Book Review: Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

 I saw on Amazon that at the time of this writing, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity (2014) by Nabeel Qureshi averages 4.9 out of 5.0 stars. Over 100 people have already rated this recent publication and 95% of them rated it as a 5/5.  I found that rating improbably high, so when the opportunity to read this book for myself arose, I happily accepted.

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus is a story of a man's journey from Islam to Christianity. Qureshi was raised in a devout Pakistani Muslim family where Islam was absolutely central to what they did and how they lived. Qureshi's parents were well-versed in the teachings and practices of Islam and they were devoted to passing these teachings and practices on to their children. In this book, the author provided an autobiographical account of his life beginning in Islam and his journey to Christianity.  

There is much to like about this book. Qureshi wrote respectfully about Islam. In fact, I learned more about Islam from this book than I have in other things that I have previously read or encountered. He was able to provide a first hand, insider's account of what Islam actually looks like and teaches. He did some without animus or antagonism. 

The author also treated us to his wrestling with the truth of Christianity and the difficulties with Islam. Through a four year period, he engaged in challenging and difficult conversations with people he came to trust, most notably his friend David, who figures prominently in the book.  Qureshi is no intellectual slouch, finishing college in the top 1% a year early and then graduating from medical school. He applied his fine tuned intellect to exploring both faiths in depth. 

Most importantly, though, I think this book provides a window into what apologetics and evangelism look like in the context of real relationships. So many apologetics books are antiseptic, but real life is gritty and there are real consequences to changing worldview. Qureshi dealt with those changes and shares with his readers the joys and the pains associated with that.  

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus is a remarkable book.  I will happily add my 5 star rating to all of those that already exist. 

I received this book free from the publisher through the Book Look Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”