Mahmud of Ghazni: Not Just a Foreign Invader, a Butcher of His Own Faith

• Former Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari's statement reignited debate on Mahmud of Ghazni's historical role, questioning if he was solely a religious warrior.
• Mahmud of Ghazni brutally massacred thousands of Ismaili Shias in Multan (1005-1006 CE), destroying mosques and burning religious texts.
• Court historians Utbi and Tarikh-i-Firishta recorded Mahmud himself wielding the sword, killing so many that his hand stuck to the hilt with congealed blood.
• The attack on Multan was driven by political and religious conflict, as Mahmud, supported by the Abbasid Caliph, considered Fatimid-influenced Shias as enemies.
• This event highlights Mahmud's religious intolerance, categorizing Shias as 'infidels' and demonstrating his cruelty extended beyond other religions.

Why It Matters: Mahmud of Ghazni's brutality extended to his own faith, massacring Ismaili Shias in Multan due to religious and political fanaticism.