Name : Siti Aisyah Rasdei
Question : Critical account of Qutbuddin Aibak as a Lieutenant of
Shihabuddin Muhammad Gauri and the founder of Delhi Sultanate.
His Childhood
Qutbuddin Aibak was born in an area of
Central Asia and originated from a Turkish parent. During his childhood, he was
captured and sold as a ghulam
(slave). After that, he was bought by the chief Qazi of Nishapur, Qazi
Fakhruddin. Fortunately, he was treated with a well treatment by the Qazi by
giving him suffice education for him such as training in Archery and
horsemanship. Apart from those skill taught, he was also learn Arabic and
Persian language. However, all the comfort stop when the Qazi demise. The
jealous son had sold him merchant who brought him to Ghaznin and again he was
bought by the ruler of Ghor in north western Afghanistan, Sultan Muhammad
Ghauri. Until this point, his Excellency exposed more when he had join Sultan
in many expedition. Clearly he was endowed with admirable qualities and
impression that will attract people to him through his courageous and
generousity that later on had put him on the rank as a commander of the army of
his master. Besides, he also had been appointed as master of the stables (Amir-i-Akhur).
Qutbuddin Aibak as
Lieutenant
The leadership of Qutbuddin had started
after Sultan Shihabuddin had taken over Delhi in the year of 1191 and had force
the Rae to pay tribute in future. Qutbuddin was elevated as the Liutenant in
the year of 1192 and Sultan had entrusted him both of government of Khuram and
Samanah. He was very brilliant leader as had first strengthen his position
through diplomatic alliances by married with the daughter of Tajuddin Yildoz
and also had married his sister to Nasiruddin Qubaccha. Started from that he
had make his move to conquer neighboring areas and the first was Kuram to
Meerat and has success in controlling the fort in the year of 1192. Bulk of
people had embraces Islam. He then rushed to Ranthambor in the same year to
fight against revolt of Han Raja, brother of late Rae Pithora. But before that,
in the year 1191, he had laid foundation of Quwwatul Mosque in Delhi.
In
the year 1194, many events happen that had shown the fierceness of Qutbuddin,
the first one is that he had he had crushed rebellion in Ajmer and in the same
year had help Sultan in defeating Rae Jay Chand of Benares in the Battle of
Chandwar. Rae Jay Chand had killed in the battle had left big amount of booty
including 300 elephant and also has success in conquering the border of Bengal.
In the same year, another king that is Hari Raja had marched on Ajmer and
defeated Kolah son of Rae Pithora and had driven him away to Rathambor. Under
the command of Raja’s lieutenant, lieutenant Jhet Rai, they had started to
plunder Delhi. However, through a fierce battle, Qutbuddin able to captured
back the fort and appointed himself as the governor. The next expedition was
included the invasion of Thankir and Gwalior. But before that, in the year of
1195, he had first make his move to Narhwalah and Jitwan and later to Thankir
and captured Rae Kuwar Pal already begged for safety. Through generosity of
Sultan, he was granted peace and pardoned him. Expedition to Gwalior also had
met success by invaded the fort. Rae Solankhpala had sought for peace and
promise to pay tribute.
Later on the other year, Qutbuddin had
received news that revolt had occurred in Ajmer where they had asked the
neighboring chief to fight against Muslims. The horse had wounded badly and
caused him to return to Ajmer. After that he had sent a message to Sultan to
inform the real condition and without further delay, Sultan Shihabuddin had
sent strong forces under several veteran Amirs to Ajmer however, the Hindus
force had retreat before the arrives of the Amirs. In 1196, Qutbuddin had
started to march toward Nahrwalah and unfortunately the enemy had abandoned the
fort of Pati and Nadul, under the leadership of Rai Karan and Dharararsha, they
had set up their foothold at mount Abu where the Muslim army did not dare to
attack. However, on February 1196, the enemy had lost in a fierce battle and
left big amount of booty.
Bulk of series of battles had occurred
under the command of Qutbuddin and among them was the conquest of Badaun in the
year 1197. Badaun was one of the richest cities in Hindustan. Qutbuddin had
commanded one of his lieutenants that are Ikhtiyar-ud-din and manage to conquer
Bihar and part of Bengal. Apart from the conquest of Badaun, he also had punished
Bhimdev of Gujerat when Bhimdev had plundered his capital and came back to
Delhi through Hansi. In the next year, he also had success in the expedition in
Qannaui and manages to capture the province of Siruhi. Later in 1199, he had
captured Malwa and the neighboring area. Area of Gwalior was finally fallen to
the hand of Qutbuddin in the year 1200 after several attempt made.
Qutbuddin and Shamsuddin Iltutmish had
combined their forces in expedition against Kalinjar in the year 1202.
Paramardideva Rae of Kalinjar had offer resistance but stop at fort and
Qutbuddin had started the siege. Rae had submitted to Qutbuddin and agreed to
pay tribute regularly however died before fulfill his promise. Another
challenge appeared as the Rae of Diwan had refused to honor the agreement and
had called upon to fight. Not long after that, they had surrendered themselves
to Qutbuddin officers and the Muslims again had captured large amount of booty
including men and elephants. In 1203, he had captured Mahoba and gave it to
Hazbruddin Hasan Arni and he had return to Delhi through Badaun. Malik,
Ikhtiyaruddin Muhd Bakhtiyah and Khalji had pay homage to the Sultan that had recognized
them with great honor and return back to Delhi.
After the assassination of Sultan
Shihabuddin, the situation had started to get serious and chaotic as Sultan
Shihabuddin did not left any successor to succeed him. Shihabuddin had desired
Qutbuddin to succeed him. Tajuddin Yildoz, government of Kirman had ascended
the throne of Ghazni. The accession of Qutbuddin was supported by the citizen
and he was elevated as Sultan formally on 24th June, 1206. The rise
of Qutbuddin had caused jealousy of Tajuddin but Qutbuddin was supported by
Sultan Mahmud and manage to succeed the throne.
Sultan Qutbuddin was the 1st
Muslim who laid foundation of Muslim rule in India and the first Sultan that
originated from slave pioneered of slave dynasty. He manages to make his name
to be read in the khutba that was symbol of sovereignty of King and also had
ascribed his name on the coin. Before the accession, he already possessed a
very large territory included the whole of Northern India. After the accession,
he had expanded the territory from Indus to Ganges and from Himalaya down to
Vindhya Range. His charismatic and loving characteristic had made people trust
him in managing the state. Not only that, he also was a very good model of great
conqueror and good administrator. However, he died not long after that when
fell down from his horse while playing polo game. He was buried in Lahore in
the year 1210 and left the world without son and only one daughter.
Conclusion
In short, Qutbuddin was one of the
great leaders that able to attract people through his personalities. It was
proved when he was a servant of merchant and had attracted Qazi to purchase him
and after that was sold again to the Sultan as a slave. His journey did not
stop there as he had had proved himself to be a very responsible person through
position given by the sultan. His personalities accelerated more through many
conquests joined by him and won majority of the battles. Sultan Shihabuddin
able to see the abilities of Qutbuddin and had desires to elevate him as the
next successor. Although had received a little challenge he had able to gain
support from the citizen and Sultan Mahmud, he had got full power to become
Sultan and became the founder of Muslim Dynasty in India. It is undeniable that
Qutbuddin was a very justice and loving Sultan that had flourished the dynasty
through the establishment of the slave dynasty. Although he could not able to
enjoy his successes in long period of time, he had left a big achievement the
history of India.