On September 11, 2001, as the world watched the Twin Towers collapse in horror, countless families were forced into a moral and spiritual reckoning. Among them was the Qureshi family, devout Muslims whose faith had always been a source of identity, structure, and dignity. For young Nabeel Qureshi, a promising American student of Pakistani heritage and the son of a U.S. Navy officer, the attacks presented more than just geopolitical consequences—they triggered an inner storm. How could Islam, the religion he loved, the religion that defined his family, be used to justify such evil?
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus is not a polemic or a cold analysis of world religions. It is a deeply personal memoir that traces Qureshi’s journey from faithful Muslim to convinced Christian. And it is more than just a tale of deconversion and conversion—it is a gripping, compassionate, and intellectually rigorous exploration of faith, reason, and the cost of following truth wherever it leads.
THE MAN BEHIND THE MEMOIR: WHO WAS NABEEL QURESHI?
Nabeel Qureshi was born in 1983 to devout Pakistani-American Muslim parents. Raised in the Ahmadi tradition, which is often marginalized within broader Islamic sects, Nabeel was taught to memorize the Qur’an in Arabic and trained in Islamic apologetics from an early age. His father was a respected Navy officer, and his family life was marked by discipline, respect, and reverence for Allah.
Gifted intellectually and driven by a passion for understanding, Nabeel eventually earned multiple advanced degrees, including a medical doctorate (MD) and later a Master of Arts in Christian apologetics from Biola University. He would go on to study at Oxford University and serve with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries before succumbing to stomach cancer in 2017, at just 34 years old. His death was tragic, but his legacy—especially Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus—continues to impact Christians, Muslims, skeptics, and seekers alike.
SHAKING THE FOUNDATIONS: THE AFTERSHOCK OF 9/11
In the book’s early chapters, Qureshi shares how the 9/11 attacks brought Islam into the harsh glare of global scrutiny. For many American Muslims, this meant an uphill battle to distinguish true Islam from radical extremism. For Nabeel, who had grown up believing Islam was a religion of peace and justice, the challenge was deeply personal.
As he listened to the rhetoric of the attackers, and later to the sermons and public declarations of Islamic leaders justifying violence against unbelievers, he began to wonder: had he misunderstood Islam’s foundational teachings? Or were there uncomfortable truths in Islam that most adherents never dared to confront?
The initial cracks in his confidence didn’t lead him away from Islam immediately. Rather, they compelled him to dig deeper, read more broadly, and begin a long, painful search for truth.
INTELLECTUAL DISSONANCE: THE FAILURE OF BUCAILLEISM
One of the most significant intellectual hurdles Qureshi encountered was the widespread Islamic belief that modern science supports the claims of the Qur’an—a position often referred to as “Bucailleism,” named after French physician Maurice Bucaille. Bucaille gained fame in the Islamic world for his 1976 book, The Bible, The Qur’an and Science, in which he argued that the Qur’an contains scientifically accurate information unknown in the 7th century and thus must be divinely inspired.
Qureshi initially found these claims compelling. Like many Muslim apologists, he was taught that the Qur’an contains revelations about embryology, astronomy, geology, and physics that predate Western scientific discovery. However, as he studied medicine and science more rigorously, the house of cards began to fall.
A. The Embryology Claim
Muslim apologists often point to Surah 23:14, which describes the development of a human embryo in stages: a “drop,” a “clinging clot,” and a “lump of flesh.” Qureshi had been taught that this description aligns with modern embryology. But as a medical student, he saw how vague and anatomically imprecise the Qur’anic description actually was.
The term “clinging clot” (alaqah) had little scientific basis and could be better understood as reflecting 7th-century understandings of miscarriage and early development. Qureshi realized that these descriptions resembled Galenic embryology—ancient Greek ideas that had been circulating for centuries before Muhammad.
B. Mountains and Earthquakes
Another claim was that the Qur’an accurately described mountains as pegs stabilizing the Earth (Surah 78:6-7). Muslim apologists claimed this reflected an understanding of tectonic plates. But geologically, the idea that mountains prevent earthquakes is false. In fact, mountains are often formed by and located along fault lines—zones of seismic instability. Once again, the scientific claim collapsed under scrutiny.
