Nabeel Qureshi (author)

Nabeel Qureshi

Dr. Nabeel Qureshi is a global speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) and the author of three books, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity (Zondervan, February 2014)[1], Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward (Zondervan, March 2016)[2], and No God But One—Allah or Jesus (Zondervan, August 2016)[3]. A former Muslim, Dr. Qureshi is emerging as one of the leading experts on Islam.[4]

Background

Raised as a devout Muslim in the United States, Qureshi grew up studying Islamic apologetics with his family and engaging Christians in religious discussions. After one such discussion with a Christian at his university, the two became friends and began a years-long debate on the historical claims of Christianity and Islam. Nabeel’s resulting journey was chronicled in his first book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. In addition to being a New York Times bestseller[5], Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus was awarded the Christian Book Award for the categories of both “Best New Author” and “Best Non-Fiction” of 2015 - the first time in award history[6]. Christianity Today heralded Qureshi as one of “33 Under 33”[7] in its cover story on emerging religion leaders in July 2014.

Qureshi has lectured to students at more than 100 universities, including Oxford, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Hong Kong. He has participated in 18 moderated, public debates around North America, Europe, and Asia. Nabeel recently debated at Wayne State University with Muslim scholar Shabir Ally[8].

Wheaton Controversy: Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?

On December 15, 2015, Wheaton College placed one of its professors on administrative leave for “theological statements that seemed inconsistent with [their] doctrinal convictions.” Five days prior, donning a hijab and staking her position on a variety of controversial matters, Larycia Hawkins had stated on Facebook, “I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.”

Wheaton’s decision to give Dr. Hawkins “more time to explore theological implications of her recent public statements” ignited a firestorm of controversy. One strong voice in the fray was that of the Chicago Tribune, which described Wheaton’s actions as “bigotry… disguised as theology.”[9] This assessment was partially based on the input of Yale Professor Miroslav Volf, a theologian greatly respected for his contributions to Christian-Muslim dialogue, who said, “There isn’t any theological justification for Hawkins’s forced administrative leave. Her suspension is not about theology and orthodoxy. It is about enmity toward Muslims.”[10]

Soon after the controversy began, Dr. Nabeel Qureshi received dozens of requests to provide input on the matter, especially from those who are aware that, as a former Muslim, did not have “enmity toward Muslims.” Nabeel has many Muslim family members and friends and regularly encourages Christians to consider gestures of solidarity with the hope that, somehow, this affection will trickle down. Dr. Qureshi has even recommended that Christian women consider wearing the hijab in certain circumstances, as well as counseled Christian men to consider fasting with their Muslim neighbors during the month of Ramadan, as long as it is clear these gestures are out of Christian love and not submission to Islam.

Volf and Qureshi Debate: Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?

On January 13th, 2016, Dr. Volf and Dr. Qureshi debate the topic, "Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?" on an episode of Seeking Truth with Julie Roys.[11]

Julie Roys explained the controversy this way:

"The same God question recently became the focus of a national debate after Wheaton College placed a professor on administrative leave for claiming that Muslims and Christians worship the same God. Many Christians supported the college and said the professor’s claim is incompatible with orthodox Christianity. Yet some, including a few professors, students and hundreds of alumni, argued otherwise, and are lobbying for the professor’s full re-instatement. In this podcast, Volf and Qureshi discuss the merits of Wheaton’s position and Volf makes an important concession concerning his claim that Wheaton was motivated by anti-Muslim bigotry. Volf also explains why he believes one can believe both religions worship the same God and still adhere to orthodox Christian doctrine. Qureshi, on the other hand, reveals stark differences between Muslim and Christian concepts of God – and argues that Allah and Yahweh can’t possibly be one and the same.”

Commentary on International Islamic Terrorism

Dr. Qureshi has commented on international Islamic terrorism in several media outlets:

USA Today – Opinion Editorial: The Quran’s deadly role in inspiring Belgian slaughter[12]

“Western recruits for jihad are inspired by the literal interpretation of Muslim sacred texts. This is what we must address,” wrote Nabeel Qureshi in USA Today. “We need to be equipped to provide alternatives to violent jihad, alternatives that address the root of why so many Muslims are radicalizing in the first place.”

