Pal Shahi made an unsuccessful attempt to check Masud's advance. Anand Pal was helped by Rai Arjun the king of Sialkot. After overcoming these valiant but unsuccessful Hindu efforts to check this new invasion, Masud moved towards Rajputana and Malwa, where king Mahipal Tomar grappled with the invaders, but was overcome by the numerically superior forces.

This invasion appeared to be the first one to have as its aim the permanent occupation of the Indian heartland. This was unlike that of Mahmud Ghazni who conducted short swift raids into India, looted and retreated into Afghanistan. Masud's invading army was much larger and was fully equipped with and provided by the imperial strength of Persia, unlike that of Mahmud Ghazni which was like a raiding party. The aim of Masud's invasion was not simply to loot; but to occupy India and to Islamize the country. This was the first serious Jihad into India.

After their victories across the Indo-gangetic plains, the Jehadis, established themselves at Baharaich near Ayodhya. They made their camp into a makeshift headquarters with the aim of eventually making it their permanent capital.

At this juncture a rare event took place. For the first time a major pan-Hindu alliance of all the kings of North India was formed. It had seventeen kings. This force which far outnumbered the large army of Masud laid siege to the camp of the Jihadis.

An Islamic account of this war

We have an account of this war from an Islamic scholar Sheikh Abdur Rehman Chishti who in his book Meer-ul-Masuri has given a vivid description of this exceptional war. He writes that Masud reached Baharaich in 1033. By then the united Hindu kings had gathered a massive force to face Masud.

As was their practice, before the beginning of hostilities, the Hindu kings sent a messenger to Masud that this land being theirs, his troops should peacefully vacate it. But Masud sent a reply that all land belonged to Khuda (the Persianized version of Allah) and he could settle wherever he pleased. And that it was his holy duty to convert to Islam all those who did not recognize his Khuda and accept Islam.

Consequently, Masud's huge army was besieged by the even greater Hindu army and no side gave the other any quarter. Gradually through the hostilities, Masud saw the unsuccessful end of his expedition. This bitter and bloody war was fought in the month of June 1033. In this furious war, no side took any prisoners and it ended only with the slaughter of the entire invading army along with many martyrs from the defending Hindu army.

The battle of Baharaich ended on 14th June 1033. At the gory end, the entire invading army along with their commander lay dead. Not one enemy soldier was allowed to return. There still exists today near Baharaich the grave of the commander of the invader - Prince Ghazi Mian Masud. There he is hailed today by the local Muslims as a Ghazi and a Peer. And every year till this day an Urs (Muslim religious assemblage) is held in his memory.

His tomb was built much later by Tughlaq. After establishing his rule Feroz Shah Tughlaq came to Bahraich and became so offended after learning about the beheading of Salar Masood Ghazi. He was termed as Islamic Saint who came in early 11th century to the Indian subcontinent for preaching Islam.