| Title | : | No God but One: Allah or Jesus?: A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0310522552 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780310522553 |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published August 16, 2016 |
In this anticipated follow-up book, Nabeel reveals what he discovered in the decade following his conversion, providing a thorough and careful comparison of the evidence for Islam and Christianity--evidence that wrenched his heart and transformed his life.
In Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel Qureshi recounted his dramatic journey, describing his departure from Islam and his decision to follow Christ. In the years that followed, he realized that the world’s two largest religions are far more different than they initially appeared.
No God but One: Allah or Jesus? addresses the most important questions at the interface of Islam and Christianity: How do the two religions differ? Are the differences significant? Can we be confident that either Christianity or Islam is true? And most important, is it worth sacrificing everything for the truth?
Nabeel shares stories from his life and ministry, casts new light on current events, and explores pivotal incidents in the histories of both religions, providing a resource that is gripping and thought-provoking, respectful and challenging.
Both Islam and Christianity teach that there is No God but One, but who deserves to be worshiped, Allah or Jesus?
No God but One: Allah or Jesus?: A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity Reviews
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Due to some developments, I decided to revise this review.
As an ex-Muslim, I finally come to term with it and I must entertain my curious as to which path do ex-Muslims go to once they severed the shackle of Islam for good.
Here are the known routes: 1) Atheism; 2) Humanism; 3) Agnosticism; 4) Pantheism; 5) Christianity; and 6) Judaism. It’s rare for an ex-Muslim to embraces Judaism but it’s possible and to be clear it was a personal choice and not as a result of evangelism, similarly, my conversion to Christianity was not as a result of evangelism or a visitation in a dream.
The conclusion on this book resonate profoundly with me: "Leaving Islam can cost you everything: family, friends, job, everything you have ever known, and maybe even life itself. Is it really worth the sacrificing everything for the truth? The answer is simple: It depends on the value of the truth." (pg. 294) I believe that summed up those who dared to leave Islam; nothing to envy really, although I must admit being forsaken by people that you thought you could rely on was a bitter pill to swallowed even with the passing of times.
My upbringing and where I come from, Islam and its orthodoxy was an inheritance that had been pass on from one generation to the next as natural as the race one was born with. There was never a question of “I don’t want this” or “Islam is not for me.” Like the rest of the herd, I obeyed and dared not entertain any doubt though they kept popping up in different stages of my life. Unlike the author I never desire to convert anyone to Islam. The true irony, I learned a lot about Islam since I left Islam e.g. its history, the Quran, the Hadith and the uncensored life of Muhammad. Put all of them together, it isn’t a pretty picture but that’s for individual to find out.
As a Christian, the valuable take away from this book for me is this: we ought to focus on Jesus Christ as God incarnation as Son of Man, his Crucifixion and his resurrection and the Bible while it is important is secondary to Jesus and not the other way around.
Some recommended readings in this context: Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Now The Call Me Infidel by Nonie Darwish, Wholly Different: Why I Chose Biblical Values Over Islamic Values by Nonie Darwish, Cruel And Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications Of Islamic Law by Nonie Darwish, A Muslim On The Bridge: On Being An Iraqi-Arab Muslim In The 21st Century by Ali Shakir and No Go Zones: How Sharia Law Is Coming To A Neighbourhood Near You by Raheem Kassam. -
So sad about Nabeel's death. This book of his is excellent. In riveting detail, he respectfully examines the evidence for both Christianity and Islam, contrasting them so they illuminate each other. You'll learn how different the Bible is from the Quran, Jesus from Muhammad, the Triune God from Allah. This book empowers you to more effectively share your faith. All I can say is read this!
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I loved everything about this book. The amount of information here is enough to be made into multiple books. Nabeel Qureshi (RIP), after recounting the story of his conversion in his previous book, investigates the evidence for both Islam and Christianity and ultimately concludes that the evidence for Christianity is overwhelming. Qureshi is concise with his explanations and never wastes a page with his explanations. Nabeel Qureshi was a treasure to the Christian community and I hope he is doing well in heaven.
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Many thanks to Zondervan Academic and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy!
For someone to write a book like this with such authority and empathy, he would need not just to have studied one side or the other with the idea of disproving it, but he would need to live and love on both sides, subjecting both to the same manner of sharp criticism and open-hearted generosity. Qureshi is just such a person, and he has the intellectual and theological chops (as well as the emotional fortitude) to tackle such a topic with competence and compassion. Throughout the read, I grew to appreciate Qureshi's even hand, fair-mindedness, and intellectual rigor. Although his knowledge of history and sacred texts is broad as well as deep, he's rendered the central concepts in a simple, achievable style. Recommended. -
Nabeel has done it again: He has taken us into the depths of Islam and shown us the truth of Christianity at the same time. And it's not always pretty.
