*Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi

This book is a “Best of the Best” pick from our Winter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas!

*Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi. Zondervan, 2014. 304 pages.

• Reading Level: Adult
• Recommended for: Ages 15 and up

One-Line Summary: In this moving and convicting account, Qureshi recounts his spiritual awakening from devout Muslim boy to questioning teenager to zealous young Christian.

Nabeel Qureshi is a refreshing narrator in these confused times as our society attempts to balance fear of extreme Islamic practices with reticence about religious profiling of all professing Muslims. In this well-organized and exciting book, Qureshi spends time walking the reader through his early years in a devout home that professed and practiced the beliefs of the Islamic sect Ahmadiyya. Qureshi’s parents took the religious training of their children very seriously, and by the time Qureshi was a teen, he was well versed in the tenets of his religion. During high school, his best friend was a boy named David, a professing Christian and fellow debate team member. They became roommates in college and began to debate the merits of Islam and Christianity.

The rest, as they say, is history. The Lord used myriad ways to open this young man’s eyes to the truths of the gospel, and Qureshi’s account is simultaneously honest, emotional, and intellectually stimulating. Qureshi’s parents’ devotion to their religion and their training of their children is truly commendable, an example we Christians would do well to emulate. Of particular interest to our teen and college readers is the portrayal of Nabeel and David’s friendship. The two quickly realized that despite their significant religious differences and cultural backgrounds, they actually had more in common with each other than with their secular friends. For instance, both believed in a Creator and disavowed evolution. Their willingness to focus on their similarities and to be honest with each other even when religious debates grew intense proved to be a real means of grace in both of their lives.

Qureshi gives readers a powerful example of life-on-life apologetics and of Peter’s urging for all Christians to have an answer for the hope that is in us. He also paints the Islamic community in sympathetic, but honest terms, and he includes much extra material on his website for readers who wish to pursue the apologetics questions further. His extra resources on the web come from noted Christian thinkers such as Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel. Currently, Qureshi is working with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. This is a must read for any who wish to understand their Muslim friends and neighbors better as well as for any who are interested in apologetics.

Cautions: none

Overall Value: 5 (out of 5)

• Moral/worldview value: 5
• Artistic value: 5

Categories: Young Adult, Adult, Starred Review, Christianity, Religion, Auto/Biography

Cover image from amazon
*indicates starred review