I remember the first time I opened Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi—it didn’t feel like just another Christian book. It felt like stepping into someone’s living room, sitting down, and listening to a man pour out the deepest wrestling of his soul. From its first pages, Qureshi’s story gripped me. This isn’t simply a book about converting from Islam to Christianity. It’s about the cost of truth, the weight of love, and the kind of faith that is tested in the fires of identity, family, and culture.
Qureshi invites us into his life as a devout Muslim raised to honor his family, defend Islam, and cherish the traditions passed to him through generations. His journey is not casual curiosity—it’s a pursuit of God as an act of loyalty, devotion, and love. What moved me most was how deeply he honored his parents, even as he began questioning the very faith they taught him to hold. This is not a story of running from something. It’s a story of running toward someone.
The Heart of the Story
At the center of the book is Qureshi’s friendship with a Christian college classmate named David. Their conversations about theology, scripture, and history weren’t debates fueled by pride—they were honest, thoughtful, and persistent. Qureshi writes, “I was seeking truth, no matter the cost.” (Qureshi). That cost became heavier the closer he drew to Christ. There’s three key themes that run throughout the book.
Identity and Family Loyalty
One of the most compelling and heartbreaking aspects of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus is the collision between identity and conviction. For Nabeel, Islam wasn’t merely a religion—it was the foundation of his family, heritage, and sense of belonging. His parents were not just his caretakers; they embodied the values, honor, and love that shaped his childhood. There is this profound tenderness in how he describes his mother praying, or how his father, a Navy officer, led their home with quiet strength and dignity. To honor them was to honor God. To live faithfully under Islam was to live faithfully as a son.
So when Christian claims about Jesus began pressing against the teachings he had held all his life, the conflict wasn’t abstract. It was deeply relational. To even consider Christianity felt like betrayal. Qureshi writes about the emotional agony of this tension—not resentment toward his family, but love that made the cost of truth almost unbearable. He notes that embracing Christ meant “shattering the hearts of the people I loved most.” (Qureshi) His struggle wasn’t with whether Christianity was plausible, but whether he could live with the consequences of believing it.
This struck a chord with me. Many believers carry a similar tension—not necessarily with Islam, but with the expectations and histories tied to their identity. When Christ calls us to follow Him, He often places His hand right on the most personal parts of our lives—the places where love, loyalty, and identity intertwine. Qureshi’s story reminds us that faith is not always comfortable. Sometimes obedience requires heartbreak. Yet the gospel is worth it, and Jesus is gentle with those who walk this painful road.
The Historical Reliability of Christianity
Qureshi did not come to faith through emotion, pressure, or blind acceptance. He pursued truth through rigorous investigation. If he was going to consider Christianity, it had to stand up to intellectual scrutiny. He studied the earliest manuscripts, the historical accounts of the resurrection, and the integrity of the disciples who claimed to have seen the risen Christ. He contrasted this with his understanding of Islamic tradition and the formation of the Qur’an. What stands out is how fair he is—he does not belittle Islam to elevate Christianity. He simply follows evidence with honesty.
One powerful realization for him was the historical claim that the disciples were willing to die for the truth of Jesus’ resurrection. “Liars make poor martyrs,” he notes, echoing a common apologetic argument. But for Qureshi, this wasn’t just an argument—it was the unraveling of a worldview. If Jesus truly rose from the dead, then every claim He made about Himself carries divine authority. That became the turning point.
This part of the book reminded me of the importance of knowing why we believe what we believe. Our testimonies are strengthened when we can speak with conviction, not just passion. Scripture calls us to love God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37 NIV). Qureshi’s journey shows that faith and intellect are not enemies—they are companions that lead us deeper into truth.
The Personal Call of Jesus
Even after the historical and logical steps were lining up, Qureshi still needed something more—something personal. And God met him there. Throughout the book, he describes a series of dreams that felt undeniably spiritual and deeply symbolic. These experiences were not random or emotional bursts. For Qureshi, dreams were a recognized cultural way God could guide the sincere seeker. They were moments of divine pursuit.
One dream stood out—he found himself standing before a narrow door, with Jesus on the other side inviting him in. It reflected Matthew 7:13–14, “Enter through the narrow gate…” (NIV). It wasn’t simply a metaphor; it was a calling. He realized Jesus was not just a historical figure to be studied—He was a living Savior who speaks, leads, comforts, and calls His sheep by name.
This part of the book is where head knowledge meets heart surrender. No matter our background—Muslim, Catholic, atheist, or lukewarm Christian—every testimony leads to this crossroads: Do I know about Jesus, or do I abide in Him? For Qureshi, the answer became clear when he encountered the Christ who loved him personally, patiently, and relentlessly.
And that’s the testimony we each carry in our own way. The God who sees. The God who pursues. The God who saves.
A Book That Speaks to Our Mission: Testimony Matters
At My Story His Glory, we believe that our testimonies are powerful—Revelation 12:11 makes that clear. Qureshi’s story is a living example of that truth. His book shows that sharing our faith isn’t about winning arguments—it’s about walking with others, loving them deeply, and trusting God to move in the places where words cannot.
This book also reminds me that God reaches people differently. Some come through worship, some through crisis, others through study and reason. Qureshi needed faith that made sense to both his heart and his mind. And Jesus met him there.
Who Should Read This Book?
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus is for:
- Christians who want to understand Islam and how to pray for Muslims
- Believers who need encouragement in sharing their faith with patience and love
- Anyone who has wrestled with questions of identity, loyalty, and truth
- Those who want to see the power of testimony lived out in real life
This book is not fast or casual—it is rich, and it is costly. And it is worth every page.
I walked away reminded that Jesus still calls people by name. He called me by name! He still draws near to those who seek Him. And our testimonies—your story, my story, Qureshi’s story—are part of how He does it.
In a world full of noise, this book teaches us to remember God’s faithfulness, record the journey He has taken us through, and recite it so others may come to know Him. So, speak up, and share your story!