C. The Expanding Universe
Qureshi also examined Surah 51:47, sometimes translated as stating that the universe is “expanding.” While modern cosmology affirms this, the Arabic verb musi’un more likely refers to vastness or spaciousness, not continual expansion. The translation, Qureshi concluded, was retrofitted to match science.
As he continued comparing Islamic claims with empirical evidence, Qureshi saw a clear pattern: rather than anticipating science, the Qur’an either mirrored ancient misconceptions or required interpretive gymnastics. His confidence in Islam’s divine origin began to erode.
THE PROBLEM OF MUHAMMAD’S CHARACTER
If the intellectual challenges weakened the walls of Qureshi’s faith, the moral and historical problems with Islam’s prophet Muhammad blew a hole in its foundation.
The central moral dilemma he faced was the massacre of the Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayza. According to Islamic sources—including Sahih Bukhari and the Sirat Rasul Allah (the earliest biography of Muhammad by Ibn Ishaq)—after a conflict with the tribe during the Battle of the Trench, Muhammad ordered the execution of 600–900 men of the Banu Qurayza. The women and children were taken as slaves, and one of Muhammad’s companions took a Jewish widow as his concubine.
As Qureshi recounts, he tried every possible way to justify this. Was it wartime justice? Did the Jews betray the Muslims? Were the accounts exaggerated? But every Islamic source he read corroborated the same grim picture: the Prophet of Islam had presided over a mass execution and sanctioned sexual slavery.
He also struggled with other troubling stories: Muhammad’s marriage to Aisha when she was still a child, the raids on caravans, and the violent treatment of apostates. These weren’t peripheral accounts—they were well-attested in core Islamic texts.
Qureshi could not reconcile these actions with a moral exemplar. His conscience, sharpened by both his Christian exposure and his innate sense of justice, simply would not allow it. The more he examined Muhammad’s life, the harder it became to believe that Islam had a morally flawless founder.
OTHER STUMBLING BLOCKS: FACTUAL AND THEOLOGICAL CONFLICTS
In addition to science and morality, several other factors contributed to Qureshi’s disillusionment with Islam:
The Preservation of the Qur’an: Muslims are taught that the Qur’an has been perfectly preserved since Muhammad’s time. But Qureshi learned about textual variants, early fragmentary manuscripts, and the Uthmanic recension—when competing versions were burned to establish a single text. This raised serious doubts about the reliability of the “unchanged” Qur’an.
The Inconsistency of the Qur’an: Qureshi identified contradictions between verses. For example, Surah 2:256 claims “there is no compulsion in religion,” while Surah 9:5 commands Muslims to “slay the idolaters wherever you find them.” Such inconsistencies forced him to question the claim that the Qur’an is perfectly preserved and internally coherent.
The Doctrine of Abrogation (Naskh)**: To explain contradictions, Muslim scholars often appeal to abrogation—the idea that later revelations cancel out earlier ones. Qureshi found this deeply troubling. If God is all-wise, why would He change His mind or deliver contradictory commands?
A FRIEND IN TRUTH: DAVID WOOD AND THE PATH TO CONVERSION
For many readers of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, the heart of the book is not just the clash of worldviews but the extraordinary friendship between Nabeel Qureshi and David Wood. Their story serves as a model of intellectual honesty, deep friendship, and loving disagreement—qualities sorely missing in many modern religious dialogues.
David Wood, a devout Christian and fellow student, first met Nabeel in college. The two quickly recognized each other as intellectual equals and kindred spirits, though from vastly different religious backgrounds. Their debates began informally but soon became rigorous engagements that spanned years.
What made their friendship transformative was not just the sharpness of their arguments but the mutual respect they cultivated. David refused to caricature Islam or belittle Qureshi’s beliefs. Instead, he insisted on primary sources, careful definitions, and a willingness to pursue truth at any cost—even when it was uncomfortable. Likewise, Qureshi didn’t settle for dismissing Christianity with clichés. He asked hard questions about the Trinity, the Incarnation, the authority of Scripture, and the crucifixion.
Over time, David presented to Nabeel a robust case for the reliability of the New Testament, the historical death and resurrection of Jesus, and the coherence of the Christian worldview. This wasn’t an apologetics battle; it was a patient journey of uncovering reality. For every problem Qureshi found in Christianity, David had a response rooted in history, Scripture, and logic. And for every defense Qureshi raised for Islam, David offered respectful but firm rebuttals.