I've read many great books on Islam: But this one simply beats them all. And I mean SIMPLY. Nabeel has the gift of clarity and focus. He doesn't give us 100's of issues between Islam and Christianity (like most books on the topic), he seems to focus on a few of the major claims at the core of each world religion: then he compares them scholarly.
His chapter on the historic truth of Muhammad should have every Muslim on the planet running crying into the desert. I even learned some new things during this comparison of Jesus Vs. Muhammad. We all know that historic Christian scholarship and the Bible easily shows that Jesus is God himself (yes, the Trinity in action), but when comparing Islam's prophet and founder: well... the honest historic scholarship is extremely rare. The Quran and the Hadiths are horrifically unreliable and inconsistent. If a muslim accepts any good that Muhammad may be tagged with - then they must accept the brutality and sexual abuse that are written along side it. OR: possibly claim that there is NO reliable accounts of Muhammad at all.
Strangely, outside of Islam there are basically no records of the founding of Islam, or its doctrine, or its locations, or even its language or prophet. Apparently this stuff all popped up many years after the founding of Islam. Unlike Jesus and Jerusalem and the Christian church - YES, which has many many writings and references just a few decades after Jesus' visit.
much more to say... -
No God but One: Allah or Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi is a wonderful, apologetic follow up to his personal story, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. In this work, Qureshi investigates and lays out the critical, apologetic differences between the faith he was raised in and the Christianity he has accepted.
This book is divided into two major sections that are accessible to the general public, whether Christian, Muslim or even a general skeptic. These deal with differences between Islam and Christianity and how the truthfulness of each's claims can be made. The initial section deals with Qureshi's investigation and debates with Muslim scholars about the meaning and practical application of sharia, how the doctrine of the Trinity really is a stark difference with the Islamic Allah, and the ways that Jesus and Muhammed taught, acted and advocated differently.
The final section, the truthfulness of each faith, is examined in turn. Jesus role as a divine mediator and the Koran's claim to be the final word of the prophet are examined.
Qureshi, a Canadian pastor who has studied at Duke, Biola and Oxford and who also has a MD, and who works with Ravi Zacharias Ministries is certainly qualified and able to examine this subject fairly, calmly, and with real kindness. His attempt to be irenic, yet have a warm approach among Muslim scholars he debates with is a model of engagement worth paying attention to. This volume is well recommended. -
An outstanding read of unparalleled value
Nabeel Qureshi writes from an uncommon perspective, as one who has been reborn from Islam to the Lord Jesus Christ. He skilfully documents history, verbal and written tradition, as well as persistently highlighting the supremacy of the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The author's narrative is compelling, and rare in its explanation of his long and turbulent transition. Not only so, he is also encouraging in his intellectually challenging investigation of truth. Nabeel masterfully uses everyday language to explain complex arguments with remarkable simplicity.
Few readers, if any, who read with genuine interest, will not be drawn into the compelling certainty of the truths presented.
I strongly recommend this read, particularly to all who would call themselves either Muslim or Christian. -
More great work from Nabeel Qureshi. This is must reading for Christians to understand the critical differences between Christianity and Islam. It is must reading for Muslims seeking to same understanding. The book is written by a former Muslim who knows what he is talking about and is very respectful and sympathetic. Pray for Nabeel and his battle with cancer.
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Qureshi was truly a man of God and such an inspiration for me. After reading "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus," how could I not continue reading his follow-up book? 'Seeking Allah' was his testimony, 'No God But One' delves more into the theological reasoning. He tackles 2 questions, What are the differences between Islam and Christianity?, and Can we know with certainty if either Islam and Christianity are based on truth? I've heard religious leaders claim both beliefs are the same... THEY ARE NOT! "There is no God but one, and He is Father, Spirit and Son. There is no God but one, and He is Jesus." Qureshi presents a bold, intelligent and reasonable faith. Believers, such as the author, find it worth all suffering to receive this truth and follow Him. A definite must read for all lovers of apologetics.
