Multan

Multan is a major city located in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It sits on the eastern bank of the Chenab River. The city is the sixth-largest in Pakistan today. It serves as the administrative headquarters for its own district and division. Multan is a vital cultural, religious, and economic hub for the entire Punjab region. It is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in all of Asia.

The origins of the city's name are not fully understood by historians. An ancient name for the area was Malli-istan. This name likely came from the Malli tribe that lived there. Some suggest the name relates to a deity from the ancient Multan Sun Temple. Others believe it comes from the Old Persian word "mulastāna," meaning frontier land. Another theory links it to the Sanskrit word "mūlasthāna." The region has deep roots in the Indus Valley Civilisation. Archaeological sites nearby date back to the early Harappan period between 3000 BC and 2800 BC.

Multan has experienced many waves of conquest and rule. In the early 6th century BC, it was part of the Achaemenid Empire. During the Mallian campaign in 326 BCE, Alexander the Great besieged the city. The Malli people gathered an army of 90,000 to fight the 50,000 Greeks. During the siege of the citadel, Alexander was wounded by an arrow in his lung. The battle took place at a site known as "Khooni Burj." Later, the Umayyad commander Muhammad bin Qasim captured the city in 712 CE. In the 9th century, Multan became the capital of the Emirate of Multan.

Different dynasties shaped the city during the medieval era. The Ghaznavid and Delhi Sultanates ruled the region for a time. In 1445, Multan became the capital of the Langah Sultanate. It was also a major province, known as Multan Subah, under the Mughal Empire. From 1818 to 1849, the Sikhs held power in the city. Eventually, the British conquered the area and included it in the British Punjab. Throughout these changes, the city remained a massive trading center. It maintained strong economic ties to Iran and Central Asia.

The city became a center of spirituality and learning. During Turkish-Persian rule, it attracted many Sufi mystics. This led to the city earning the nickname "City of Saints." Many famous Sufi shrines are located in Multan and the nearby city of Uch. These shrines often feature unique architectural styles. For example, the tomb of Shah Gardez from the 1150s uses blue enameled tiles. The shrine of Shamsuddin Sabzwari from 1330 has a unique green dome.

Multan was also a center of great wealth due to trade and religion. In the 10th century, the Multan Sun Temple was a major economic force. It provided up to 30% of the state's total tax revenues. Because of this wealth, the city had the Arabic nickname "Faraj Bayt al-Dhahab," or "Frontier House of Gold." Central Asian caravans from Islamic Khorasan would assemble here to trade. The city's merchants were culturally prepared for this because they often spoke both Arabic and Persian.

The history of the city shows how different religions and cultures interacted. In the 10th century, the Qarmatian Ismailis ruled the city. They destroyed the Sun Temple and replaced its mosque with an Ismaili congregational mosque. Later, Mahmud of Ghazni led expeditions to suppress Ismailism and restore Sunni rule. These conflicts changed the religious landscape of the region. Despite these shifts, the city remained a place of pilgrimage. It continues to be a significant site for spiritual study and historical interest today.