Title: Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity
Author: Nabeel Qureshi
TLDR: A devout Muslim’s intellectual and spiritual quest to defend Islam leads him to a shocking discovery: the historical evidence overwhelmingly points to the truth of the Gospel and the deity of Jesus Christ.
Part 1: Called to Prayer (Chapters 1-10)
Nabeel’s story begins with a deep dive into his upbringing as a devout Muslim. He was born into a family steeped in Islamic tradition, with both parents serving as powerful examples of faith. His father, a hardworking Navy officer from the esteemed Qureshi tribe (Chapter 1), instilled in him the importance of heritage and Islamic piety. His mother, a daughter of missionaries (Chapter 2), impressed upon him the power of prayer and unwavering trust in Allah.
He describes the close bond of his family (Chapter 3) and their experiences as Muslims in predominantly non-Muslim communities, facing challenges of belonging and the pressures of cultural differences.
The Quran, believed to be the literal word of God, formed the bedrock of his faith (Chapter 4). He was taught to recite its Arabic verses with precision and to approach the holy book with the utmost reverence.
Stories of Muhammad’s exemplary life (Chapter 5), emphasizing his mercy and leadership, deepened his love for Islam. He learned to embrace the Five Pillars (Chapter 7) and the Six Articles of Faith, and the rituals of prayer (salaat) became an integral part of his life (Chapter 6).
He explores the diversity within Islam (Chapter 7), highlighting the unique position of his Ahmadiyya sect and its controversial claims. The concept of sharia, Islamic law, and its application within different Muslim communities is also examined (Chapter 8). The significance of dreams as potential sources of divine revelation within Islamic culture is explored through a personal family experience (Chapter 9). The chapter on Ramadhan (Chapter 10) showcases the spiritual discipline and joyous celebrations that mark this holy month.
Part 2: An Ambassador for Islam (Chapters 11-19)
As Nabeel comes of age, he grapples with the challenges of reconciling his Islamic identity with his American environment. His mother urges him to be an “ambassador for Islam” (Chapter 11), upholding Islamic values and representing his faith positively.
He describes the culture clash between Eastern and Western values, highlighting the honor-shame paradigm that shaped his upbringing (Chapter 12). He recounts personal anecdotes (Chapter 13) to illustrate the differences in moral outlooks and the challenges faced by second-generation Muslims in the West.
The tension between tradition and modernity surfaces (Chapter 14), particularly concerning issues of dating and relationships. He reflects on the struggles of straddling two cultures and the pressure to maintain a “picture-perfect” image of Islam (Chapter 15).
Nabeel delves into the importance of hadith, the traditions of Muhammad, in shaping Islamic practice (Chapter 16). However, a growing awareness of the complexities of hadith methodology and the potential for distortions within these traditions begins to emerge.
He recounts a pivotal experience where he witnessed God’s supernatural guidance, leading him to his childhood friends through streaks in the sky (Chapter 17). This experience strengthens his belief in God’s personal involvement in his life, a belief further reinforced by his family’s stories of prophetic dreams (Chapter 18).
The chapter on “The Religion of Peace” (Chapter 19) addresses the challenging questions raised by 9/11, forcing him to confront the disparity between the peaceful Islam he knew and the violent acts committed in its name. He explores the different interpretations of jihad and the complexities of defining Islam as a religion of peace or violence.
Part 3: Testing the New Testament (Chapters 20-23)
Nabeel’s journey takes a significant turn as he begins engaging more deeply with Christianity, spurred by his friendship with David Wood. Their conversations about the reliability of the Bible lead to intense discussions about textual criticism and the historical transmission of the New Testament (Chapters 20-21).
He challenges the idea that the Bible has been significantly altered over time, presenting common Muslim arguments against its textual integrity. David, in turn, presents counterarguments, emphasizing the vast number of early manuscripts and the strength of the historical method in detecting alterations (Chapter 22).