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Wow! This book is fantastic, I would highly... highly recommend anyone interested in isalm and it’s origins to read this. I feel much more confident defending my own Christian faith in light of the great and well researched information in this book. I praise God for the ways He worked through Nabeel. Though his time was short on this earth he was used in many mighty ways.
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This took me a while to read but it was life changing. I wanted to learn more about what it means to be Muslim and what the truth actually is: Islam or Christianity. This book is easy to understand and to read and actually had me staying up late into the night trying to read everything I could. I am more confident in my beliefs than ever. I encourage all to read this!!!
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This book points out many of the similarities and the stark differences in Islam vs. Christianity, and in particular Allah and Jesus.
Both Islam and Christianity are monotheistic, believing there is "no God but one" but they differ fundamentally on who that God is: Allah or Jesus. The author asks the questions, "Can we be confident that Christianity or Islam is true? Is the truth worth dying for?
In order to be a Muslim, the minimal requirement is to proclaim and believe the "Shahada" which states, "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger." According to Islam, the way to paradise is "sharia". Sharia is the teaching and the laws of the Quran. This is where Muslims and Christians part company. In Islam, sharia is the way, and in Christianity, Jesus is the way.
Islam diagnoses the world with ignorance and offers the remedy of sharia, a law to follow. Christianity diagnoses the world with brokenness and offers the remedy of God himself, a relationship that leads to a heart transformation.
While Islam states there is only one God, Christians believe there is one God who manifests himself in three persons or personalities. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Consequently, there is only one God, but Jesus too is God and the Bible makes this clear; There is only one God (e.g., Rom. 3:30) The Father is God (e.g., John 6:27) Jesus is God (e.g., John 20:28; Rom. 9:5; 2 Peter 1:1) The Holy Spirit is God (e.g., Acts 5:3–5) These three are distinct persons (e.g., John 14:16–17).
The author goes on to state, for Muslims, the doctrine of a divine Christ is anathema, and the Quran teaches that he who subscribes to it will make his home in the flames of hell (5:72). For the Christian, belief in the lordship of Christ is necessary for salvation (Rom. 10:9). What wider divergence could there be?
In Islam, Muhammad is revered as a prophet, but was he? Qureshi proves via the Quran (and other traditions and writings of the Hadith) that he could not have been. Imagine a prophet of God like this:Muhammad allowed for prostitution through the institution of temporary marriage;26 when fifty-two years old he consummated his marriage with his nine-year-old bride Aisha, who was still playing with dolls;27 Muhammad allowed his men to have sex with female captives and slaves, unconcerned if they became pregnant or were to be sold;28 Muhammad declared women to be mentally deficient compared to men;29 and Muhammad said women will be the majority of hell’s inhabitants because they are ungrateful to their husbands.
Unlike Jesus and his life, there is almost nothing we can know with certainty about the historical Muhammad. Did he really even exist? Some say perhaps not. Yet, with Jesus, the evidence for his life, his death on the cross, and his resurrection is overwhelming.
The author, being a former Muslim, presents the case of Allah vs. Jesus clearly and provides much evidence to show the superiority of Jesus. It was enough evidence to compel him to turn to Jesus Christ for everlasting life. His conclusion did not come without cost.
He states, Leaving Islam can cost you everything: family, friends, job, everything you have ever known, and maybe even life itself. Is it really worth sacrificing everything for the truth? For Qureshi, it was.
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An excellent apologetic and comparison between Islam/Christianity. Well written. Good job, Nabeel.
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A greater understanding of the Islamic faith is needed. What does Islam teach about God? What do Muslims believe? What are the historical origins of this faith? What does the Quran teach? How does Islam differ from Christianity? What evidence is used to support the claim that Islam is true? These are the questions that should be asked and answered.
Fortunately, we now have an accessible, well-written book that answers these questions. Nabeel Qureshi, author of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus and Answering Jihad, has written a third book that compares Christianity and Islam. His latest book is No God but One. In the space below, I will summarize and critique this book. Most of this review will consist of summary, since the contents of the book are important. A short critique will follow.
I should state up front that I received a free copy of an advanced reading copy of this book from Zondervan in exchange for an honest review. Though not required to provide a positive review, I will say that I enjoyed this book enough to purchase my own copy on Amazon.com. (The advanced copy wasn’t the same as the published version, and I like to have books that I can cite in my writings. My purchase of the book is indicative of how useful I found the book to be—I plan on citing it in the future.)