Eventually, the evidence began to mount for Christianity—and against Islam. But for Qureshi, conversion wasn’t just an intellectual leap. It was an existential earthquake. Choosing Jesus would mean losing the love and trust of his family, betraying his culture, and becoming a stranger to his people. He wrestled in prayer, anguish, and grief. The cost was unbearable.
One night, after years of debate and months of inner turmoil, Nabeel had a dream—one of three he shares in the book—that deeply moved him. In the dream, he was outside a narrow door leading to a banquet. Inside were his Christian friends, celebrating joyfully. He was outside, watching. He awoke with the sense that Jesus was inviting him in—but the door was narrow, and he had to decide whether to enter.
That dream, combined with the cumulative weight of evidence and David’s unwavering friendship, led Qureshi to do the unthinkable. He confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
A COSTLY DECISION: THE PRICE OF FOLLOWING CHRIST
The moment of Qureshi’s conversion is both triumphant and tragic. With joy in Christ came the shattering of his family’s trust. His mother, devastated, wept inconsolably. His father—a man of dignity and honor—was heartbroken. The emotional and relational toll is palpable throughout the book.
Nabeel does not gloat about his conversion or portray it as a superior cultural switch. He mourns the loss, not only of familial closeness but also of his former way of life. His Muslim upbringing was filled with beauty, discipline, reverence, and kindness. But it could not satisfy his soul or reconcile his intellect and conscience with the truth.
This deep grief gives his book its unique emotional weight. Unlike many conversion stories that present the former life as wholly negative, Qureshi honors the goodness of his parents and upbringing. Yet he could not deny that Christ alone is Lord, and that the truth could not be compromised—even for the sake of love.
FINAL DAYS: FAITH IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH
After converting, Qureshi dedicated his life to Christian ministry and apologetics. He joined Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, gave lectures worldwide, and authored several books, including Answering Jihad and No God But One: Allah or Jesus?. He became a compelling voice for Christian witness to Muslims—articulate, compassionate, and courageous.
But in 2016, tragedy struck. At just 33 years old, Qureshi was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer. The diagnosis was devastating. He was a young father, a rising Christian thinker, and a man full of energy and promise. His prognosis was grim, and the following year was marked by pain, chemotherapy, surgeries, and unrelenting suffering.
Yet in those final months, Qureshi’s faith did not falter. His YouTube videos during that period—recorded from hospital beds or quiet moments at home—became testimonies of grace under trial. He did not understand why God allowed his illness, but he trusted in God’s character. He asked for prayer and healing, but he did not demand answers.
Qureshi died on September 16, 2017, at age 34. His final words in his final video post were these:
“I hope this journey has been a blessing to you. If it has, I ask you to consider supporting me and my family in prayer. I continue to seek healing, and I continue to trust in the Lord.”
The world lost a powerful witness, but the seeds he planted continue to bear fruit in countless lives.
CONTRASTING TWO FAITHS: WHY CHRIST WON NABEEL’S HEART
One of the most impactful sections of Qureshi’s memoir is his comparison between the theology and person of Islam and those of Christianity. Below is a summary of the primary contrasts that moved him from Islam to Christ:
1. The Nature of God
- Islam: God (Allah) is utterly transcendent, impersonal, and inaccessible. His mercy is arbitrary; His love conditional.
- Christianity: God is personal, relational, and revealed through Jesus Christ. His holiness is matched by His mercy; His justice satisfied in love.
Qureshi was drawn to the intimacy of the Christian God—especially the doctrine of the Incarnation. That God would stoop to suffer for mankind, to enter history as a man, shattered every preconceived notion he held.
2. Salvation
- Islam: Salvation is earned through deeds. One’s good and bad works are weighed on a scale. There is no assurance of forgiveness.
- Christianity: Salvation is a gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for sin. Believers are justified and adopted as children of God.
This difference gave Qureshi peace. He no longer had to wonder if he had done enough. He rested in the sufficiency of Christ.
3. The Historical Foundation
- Islam: The Qur’an is claimed to be the unchanged word of God, yet it lacks historical attestation and suffers from transmission issues.
- Christianity: The New Testament is supported by early manuscripts, eyewitness testimony, and a consistent historical narrative of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.
