Al-Hakam ibn Awana

Al-Hakam ibn Awana (Arabic: الحكم بن عوانة الكلبي) was the Umayyad governor of Sindh in 731–740.^[1] He was appointed by Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik after the death of the governor Tamim ibn Zaid al-Utbi, Al-Hakam restored order to Sindh and Kush and built secure fortifications at al-Mahfuzah and al-Mansur, and proceeded to retake lands previously conquered by al-Junayd.

Al-Hakam ibn Awana
Coinage of al-Hakam bin Awana al-Kalbi, Umayyad governor of Sindh
Umayyad Governor of Sindh
In office 731–740
Appointed by	Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik
Preceded by	Tamim ibn Zaid al-Utbi
Personal details
Died	740 india
Nationality	Umayyad
Children	Awana ibn al-Hakam
Occupation	Governor
Military service
Allegiance	Umayyad Caliphate

Campaigns

Campaign of Al hakam
Part of Umayyad campaigns in India
The region in which the arab campgain took place
Date 731-740 Location Gujarat, Rajasthan. Result Contested Caliphate raids Decline of Gurjaras of Lata Decline of Mori Kingdom Defeat and reversion of Umayyad campaigns
Belligerents
Umayyad Caliphate	Chavda dynasty Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty Chalukyas of Navasarika Kachchh Kingdom Saindhava Gurjaras of Lata Maitraka dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Al-Hakam ibn Awana †	Pushyadeva Dhavala Unknown chavda king † Jayabhata IV Siladitya IV Pulakeshin Nagabhata I

Although Arab sources do not mention details of the campaigns, they are recorded in Indian sources which mentioned some victories over the Arab forces and their expeditions. Al-Hakam ibn Abu al-Aas ventured to Indias coastline from Sindh utilizing the Caliphate navy.^[2] The Navsari inscription attributed to Avanijanashraya Pulakeshin of the Chalukya dynasty claimed victory over Arab forces after stating that they had arrived to Navsari and defeating the rulers.^[3] Since these conquests had been lost under Tamim Zayd, and since the Muslims had again reached the southeastern corner of Gujarat by 739 AD, we must conclude that Al-Hakam or his lieutenants had indeed reconquered these territories.^[4] Al-Hakam died in battle while fighting the Saurashtra in present-day Gujarat in 740 AD, putting an end to his expedition.^[5][6]