Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity

By Nabeel Qureshi

An Unexpected Journey from Islam to Christianity

In Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel Qureshi describes his dramatic journey from Islam to Christianity, complete with friendships, investigations, and supernatural dreams along the way.

Providing an intimate window into a loving Muslim home, Qureshi shares how he developed a passion for Islam before discovering, almost against his will, evidence that Jesus rose from the dead and claimed to be God. Unable to deny the arguments but not wanting to deny his family, Qureshi’s inner turmoil will challenge Christians and Muslims alike.

Engaging and thought-provoking, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus tells a powerful story of the clash between Islam and Christianity in one man’s heart—and of the peace he eventually found in Jesus.

"I have seldom seen such genuine intellect combined with passion to match ... truly a 'must-read' book."

–Ravi Zacharias

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Feb 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9780310515036

Nabeel Qureshi

Nabeel Qureshi was an accomplished author and highly sought-after global itinerant speaker. Ever the seeker of truth and knowledge, he obtained an MD from Eastern Virginia Medical School, an MA in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, an MA in Religion from Duke University, and an MPhil in Judaism and Christianity from Oxford University. Nabeel’s zeal for ministry and education was surpassed only by his passion for life and love for his family. His books include the award-winning memoir Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, No God but One: Allah or Jesus?, and Answering Jihad.

Reviews for Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

[justagirlwithabook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't quite remember how I stumbled upon this one, but I did, and I was glad for it. People's personal stories of faith are always so intriguing to me, and if you're only interested in just simply a dialogue between the two largest Abrahamic faiths today, this is still an interesting read. At the very least, Nabeel will give you a crash course in basic theology, and if that's a word that makes you perk up your ears, this is worth checking out.

[jamesrrouse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

(1) The Trinity and molecules with resonance (194)

[jjvors_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dr. Nabeel Qureshi documents his journey from a devout Muslim to Christianity in an open, heartfelt, and moving account of his life as a Muslim and his conversion to Christianity. Rather than painting Islam in a negative way, he shows its pacific, joyful, familial aspects through his personal experiences. While seeking to evangelize his newfound Christian friends to Islam, he is shaken by their historical analysis of Christianity and is challenged to do the same with Islam. Examining Islam's history and the provenance of the Quran using the reliable hadiths, or oral teachings, his faith in Islam is deeply shaken. Still, four miracles in response to his anguished prayers were what God needed to bring him to Jesus Christ.For those interested in learning about Islam or Christianity I highly recommend this book.

[debs4jc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found this man's story quite powerful. He relates how he grew up in a Muslim household, the son of immigrant parents--and he shares some very insightful thoughts on the tensions that arise between parents who are rooted in the customs and culture of where they grew up, and their children who grow up in America. Part of what made his experiences different from those of his parents was his exposure to Christians. He and his family found their arguments and attempts to evangelize them laughable, until Nabeel met David Wood. David is a serious Christian and he challenges Nabeel to prove that his beliefs are wrong. Nabeel and David engage in many back and forth arguments about Christianity--all while maintaining a lively friendship. Things become frightening for Nabeel when he begins to find his assumptions about Christian beliefs are wrong - and that some of the things he has been taught about his own religion can't stand up to the facts of history. Nabeel knows that to denounce Islam and become a Christian will deeply hurt his family and separate him from them, but he can't deny that he has been deeply affected by what he has learned. Eventually he does decide to become a Christian.As Nabeel shares his story the reader learns a lot about how his family practiced their faith, what they believed about Christians and the Bible, and about the different arguments David and Nabeel both used to defend their positions. I found this very enlightening and it was intriguing to get a look into a Muslim household and learn about their way of life. Nabeel shares from his heart the emotions and ups and downs of his journey as well, engaging the reader in a moving story.I highly recommend this book.

[leandrod-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One can be so stepped in doctrine & History that one forgets about the struggles of people besides ourselves. This is a good antidote to such forgetfulness.

[darrell.newton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone interested in a Christian-Muslim debate. The arguments the author presents are (as far as I can tell) balanced and very respectful. The story describes the heart-felt journey of a young man as he wrestles with finding a path to the Creator.

[tony · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely Amazing Book,The Glory of Our Lord and God Jesus Christ pours out of this book.Amazing!!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE!!! YES EVERYONE!! AS WELL AS THE BOOK "SON OF HAMAS"

[highlander6022 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. Easily readable (chapters are only a few pages long and terminology is highlighted in sidebars). The title clearly describes the subject, but I wasn’t sure exactly how the author would relate his personal journey of coming to Christ. That curiosity was quickly overcome by how the author discussed his early life and his family, how he was taught his Islam belief, and perhaps best of all, core tenets of his belief. The discussion of the tenets of his faith helped me understand a lot about how differences in Western/Christian and Islamic cultures can lead to conflict.The book could serve as a primer on how to talk about the Christian faith not only with a Muslim but also with just non-Christians/atheists.I highly recommend!

