Reconstructing the history of the origins of Islam: A Historiographical study. By Abhimanyu Kalsotra, MA Medieval History, CHS, JNU. Email: abhimanyukalsotra5401@gmail.com “All we know is what we have been told. With neither artefact nor archive, the students of Islamic origins could easily become victims of a literary and linguistic conspiracy” – John Wansbrough, ‘Res Ipsa Loquitur: History and Mimesis” (1986). 1 Rather than a cautionary statement, perhaps Wansbrough is trying to put forth his understanding of the origins of Islam. While Wansbrough would like one to believe that there exists no Islamic essentialism, 2 Donner would argue for a utilitarian goal of the origins narrative – legitimation of the community of Believers. 3 The focus of this paper would be to address whether it is impossible to reconstruct the history of the origin of Islam. To reach a conclusion, the attempts made by different scholars of history through time and space would be investigated. The scope of the study would include the potential sources used by the scholars for the study of the origin of Islam and the various problems encountered with them. Lastly, an attempt would be made to put forth a way forward to understand the methods required to reconstruct the history of origins of Islam, if possible, while adopting a practical agency. For the study of history, it becomes important that one has reliable sources of information. The contemporary nature of the sources makes the argument more sound and reconstruction of the past authentic. There exists a dearth of contemporary sources, be it writings, inscriptions, coins, archaeological evidence, papyrus, which makes the study about the most important period of the history of Islam marred with complexities and challenges. 4 The historiographical literary sources about early Islam are divided according to the historical periods. For instance, Sira is the material on the life of the Prophet, Maghazi is about the military campaigns conducted by the Prophet or his companions. There are also texts including utterances of scholars, saints, statesmen, among others, called khabar (pl. Akhbar). 5 The earliest extant chronicle available is that of khalifa ibn Khayyat (d. 845). It becomes evident that there exists a dearth of literary sources for the initial period of Islam. The reasons for the same 1 Ibn Warraq. "Studies on Muhammad and the Rise of Islam: A Critical Survey" in The Quest for the Historical Muhammad, ed and trans. by Ibn Warraq.Prometheus Books New York, 2000. p.38 2 Peter Von Sivers. The Islamic Origins Debate Goes Public. History Compass Volume 1, Issue 1. 2003. p.9 3 Fred M. Donner. Muhammad and the Believers, At the Origins of Islam. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts London, England 2010. p.217 4 Fred M. Donner. Narratives of Islamic Origins: The Beginnings of Islamic Historical Writing. Darwin Press, 1998. p.2 5 Ibn Warraq. 2000. p.25