Qureshi’s purpose in writing this book is rather straightforward: “In the course of this book, I hope to elucidate two overarching matters in particular: that the differences between Islam and Christianity have great implications, and that the evidence of history strongly supports the Christian claims” (page 13). Qureshi begins by mentioning the real-life case of a Muslim woman named Fatima who, while living in Saudi Arabia, became a Christian and was thus threatened by her brother, a zealous Muslim who demanded that she renounce her newfound faith in Christ. Fatima was now the possibility of dying because she moved from one religion to another. Who would die for believing one religion is true and the other religion is false? Is this really something to die for? “Is the truth worthy dying for?” (21).
Qureshi lets that last question hang in the air as he begins this book. He then tells his own story of converting from Islam to Christianity. As a young college student, he was devoted to Islam. He had memorized portions of the Quran and he grew up attending Mosque. He came to Old Dominion University armed with arguments in support of Islam and against Christianity. Yet Qureshi made another student named David Wood, who was on the debate team with him. Wood, a committed Christian, started to informally debate against Qureshi. For Qureshi, the process of weighing the evidence in favor of Christianity and against Islam took four years, but in 2005, the year he graduated college, he became a Christian.
As a former Muslim and now a Christian (who, after completing an MD, decided not to pursue a career in medicine but rather a career as a Christian apologist), Qureshi is an ideal candidate to write a book comparing Christianity and Islam, because he does so with knowledge, understanding, and grace.
The book is devoted to two questions. Parts 1-5 answer the question, “Are Islam and Christianity really all that different?” Parts 6-10 answer the question, “Can we know whether Islam or Christianity is true?”
In Part 1, Qureshi begins to compare these two religions by sketching out their respective worldviews. Islam means “submission,” which is the relationship that Allah’s followers have to their God. They must submit to his sovereign will. According to Islam, “the fundamental problem of mankind is ignorance” (33). The solution is what to believe (aqeeda) and how to live (sharia). “Once people learn what to believe, aqeeda, and how to live, sharia, they will earn the pleasure of Allah” (33).
The major beliefs of Islam are six: “belief in Allah as the only God, belief in the prophets [(the greatest of which is Muhammad], belief in divinely inspired books, belief in angels, and the unseen, belief in the day of judgment, and belief in Allah’s predestining sovereignty” (33). These are the six articles of Islamic faith. Sharia is Islamic law, literally “way.” “Sharia dictates virtually every respect of a devout Muslim’s life, from what foods to eat, to proper forms of currency, to exact words to recite during prayers” (34). The five most important practices of Islam are known as its five pillars: “proclaiming the Islamic motto, the Shahada: ‘There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger’; praying the five daily prayers; fasting during the month of Ramadan; giving alms; and undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca” (34). It is important to observe that in Islam, on the day of judgment, those who have obeyed Allah will be rewarded. Salvation is through obedience, not through sheer grace.
In Christianity, on the other hand, God is love. This is only possible because God is triune. He is a trinity: One Being in three Persons (Father, Son, and Spirit). The fact that God is triune means he is inherently a community of love. Prior to the creation of the universe and of people, God is love, because the Father loves the Son, and the Son loves the Father, and they love the Spirit, and so forth. The same cannot be said of Allah.
Christianity states that the problem of mankind (and all of nature) is sin. Sin is “a rejection of the Source of Life” (35). It’s a turning from God. “It is rebellion against the Sustainer of the universe. It is the most destructive force in the cosmos, the ultimate root of every pained heart, every broken family, every pointless war, every heinous genocide. Sin spreads through generations like a malignant cancer, and it razes civilizations like a plague” (35).
The solution to this problem is what is called the gospel, which means “good news.” The good news is that God the Father sent God the Son into the world to live the life that we are incapable of living because of our sin and to die in place of sinners, bearing the holy and just condemnation that sin and sinners deserve. Not only did Jesus die on the cross in place of sinners, but he rose from the grave. Qureshi’s description of the significance of Jesus’ resurrection bears reading:
From the perspective of a human watching Jesus, it might have looked like just another man dying just another death. So to prove to the world that His death was not just another death but one that brings life to the world, and to prove that He was indeed the God He claimed to be, He rose from the dead. On the one hand, this was a sign to all who were skeptical that Jesus truly has supernatural authority and deserves to be heard. On the other hand, it was a symbol for those who believe in Him that death has been defeated. Jesus has conquered it for us (36).
Salvation in Christianity is achieved by grace (it is a gift from God, not earned) through faith (those who believe/trust in Jesus are saved, not those who have done more good works than bad).