Nabeel grapples with the evidence, acknowledging the strength of the case for the New Testament’s reliability, but still wrestling with his deeply ingrained belief in its corruption (Chapter 23).
Part 4: Coming to the Crux (Chapters 24-27)
David encourages Nabeel to approach his faith with intellectual honesty, urging him to seek truth above all else (Chapter 24). This leads to a pivotal meeting with Mike Licona and Gary Habermas, both experts on the historical Jesus, where Nabeel’s father joins him in a discussion about Jesus’ crucifixion (Chapter 25).
The arguments presented against the Islamic view that Jesus did not die on the cross prove compelling, exposing flaws in the “swoon theory” and highlighting the historical evidence supporting Jesus’ death. Nabeel is forced to confront the possibility that his Islamic teachers might be wrong (Chapter 26).
This realization propels him further down the path of investigation. He attends a public debate between Mike Licona and a renowned Muslim apologist, Shabir Ally, on the topic of Jesus’ resurrection (Chapter 27). He witnesses Shabir’s arguments crumble under the weight of historical evidence, confirming the strength of the case for the resurrection.
Part 5: Jesus: Mortal Messiah or Divine Son of God? (Chapters 28-31)
Nabeel shifts his focus to the question of Jesus’ deity, a central point of contention between Islam and Christianity. He presents the Islamic view that Jesus was a human prophet, not God incarnate, and argues against the biblical support for Jesus’ divinity.
However, as he delves deeper into the Gospels, he encounters passages that challenge his preconceptions (Chapter 29). He reads John’s prologue, where Jesus is explicitly identified as the Word of God, and begins to recognize the high Christology woven throughout the Gospel. He grapples with these new insights, struggling to reconcile them with his Islamic beliefs (Chapter 30).
David presents further evidence for Jesus’ deity from the letters of Paul, written before the Gospels, showing that early Christians already viewed Jesus as divine (Chapter 31). Nabeel, however, resorts to traditional Islamic arguments, accusing Paul of corrupting the original message of Jesus. Their discussion ends in a heated argument, putting a strain on their friendship.
Part 6: The Case for the Gospel (Chapters 32-35)
Despite their disagreements, Nabeel and David’s friendship endures. They continue their conversations, recognizing the importance of seeking truth even amidst tension and conflict (Chapter 32).
During a lecture on chemical resonance, Nabeel experiences a sudden shift in his understanding of the Trinity (Chapter 33). He realizes that the concept of “three in one” is not inherently contradictory, prompting him to re-examine the doctrine with an open mind.
A discussion with David and his friend Zach, a Buddhist, centers around the Christian doctrine of substitutionary atonement (Chapter 34). Nabeel struggles to grasp how Jesus’ death could pay for the sins of humanity, deeming it unjust and illogical. David patiently explains the concept, emphasizing God’s love and mercy as the driving force behind Christ’s sacrifice.
This conversation sparks a profound shift in Nabeel’s heart, as he begins to understand the gospel on a personal level (Chapter 35). He grapples with the implications of sin, God’s justice, and the overwhelming grace offered through Jesus.
Part 7: The Truth About Muhammad (Chapters 36-39)
Driven by his newfound understanding of the Gospel, Nabeel embarks on a critical investigation of Muhammad’s life. He realizes that the idealized portrait of the prophet, instilled in him from childhood, needs to be tested against historical evidence (Chapter 36).
He begins by studying hadith and sirah literature, but is shocked to discover numerous accounts that challenge Muhammad’s character and contradict the peaceful image he’d always embraced (Chapter 37).
He finds himself increasingly unable to dismiss the problematic traditions, recognizing the intentional alterations and omissions within even the earliest biographies of Muhammad (Chapter 38). David presents him with a binder full of troubling accounts, prompting intense discussions and further challenging his faith in the prophet.
As the evidence mounts, Nabeel confronts the painful realization that the historical Muhammad, far from being a perfect man, engaged in violence, deceit, and actions that defy the Islamic ideal of compassion and justice (Chapter 39). He faces a profound dilemma: either dismiss the historical sources that form the foundation of Islam or acknowledge the unsettling truths about his prophet.