Fox News – Spirited Debate: Why are young Muslims being radicalized?[13]

In an interview on “Spirited Debate” with Lauren Green, Chief Religion Correspondent for the Fox News Channel, Nabeel Qureshi explains why ISIS’ strategy is closer to the origins of Islam than most are led to believe.

“Growing up I was taught that Islam was a peaceful religion, and everyone around me truly did believe that,” explained Qureshi on Fox News. “It wasn’t until I started reading the sources for myself – the Quran and the Hadith – that I saw the sources showed that Islam at its historical core was violent. It was that which got me to start thinking more about my faith.”

Newsmax TV – Unfiltered: Reading of Quran Shows It’s Not Religion of Peace[14]

On “Dennis Michael Lynch: Unfiltered,” Nabeel Qureshi explained how it was his personal study of the Quran that led him to leave the faith he was raised in.

“I encountered a reality which led to me make a decision — do I become an apostate and leave Islam, do I become an apathetic and become a non-Muslim or do I radicalize and follow the stuff that I’m reading?” Qureshi said on Newsmax TV. “At that time, I also encountered Christianity and the message of the gospel and that’s what ultimately grabbed my heart and changed me.”

Nabeel Qureshi was also interviewed on The Kevin McCullough Show March 22 commenting on the Brussels attacks and sharing his personal conversion experience.[15]

The Blaze - Prominent Ex-Muslim Was Asked if Islam Is a Peaceful Religion. Here’s His Response.[16]

“Since the 1900s, people have had more and more access to the texts themselves,” he said. “Muslims can read the Koran for themselves … so people are reading the texts and they’re seeing for themselves what the Koran says. People can go online and they can read the life of Muhammad without having to travel to an Islamic library.”

Huffington Post - Do The Roots of Jihad Lie in The Quran?[17]

"Perhaps the most exciting outcome of my op-ed in USA Today are the responses and open discussion of the Quran’s teachings in popular news sources, including TIME Magazine, the Huffington Post, and a Patheos blog. Such public dialogue and discussion is the key to moving forward and addressing the roots of jihad." says Dr. Nabeel Qureshi.

Education

Nabeel Qureshi holds an MD from Eastern Virginia Medical School, an MA in Christian apologetics from Biola University, and an MA in religion from Duke University. He is currently studying Judaism and Christianity at Oxford University, pursuing his doctorate in New Testament Studies. He divides his time in Atlanta and Oxford with his wife and baby daughter.

References

  1. ↑ Qureshi, Nabeel; Strobel, Lee (2014-02-11). Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity. Place of publication not identified: Zondervan. ISBN 9780310515029.
  2. ↑ Qureshi, Nabeel (2016-03-08). Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward. Zondervan. ISBN 9780310531388.
  3. ↑ "No God but One: Allah or Jesus?". www.christianbook.com. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  4. ↑ "Muslim convert to Christianity Nabeel Qureshi: 'Christ has revolutionised my life' | Christian News on Christian Today". www.christiantoday.com. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  5. ↑ "Best Sellers - The New York Times". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  6. ↑ "ECPA Announces the 2015 Christian Book Award® Winners - ECPA". www.ecpa.org. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  7. ↑ "33 Under 33". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  8. ↑ Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (2015-04-08), What is God Really Like: Tawhid or Trinity? Dr. Shabir Ally and Dr. Nabeel Qureshi Debate, retrieved 2016-04-19
  9. ↑ Tribune, Chicago. "Religious bigotry is a dangerous weapon". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  10. ↑ "Wheaton professor’s suspension is about anti-Muslim bigotry, not theology". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  11. ↑ "Seeking Truth: Volf & Qureshi Debate — Do Muslims & Christians Worship the Same God?". Julie Roys. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  12. ↑ "The Quran's deadly role in inspiring Belgian slaughter: Column". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  13. ↑ "Why are young Muslims being radicalized?". Fox News. 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  14. ↑ "Former Muslim: Reading of Quran Shows It's Not Religion of Peace". Newsmax. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  15. ↑ "20160322- Karol Markowicz On Brussels; Nabeel Qureshi Sought Allah and Found Jesus". SoundCloud. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  16. ↑ "Prominent Ex-Muslim Was Asked if Islam Is a Peaceful Religion. Here’s His Response.". The Blaze. 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  17. ↑ "Do The Roots of Jihad Lie in The Quran?". The Huffington Post. 2016-04-04. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
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