[writercsjohnson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I LOVED THIS BOOK and I cannot wait to tell Nabeel how much I loved it when I meet him in heaven.

[robsumrall · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Few books have impacted me like Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. Nabbed Qureshi's writing style is education and riveting. I can't really figure out what this book was. Was it biography? Was it apologetics? Was it missiology? Should it be categorized under world religions? At the end of the day, I think it is enough to say that it is simply good. Maybe "good" isn't a strong enough word. I wish I could award it more stars.Why?In Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel Qureshi manages to show the beauty of Islam in a fair and balanced manner while demonstrating the overwhelming draw of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He lays out his own journey in a manner that is respectful of his parents and his upbringing. Still, his own journey to find truth leads him away from the Muslim culture and faith. The heart-rending journey is one that is powerfully emotional. I'll admit it; I cried. Multiple times.The emotional pull of the narrative, as powerful as it is, takes a back seat to the apologetic argument that is laid out for Nabeel by his friend, David. The astute reader will discover apologetic devices and arguments that should inform conversations with Muslims as well as other world faiths. The supremacy of Jesus Christ is trumpeted throughout this book!I have been strongly urging anyone who would listen to read Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. I do the same with you. Download it today. Enjoy the journey. And admit that you cried at the end!

[sparkleandchico · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was a bit dubious about this book due to the references to supernatural dreams and visions that the publisher has splashed everywhere obviously for the purposes of sales. However, I was pleasantly surprised; the supernatural aspects are not the focus of the book, instead the focus is a close friendship developed by the Muslim author with a Christian school friend over a number of years. This (in conjunction with the Spirit of God) ultimately led to his conversion from Islam to Christianity.

His account is compelling and very readable; I found it hard to put down. He explains his upbringing in a strict Muslim family, his parents being his role model, and his faith his life. He explains his Islamic beliefs and practice and the difference between the Eastern 'shame' culture and the Western right and wrong/black and white. He provides good examples of how conflicts easily arise in the hearts of Muslims when they are asked to challenge the hierarchy/their elders. They are taught to obey/believe without question from a young age even when their intellect is telling them that something is suspect. The author details how they would rather ignore the facts than risk shaming the family. This he explains at length by documenting his own emotional turmoil when he begins to be challenged by Christianity.

Of course, like all people, Muslims in the East and West generally just believe what they are taught. Rarely is there much critical investigation into historical events, and the few that invest the effort usually do the same thing I had done: attempt to defend what is already believed, potentially ignoring or underestimating evidence that points to the contrary. This is only natural, since it is extremely difficult to change beliefs that are dear to the heart.

His friendship with David, a Christian friend, develops due to both of them having a sincere faith albeit in a different God. They stand apart from the US culture which is pretty worldly. The author has reproduced the many discussions they had and the questions that arose in a lot of detail. He read numerous books during this period and it's clear that his search for the truth was sincere. He began his research intent on converting David to Islam or at least proving that Christianity was unreliable. He failed and became more and more aware of this as time went by. He has a strange experience where he asks God (it is not clear which God he is addressing) to reveal the location of his friends in a large gathering and 'God' sends him a sign in the sky directing him to his friends. I'm not sure what to make of this but it doesn't move him much further forward faith wise.

His first visit to a Christian worship service didn't assist him in his search for the truth either and we would do well to hear and reflect on his comments;

I had never seen any of this before, and it all seemed very irreverent to me. Worship was supposed to be a solemn, reflective time of bonding between man and God, yet these people were banging on drums and asking for money. At the mosque, no one was allowed to stand in front of you while you worshiped so that you could focus on worshiping God. That there were girls on stage during a worship service seemed to border on sacrilege. So the worship service disturbed me and left a sour taste in my mouth. I thought, 'If this is what it means to worship God as a Christian. I want nothing to do with it.'

However, David, his friend, was walking the talk and this was undeniable.

Effective evangelism requires relationships. There are very few exceptions

I'm not sure I totally agree with the above statement as there are circumstances where the Holy Spirit has prepared the heart of a person and people are individuals and respond in different ways. But I definitely think that relationships are often key in evangelism amongst Muslims as it's necessary to negate the negative image they have of Christianity based on Western culture. This is best done through building friendships and demonstrating a sincere Christian faith on a daily basis and over a period of time.

