Nabeel Qureshi first began to study the Bible in order to challenge it and, incredibly, came to know Jesus as a result. I am thrilled to see his unique and gripping story in print and know that you will be encouraged and profoundly challenged by it as well. This is truly a must-read book for our times, as diverse worldviews each must face the test of truth. —Ravi Zacharias, author and speaker This is an urgently needed book with a gripping story. Nabeel Qureshi masterfully argues for the gospel while painting a beautiful portrait of Muslim families and heritage, avoiding the fearmongering and finger-pointing that are all too pervasive in today’s sensationalist world. I unreservedly recommend this book to all. It will feed your heart and mind, while keeping your fingers turning the page! —Josh D. McDowell, author and speaker Nabeel describes the yearning in the hearts of millions of Muslims around the world. This book is a must-read for all seeking to share the hope of Christ with Muslims. —Fouad Masri, President and CEO, Crescent Project Fresh, striking, highly illuminating, and sometimes heartbreaking, Qureshi’s story is worth a thousand textbooks. It should be read by Muslims and all who care deeply about our Muslim friends and fellow citizens. —Os Guinness, author and social critic Nabeel Qureshi’s story is among the most unique two or three testimonies that I have ever heard. His quest brought together several exceptional features: a very bright mind, extraordinary sincerity, original research, and a willingness to follow the evidence trail wherever it took him. His search led to the cross and to Jesus Christ, who was resurrected from the dead. —Gary R. Habermas, Distinguished Research Professor, Liberty University In his personal quest to know the truth, Nabeel Qureshi paves the way for an analytical study of the faiths, dissecting the Christian and Islamic arguments, specifically citing numerous Islamic hadith and early Christian texts, so that the reader can see a logical progression to the analyses. But it is also a deeply personal heartwrenching and tear-evoking saga of the life of a young Muslim growing up in the West, a gripping biography that is impossible to put down. —James M. Tour, Professor of Chemistry, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Materials Science, Rice University For anyone seeking understanding of their Muslim neighbors or colleagues, this is a book to read. We go on a journey from the inside out. We are introduced to the depth of spirituality, the love and honor of family, and the way a person “sees” and “feels” in a devout Muslim home. This is profound book that skillfully shows the core differences between the gospel and Islamic claims. I highly recommend it. —Dr. Stuart McAllister, Regional Director The Americas, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries This book offers the fascinating story of the conversion of a sincere young Ahmadiyya man who tried his best to seek Allah and eventually fell in love with Christ. I trust that this book can be a powerful encouragement for all Christians to pray for many Muslims to find Jesus Christ. —Mark Gabriel, author and former lecturer, Al-Azhar University in Cairo ZONDERVAN Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus Copyright © 2014 by Nabeel A. Qureshi ePub Edition © January 2014: ISBN 978-0-310-51503-6 Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Qureshi, Nabeel. Seeking Allah, finding Jesus : a devout Muslim encounters Christianity/Nabeel Qureshi. pages cm Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-0-310-51502-9 (softcover)—ISBN 978-0-310-51503-6 (ebook) 1. Qureshi, Nabeel. 2. Christian converts from Islam—Biography. I. Title. BV2626.4.Q74A3 2014 248.2'46092—dc23 [B] 2013035814 All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other — except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Published in association with the literary agency of Mark Sweeney & Associates, Bonita Springs, Florida 34135 Cover design: Silverander Communications Cover photography: Thinkstock Interior design: Matthew Van Zomeren and Ben Fetterley Printed in the United States of America 13 14 15 16 DCI 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO MY PARENTS. Ammi and Abba, your undying love for me even when you feel I have sinned against you is second only to God’s love for His children. I pray you will one day realize His love is truly unconditional, that He has offered forgiveness to us all. On that day, I pray that you would accept His redemption, so we might be a family once again. I love you with all my heart. CONTENTS Foreword by Lee Strobel Acknowledgments Introduction Prologue: Seeking Allah PART ONE: CALLED TO PRAYER 1. Prayers of My Fathers 2. A Mother’s Faith 3. A Community of Four 4. The Perfect Book 5. Stories of the Prophet 6. Righteous through Ritual Prayer 7. Diversity in Islam 8. The Path of Sharia 9. Dreams of the Faithful 10. The Month of Blessing PART TWO: AN AMBASSADOR FOR ISLAM 11. Third Culture