EMQ » October–December 2019 » Volume 55 Issue 4
By Nabeel Qureshi
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018
373 pages
USD $19.99
Reviewed by Hoon Jung, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California.
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus is an autobiographical essay by Nabeel Qureshi who converted to Christianity from Islam. After his conversion, the author served as a prominent Christian apologist, but died of stomach cancer at the age of thirty-four in 2017. The focus of this story is on his dramatic journey from being a devout Muslim to becoming a Christian. This third edition includes reflections on Nabeel’s life by his wife and two friends.
There are many merits in this volume. First, it is easy to read and entertaining. Because this book is not a technical introduction to Islam, even people who are not familiar with this religion can follow the story easily. This book is as intriguing as a good novel because the author describes his journey chronologically from childhood to adulthood.
Second, this book is informative. Although not an academic work, this book introduces readers to Islam, and not in a shallow way. For example, dealing with the complexity and diversity of Islam, the author addresses details that even most Muslims may not know well (61). Also, the author describes his early experiences with Christianity from the perspective of a Muslim, a perspective not often found in Christian books. This perspective alone makes the book worth reading.
Third, one can gain insight relevant to some contemporary missiological topics. For example, the fears faced by immigrants and minorities are discussed. The author looks back at the fear and instability his family experienced when the events of 9/11 occurred. Also, he describes how his grandmother was mistreated during Operation Desert Storm simply because she was a Muslim. Such fear and instability are not limited to religious minorities in the contemporary world. These stories describe the suffering, sorrow, and real-life difficulties of all kinds that immigrants and minorities throughout the world experience, a major contemporary topic in missiology.
In addition, because Christian apologetics played an important role in his conversion, a series of apologetic essays written by various Christian scholars are included in an appendix. These essays cover topics which are relevant to the Christian-Muslim dialogue.
There is only one problem to note. Because this book is based on the author’s personal experiences, readers may not agree with some of the generalizations he makes. For example, the author began with his spiritual journey through candid discussions with his best friend who was a Christian. Given his experience, the author seems to doubt the efficacy of street preaching (120). However, Christians who came to know the Lord through public preaching are likely to disagree with this conclusion.
The target audience of this book is very wide. This well-written, informative, and entertaining book is a must for everyone interested in Islamic studies or interested in mission to Muslims. In addition, Muslims who are seriously considering following Christ may find this book insightful and quite helpful.
For Further Reading:
Licona, Michael R. Paul Meets Muhammad: A Christian-Muslim Debate on the Resurrection. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academics, 2006.
Reisacher, Evelyne A. Joyful Witness in the Muslim World: Sharing the Gospel in Every Encounters. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academics, 2016.