The author eventually came to the point where he knew the truth but couldn't embrace it wholeheartedly due to his ingrained beliefs about Islam and his fears about hurting those he loved and possibly being ex-communicated or worse. It was at this point that he began begging God for dreams, having previously begged Allah with no reply;

I would reach a point in my life when I spent many prostrate hours begging Allah for guidance through dreams. And as it turned out. When I got one, I knew it was from Him.

Dreams are the only means I know of by which the average Muslim expects to hear directly from God.

I wasn't sure what to make of this. The author claims that God sent him three dreams and that he knew after the first one that there would be two more. His first dream was somewhat bizarre involving various creatures and people. The meaning wasn't clear so he asked his Muslim mother to look up all the symbols/creatures in her 'dream book.' He then uses her response to interpret his dream. He does the same with the next two dreams although these seem to have a clearer message; 'leave Islam, convert to Christianity.' I'm not convinced that God would have us use a Muslim's dream book to interpret dreams that He has sent.....However, I don't believe these dreams detract from his story as it is clear to me that he would have converted without the dreams. Maybe God was gracious to him knowing how hard it was due to his family situation....

Leaving aside the supernatural encounters that I'm not sure what to make of. This is a great book for a Christian to use for evangelism. It covers many of the common arguments that Muslims have in relation to the Bible and other crucial aspects of the Christian faith. It also reveals a surprising level of ignorance of Muslims about their own faith due to their cultural hierarchy. We can learn from this and ensure we are patient when seeking to evangelise and not unnecessarily offending our Muslim friends.

I recommend this book for Christian readers with a heart for evangelism...

[icsonia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

this book helped me to understand some of the cultural differences between the east and west as well as why obedience is so important to God

[Jarimy Springer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Perfect book to introduce an American born, 34 year old, middle class white male to the truth about his Muslim neighbors he might encounter in every day life. Full of info, told through a captivating and awe-inspiring story of redemption through Jesus. I can't give enough praise and thanks for this book. If spread through our nation, the message this book tells truly has the capability to change the world. I pray God continues to use information like this, from lives which look strange to the average American, to bridge gaps between our cultures - and spread the gospel of Christ like wildfire.

[Alyssa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A moving and powerful book portraying the overwhelming love of God our Father.

[wilsonknut · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I’ve been looking forward to Nabeel Qureshi’s book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus ever since I heard Ravi Zacharias mention it. I have been curious about what Islam truly teaches and how it compares to Christianity for some time. Don’t worry. Qureshi’s book is not a scholarly tome. It is an inspiring autobiography and testimony that illustrates that God loves us enough to pursue us- even when everything we’ve been taught resists Him.Qureshi writes that the purpose of his book is threefold:1. To tear down walls by giving non-Muslim readers an insider’s perspective into a Muslim’s heart and mind.2. To equip you with facts and knowledge, showing the strength of the case for the gospel in contrast with the case for Islam.3. To portray the immense inner struggle of Muslims grappling with the gospel, including sacrifices and doubts.I believe he succeeds in his purpose.Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus reads very quickly, yet there are profound insights into the Islamic culture and view of Christianity. Qureshi was raised a devout Muslim. As he leads us through his autobiography, he is careful to explain key Islamic concepts and beliefs. The structure of the book is based around Qureshi saying the sajda, a portion of ritual islamic prayers; however, this time he is struggling with what he has learned about Christianity and his mind is racing with questions as he prays. As Qureshi’s story and life unfolds, he repeatedly returns to this moment.We learn of Qureshi’s early life and the many Islamic traditions and beliefs. I have to admit that I felt that Muslims put most Christians to shame in their devotion to their faith. He is very confident in his faith and what he has been taught.He becomes friends with a Christian in college, and over time they begin to discuss some of the key doctrinal issues that Muslims denounce. Each chapter becomes a mini-lesson on apologetics and key doctrines. One thing that stands out during this process through the years, is that the Christians witnessing to Qureshi are very patient with him and respectful of his Islamic beliefs. That’s not to say they don’t question his beliefs or push back on some of what he says, but they do it in a loving way. Of course, this is the Holy Spirit at work. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but as the title suggests Qureshi eventually comes to know Christ as savior.Qureshi’s candor and honesty shine in this book and make this a very personal read. I felt like I know him by the time I finished the book. Most importantly, God’s relentless love for us and the power of His truth are proclaimed through Qureshi’s testimony. I highly recommend this book.