Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus – A Follower of Christ & His Passionate Plea For Understanding

When I was a kid, I was terrified of Muslims. Absolutely terrified. Growing up post 9/11, I had somehow gotten the idea that Islam was a murderous cult, and that Muslims were just waiting for the opportunity to slice my head off. This was a terrible misunderstanding, but I didn’t know any better. I was truly afraid of terrorist groups like Al-Queda and later, ISIS. I had never met a Muslim, never bothered to try to understand their beliefs. I was caught up just like everyone else in an atmosphere of paranoia and ignorance.

The problem is that when we have our view of reality is skewed, then it will negatively impact the way we react to the world around us. In my case I harbored feelings of fear and bitterness towards Muslims, without ever understanding why. I’m truly ashamed to admit this. But the more I think, the more I realize that if Jesus is my model and inspiration, then I am doing a very poor job of following his example. I certainly wasn’t showing much compassion to my neighbors.

It is with these thoughts that I read “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus”, by Nabeel Qureshi. Qureshi was a passionate and devoted Christian, who sadly died of cancer in 2017. Qureshi was a Pakistani immigrant, born and raised in a traditional Islamic home. Qureshi was not a rebellious individual who resented his upbringing. Quite the contrary, he loved his family, his culture and yes, he reveled in his Islamic faith. Yet, after a series of conversations with a college friend and a serious consideration of the message of Christ.

I nearly finished this book in a single night. Qureshi writes in a powerful and impassioned way. As a Westerner completely ignorant of the nuances of Islamic faith, reading “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” was a crash course in understanding the culture and beliefs of Muslims. Yet as I read Qureshi’s explanation of how Islamic families work, I realized just how little I really knew. As it turns out there is a massive culture, and intellectual divide that has lead to terrible misunderstandings.

“What, then, does it mean to be Muslim in the West? It can mean anything. If you really want to know what someone is like and what they believe, you have to get to know them and ask them personally. But the best we can do before getting to know someone is to determine whether he is an immigrant or a second-generation Muslim. This one factor often makes a huge difference.” – Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

“One of the greatest travesties of all is that Muslim immigrants often associate Western immoralities with Christianity, and correlation becomes causation in the minds of the uncritical. The West is Christian, the West is Americanized; ergo, it is Americanized because it is Christian. Christianity, in the minds of many Muslims, has produced this promiscuous, domineering Western culture. Christianity, therefore, must be ungodly.”

One particular point that Qureshi makes clear is the differences in thought between people like me (Western American) and his family (traditional Middle Easterner). I am used to questioning things. Whether something is right or wrong is always a question of; ‘does this make sense?’ Whereas in families like Qureshi’s, it is always a question of what the authority figure says, be it the Imam or father. Understanding this one fact according to Qureshi, is how we explain the seemingly nonsensical practices that continue today.

“Islamic cultures tend to establish people of high status as authorities, whereas the authority in Western culture is reason itself.” – Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

“This reliance on positional authority explains some characteristics in parts of the Muslim world that confound many Westerners, such as the continued practices of honor killings, child brides of six or younger, and blood feuds. For one reason or another, the prevailing sources of social authority in these regions deem these customs acceptable, perhaps even preferable. No amount of sheer reason is going to change these practices, nor will externally imposed prohibitions. The change will have to be social, internal, and organic.” – Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

I admit that this is all very strange to my mind. But the goal here is to attempt to understand my Muslim neighbors better. Qureshi doesn’t shy away from explaining the rise of terrorism and apocalyptic Islam. Qureshi makes it very clear that the majority of Muslims worldwide are very peaceful, yet paradoxically, there are still many Muslims who interpret Islam as a call to violence and war.

“In the West, Muslims are generally taught a very pacific version of Islam …. Western Muslims are taught that Muhammad fought only defensive battles and that violent verses in the Quran refer to specific, defensive contexts. Jihad is here defined as primarily a peaceful endeavor, an internal struggle against one’s baser desires. When asked about their religion, Western Muslims honestly report what they believe: Islam is a religion of peace. In the East, though, Muslims often have a less docile view of Islam. They are taught that Islam is superior to all other religions and ways of life and that Allah wishes to see it established throughout the world. They often define jihad as a primarily physical endeavor, a struggle against the enemies of Islam. When asked about their religion, these Muslims will honestly report what they believe: Islam will dominate the world. So if we define Islam by the beliefs of its adherents, it may or may not be a religion of peace. But if we define Islam more traditionally, as the system of beliefs and practices taught by Muhammad, then the answer is less ambiguous.” – Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

“What young Muslims learn about Muhammad is an airbrushed portrait — this blemish removed and that feature emphasized — that makes him fit a desired image. Through selective quotation, Muhammad becomes the picture-perfect prophet. The vast body of Hadith and surah literature particularly enables this phenomenon. If a Western Muslim wants to paint a peaceful portrait of Muhammad, all they have to do is quote peaceful Hadith and verses of the Quran, to the exclusion of the violent ones. If an Islamic extremist wants to mobilize his followers to acts of terrorism, he will quote the violent references, to the exclusion of the peaceful ones.” – Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

While all of this may sound like a defense for Islam, it isn’t. Not by a long shot. Qureshi comes to explain how his journey would later lead him to embrace Christianity and the message of Jesus. I especially appreciated Qureshi taking the time to explain the main theological differences between Christianity and Islam. Though I’m sure this was not a exhaustive explanation, I came away with a better understanding of not only the differences, but also the common ground shared between Christians and Muslims. In times like these, such knowledge has never been more important.

More than any other book I’ve read, Qureshi’s book is a powerful story of the deepest struggles we all face. Qureshi’s story is an emotional one, as his family did not accept his new faith. It cost him everything. Qureshi lost his family, his culture, his home, everything that was important to him. I have come to realize that as Western Christians, we don’t have enough compassion in such matters.

“Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” was a moving, and intelligent plea for both understanding the Muslim community as well as defending the message of Christ. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I think every Western American should read this book. I highlighted so many sections and at times had to pause just to digest the material. “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” gave me greater appreciation for my faith, as well as clarity over how to interact with and understand my Muslim neighbors better. Rest in peace Nabeel Qureshi.