The Sikh history is grateful to Qazi Nur Muhammad of Gunjaba who accompanied Ahmad Shah Durrani on his seventh expedition against the Sikhs in the winter of 1764. With pen in hand and sword hanging by his side, the Qazi was present in all of Durrani's battles against the Sikhs and has recorded his own first-hand impressions of their character and martial qualities. In his intense hatred for them as the opponents of the Afghan power in the Punjab, he uses all sorts of abusive language and calls Sikhs "accursed infidels," "dogs of hell," etc. At the same time, however, he pays a glowing tribute to the Sikh spirit of self-sacrifice. As an eye-witness, he writes in his Jang Namah:

"When the Shah arrived at the Chakk (Amritsar and entered the Darbar Sahib premises on December 1, 1764) there was not a single Kafir (Sikh) to be seen there. But a few of them had remained in an enclosure (the bunga of the Akal Takht) so that they might spill their own blood. And they sacrificed their lives for the Guru. When they saw the renowned Shah and the army of Islam [numbering about thirty-six thousand] they all came out of the enclosure. They were only thirty in number. They had not a grain of fear in them. They had neither the fear of slaughter nor the dread of death."

Qazi Nur Muhammad was so deeply impressed by the lofty character and bravery of the Sikhs in their struggle for freedom that he has devoted a section of his book (No. XLI, pages 156-159) to "Bayan-i-mardangi-i-sagan waqt-i-jang-i-din wa mardangi-i-eshan," The Bravery of the Dogs in a Religious War and in General. He writes:

"Do not call the 'dogs' (the Sikhs) dogs, because they are lions, and are courageous like lions in the field of battle. How can a hero, who roars like a lion in the field of battle, be called a dog? If you wish to learn the art of war, come fact to face with them in the field. They will demonstrate it to you in such a way that one and all will praise them for it. If you wish to learn the science of war, O swordsman, learn from them how to face an enemy like a hero and to get safely out of action. Singh is a title (a form of address for them). It is not justice to call them dogs. If you do not know the Hindustani language (I tell you), the word Singh means a lion. Truly they are like lions in battle, and at the time of peace they surpass Hatim (in generosity.)

"When they take the sword in their hands, they overrun they country from Hind to Sind. Nobody then stands in opposition to them, however much strong he may be. When they manipulate the spear they shatter the ranks of the enemy, and when they raise the heads of their spears into the sky, they would pierce even through the Caucasus. When they adjust the strings of their Chachi bows and place in them the enemy-killing arrows and pull the strings to their ears, the body of the enemy begins of shiver with fear. When their battle-axe falls upon the armor of their opponents, that armor becomes their coffin.

"The body of every one of them is like the piece of a rock, and, in physical grandeur, every one of them is more than fifty persons. It is said that Bahram Gor killed wild asses and set the lions shrieking. But if Bahram were to come face to face with them, even he would bow before them. "During a battle when they take their guns in their hands, they come jumping into the field of action, roaring like lions. They tear the chests of many and shed the blood of several (of their enemy) in dust. It is said that the musket is a weapons of ancient days. It, however, appears to be the creation of these dogs rather than of the great Socrates. Although there are so many of tufangchis (musketeers), but nobody can excel them in its use. To the right and to the left, and in front and towards the back, they go on firing regularly. If you do not believe in what I say, you may inquire of the brave swordsman who would tell you more than myself and would praise them for their fighting. The fact that they grappled with thirty thousand heroes bears witness to my statement.

"When their armies take to flight, do not take it as an actual flight. It is a war-tactic of theirs. Beware, beware of them for a second time. The object of this trick is that when the furious enemy runs after them, he is separated from his main army and from his reinforcements. Then they turn back to face their pursuers and set fire even to water.

"Leaving aside their mode of fighting, hear you another point in which they excel all of other fighting people. In no case would they slay a coward, nor would they put an obstacle in the way of a fugitive. They do not plunder the wealth and ornaments of a woman, be she a wealthy lady or a maid-servant. There is no adultery amongst these dogs, nor are these mischievous people given to thieving . . . There is no thief at all amongst these dogs, nor is there any house-breaker born amongst these miscreants. They do not make friends with adulterers and house-breakers . . . "If you are not conversant with their religion. I tell you that the Sikhs are the disciples of the Guru, and that august Guru lived at Chak (Amritsar). The ways and manners of these people received their impetus from Nanak who showed the Sikhs a separate path (taught them a new distinct religion). He was succeeded by Gobind Singh. From him they received the title of Singh. They are not from amongst the Hindus. These miscreants have a separate religion of their own."

Please note that the above praise comes from the bitterest enemy of the Sikhs, who had shattered for all time to come the hopes and ambitions of the Afghans to establish their political power in the Punjab. Because, the writer himself was appointed as the Qazi of Lahore at one time, it enhances the historical value of the Jang Namah a legion times.