September 2022

C. Qutayba Bin Muslim

Qutayba ibn Muslim was an Arab general who served under the Umayyad Caliphate. He is known for his conquests in Central Asia and for expanding the caliphate’s control in the region. Qutayba is often referred to as the “conqueror of Central Asia” due to his military campaigns in the area.

Qutayba was appointed as the governor of Khurasan in 705 CE and spent the next several years consolidating Arab control in the region. He launched several successful campaigns against the neighboring kingdoms of Kabul, Bukhara, and Samarkand, which helped to extend the caliphate’s influence in Central Asia.

Qutayba’s military successes were also instrumental in spreading Islam in the region. He actively promoted the religion and is credited with building several mosques in the territories he conquered.

However, Qutayba’s rule was not without controversy. He faced opposition from some of the local rulers and there were several uprisings against his administration. Qutayba was eventually killed in a battle against the Turkic Khazar tribe in 715 CE. Despite his death, his legacy as a successful military leader and promoter of Islam in Central Asia lived on.