Qureshi found the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus far stronger than the claims of Muhammad’s prophethood.
4. Moral Vision
- Islam: Muhammad’s life includes actions difficult to defend morally—mass executions, sexual slavery, child marriage.
- Christianity: Jesus is morally blameless. His life was marked by humility, service, truth, and sacrifice.
Qureshi could not admire Muhammad’s actions. He loved Jesus not just as Savior but as the model of true humanity.
A LEGACY OF COURAGE: NABEEL’S IMPACT ON THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD
The story of Nabeel Qureshi is not just the story of a man who left Islam. It is the story of a soul who surrendered to truth, even at great cost. In Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, readers are invited into the most intimate layers of his life—his family’s heartbreak, his long nights of doubt, his relentless quest for truth, and ultimately, his rebirth in Christ.
In the years since its publication, Qureshi’s book has become a modern classic in Christian apologetics and testimony. It is widely used in churches, college ministries, and theological courses—not only to understand Islam, but to understand the soul of a seeker. Unlike dry comparative religion textbooks, Qureshi’s narrative draws readers into the human experience of searching for God with everything at stake.
His ability to explain Islamic beliefs from an insider’s perspective, and to critique them gently but firmly with facts and compassion, makes his work uniquely valuable. Moreover, he helps Christians understand how to speak to Muslims—not by shouting down, but by listening, learning, and loving.
Qureshi’s testimony also inspires Christians to take their own faith more seriously. Here was a man willing to give up everything—reputation, family, and culture—because he was convinced that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Many believers today take this truth for granted. Qureshi reminds us that for much of the world, following Christ means picking up a cross.
TRUTH THAT COSTS EVERYTHING: FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT TO SEEKERS
For those who are wrestling with questions of faith—Muslim, Christian, or otherwise—Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus offers a powerful model for how to walk the road of truth-seeking with both integrity and humility.
Qureshi never demonizes Muslims. He repeatedly affirms the sincerity, moral decency, and beauty he saw in his upbringing and his family. He deeply loved his parents and agonized over the pain his conversion caused them. That is why his rejection of Islam cannot be dismissed as emotional or impulsive. It was a decision forged through years of study, heartbreak, and soul-searching.
At the same time, Qureshi does not shrink from naming the deficiencies of Islam. He challenges readers to examine the claims of Bucailleism and the Qur’an’s historical reliability. He forces a reckoning with the troubling actions of Muhammad—not as hearsay, but as preserved in respected Islamic sources. He asks hard questions that Muslims often fear to ask: How can we know the Qur’an is preserved? Why does the doctrine of abrogation undermine consistency? What does it mean to trust in a prophet who executed prisoners and married a child?
And finally, Qureshi holds up Christianity not merely as a better option but as the truth. The historical evidence for Jesus’ death and resurrection, the consistency and preservation of the New Testament, and the self-sacrificial love of Christ himself drew Qureshi like a magnet.
What especially moved him was this: while Islam demands submission and works, Christianity offers grace and relationship. In Islam, Allah remains distant and arbitrary. In Christianity, God comes near, takes on flesh, suffers for the world, and offers forgiveness to all who believe.
THE FINAL WORD: WHY THIS BOOK MATTERS
In a world that increasingly avoids hard questions and masks disagreement with shallow tolerance, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus stands as a bold and honest work. It is respectful without being relativistic. It is humble without surrendering truth. And most of all, it is deeply human—full of pain, hope, confusion, and joy.
Nabeel Qureshi’s story is not just for Muslims curious about Christ. It is for all people who are brave enough to ask, “What if everything I believe is wrong?” It is for the Christian who has never been challenged to know why they believe. It is for the atheist who assumes religion is for the weak-minded. And it is for the honest skeptic who wants more than slogans.
There are few books in our time that combine theological insight, historical integrity, emotional depth, and personal authenticity like this one. Its impact will last not because it shouts the loudest, but because it tells the truth in love.
Nabeel Qureshi died young. But he died full of faith, surrounded by the love of Christ, and having run his race with astonishing courage. His legacy is a generation of truth-seekers who will read his story and say, “If he could ask the hard questions—and find Christ—so can I.”
S.D.G.,
Robert Sparkman
MMXXV
christiannewsjunkie@gmail.com
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