Part 8: The Holiness of the Quran (Chapters 40-43)
With his faith in Muhammad shaken, Nabeel turns to the Quran as his final hope. He examines the arguments for its divine inspiration, seeking to validate its holiness and preserve the foundation of his faith (Chapter 40).
However, he encounters further challenges. The Quran’s claim of inimitability is refuted by examples of texts written in a similar style. Prophecies lack clarity and fulfilled predictions are weak. Mathematical patterns prove insignificant and the scientific arguments are filled with inaccuracies (Chapter 41).
He delves into the history of the Quran’s compilation, as recorded in the hadith, and discovers a chaotic process marked by conflicting recitations, lost verses, and the deliberate destruction of textual variants (Chapter 42). The doctrine of perfect preservation, far from supporting the Quran’s divine origin, requires blind faith to be maintained.
The chapter on “Those Whom Their Right Hands Possess” (Chapter 43) serves as a final breaking point. Nabeel uncovers the Quran’s disturbing teachings on sexual slavery, realizing that its verses condone the rape of captive women, a stark contrast to the compassionate Islam he’d always embraced.
Part 9: Faith in Doubt (Chapters 44-47)
Devastated by his discoveries, Nabeel finds himself at a crossroads. His faith in Islam is shattered, yet the cost of embracing Christianity—losing his family, community, and cultural identity—seems insurmountable (Chapter 44).
He wrestles with the tension between faith and reason, questioning his ability to know truth objectively. He contemplates the potential for eternal damnation if he chooses the wrong path, adding to his anxiety and fear.
As graduation approaches, he acknowledges the strength of the case for Christianity, but remains hesitant to embrace its claims (Chapter 45). He recognizes that a leap of faith is required, a surrender to God’s revelation that transcends mere intellectual assent.
David encourages him to seek God’s guidance directly, reminding him of his family’s experiences with prophetic dreams and visions (Chapter 46). Nabeel, realizing the limitations of reason alone, begins to earnestly pray for divine guidance, begging God to reveal Himself.
Five months later, God answers his prayer. Nabeel experiences a powerful vision of a field filled with glowing crosses, leaving him shaken and uncertain (Chapter 47).
Part 10: Guided by the Hand of God (Chapters 48-53)
Unsure of the vision’s meaning, Nabeel prays for further guidance, specifically requesting three dreams from God. That night, he receives a vivid dream, filled with symbolic imagery of snakes, iguanas, a giant boy, and a cricket (Chapter 48).
He attempts to interpret the dream himself, consulting ancient dream interpretation books and seeking guidance from David, but is still uncertain. A second dream (Chapter 49) vividly portrays him standing outside a narrow door, unable to enter a banquet hall where David awaits him.
He is directed to Luke 13:22, where Jesus speaks of the “narrow door” that leads to salvation, a powerful confirmation of his dream’s meaning. He realizes that God is calling him to embrace the Gospel and enter into His kingdom.
A third dream (Chapter 50) shows him ascending a stairway out of a mosque, unable to return to his former place among the Muslims. He recognizes that God is guiding him on a new path, one that leads away from Islam.
The gravity of his decision weighs heavily on him. He anticipates the pain and rejection he will face from his family, the loss of his community, and the potential for eternal damnation if he is wrong (Chapter 51).
As he grapples with these fears, he turns to the Bible for comfort and finds solace in the words of Jesus, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). The words resonate deeply, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the turmoil.
As he continues reading, he encounters challenging verses about the cost of discipleship, the potential for familial division, and the call to deny oneself and take up one’s cross (Chapter 52). He wrestles with the implications, realizing the sacrifices he must make to follow Jesus.
Finally, in the early hours of August 24, 2005, Nabeel surrenders to God’s calling. He prays a simple prayer of submission, acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord and accepting Him into his life (Chapter 53).