It should be clear how Islam and Christianity differ. In Islam, Allah is Unitarian (one God, one Person), whereas in Christianity, God is Trinitarian (one God, three Persons). In Islam, which denies original sin, the problem is ignorance, which is solved by right beliefs and right living (obedience to sharia). In Christianity, the problem is the power of sin, which has invaded the world and dwells within us. The solution is a rescue from God, who becomes man and lives a righteous life in our place (satisfying a holy God’s demands) and dies in our place (satisfying a holy God’s justice) and is raised to life (offering proof of who he is, what he’s done, and what he will do when he returns and all his followers are resurrected to eternal life). Additionally, Christianity teaches that God gives us himself: The third Person of God, the Holy Spirit, comes to dwell in Christians, empowering them to live a life pleasing to God. Islam teaches salvation is achieved through obedience, whereas Christianity teaches that salvation is through faith.
Since grace is a message Muslims struggle with, Qureshi spends some time defending it. “Herein lies the genius and infinitude of the love of God: He doesn’t draw the line [between mercy and justice]. He offers mercy to everyone who has ever sinned while also demanding justice for every sin ever committed” (41). Qureshi also states that the message of Christianity, particularly with regard to our problem and God’s solution, “resonates with reality” (45).
Thus ends Part 1 of the book. In Part 2, Qureshi compares the Islamic doctrine know as Tawhid with the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. Tawhid teaches that Allah is absolutely one. It teaches that there can be nothing else alongside of Allah that is eternal, including any attributes that are not eternal, or not part of his essence. This is significant with respect to the Quran, because some Muslims believe the Quran to be eternal and uncreated. In other words, it has always existed. But this threatens the doctrine of Tawhid! In fact, early in Islam, that belief regarding the Quran was condemned. But it has now become a majority view. The belief that Allah and the Quran are eternal is a contradiction to Tawhid.
Yet Muslims find the doctrine of the Trinity to be incoherent. They believe it “an indefensible, self-contradictory, polytheistic doctrine” (52). For this reason, Qureshi devotes a fair amount of space to the definition and defense of the Trinity. Since the Trinity is so essential to the Christian doctrine of God, it is difficult to say that Muslims and Christians worship the same God.
Part 3 of the book compares Jesus to Muhammad. While Muhammad is not analogous to Jesus in all ways (Muhammad is not God, nor is he eternal or a savior), Jesus and Muhammad are central to the Christian and Islamic faiths, respectively. Jesus is the God who, without forfeiting his divine nature, added a second nature, that of a human, when he entered into his own creation. He is both Savior and the ultimate exemplar. Muhammad, though only a prophet and not a savior figure, is the prime exemplar for Muslims.
In Part 4, Qureshi compares the Bible and the Quran. Muslims view the Quran with the utmost respect. They do not believe the Quran was in any way written by men or a man, but it was dictated to Muhammad, who preached these recitations (“Quran” means “recitation”), which were later written down. Muslims also believe that the Quran is only the word of God if it’s in Arabic, the language in which it was written. In other words, this book cannot truly be translated. “Muslims are hesitant to call non-Arabic versions of the Quran ‘translations,’ believing that there is mystical value and hidden meaning in the Arabic that cannot be translated” (106). By contrast, the Bible is the product of God and human beings. God is the ultimate and final author, but he wrote through human beings, using their personalities, experiences, and historical and cultural contexts to write what he wanted. It was written in history, as opposed to the belief that the Quran is eternal. Also, the Bible can be translated because it is the message of the Bible, and not any particular language, that is important.
Part 5 is devoted to a discussion of the Crusades. Though Qureshi does not aim to defend all that occurred in the Crusades, he does show them in context. The Crusades were conducted in response to Muslim attacks on so-called “Christian lands.” Muslims had attacked and conquered nations that had been predominantly Christian from the mid-600s well into the second millennium. “The reality is that the Crusades were launched in defense of the Byzantine Empire after two-thirds of the Christian world had been conquered by centuries of Muslim attacks. Muslims understood this and held no grudge against crusaders until modern times, when postcolonial narratives came into vogue” (133). Qureshi compares the violence inherent in Islam with the peacefulness of Christianity. He acknowledges that many—probably the vast majority of— Muslims are peaceful. But Muhammad and the early caliphs were not, and the Quran most certainly has passages that command violence. And these passages were not abrogated or limited to one time and place.
Clearly, the answer to the first question, which asks if these religions are different, is yes.
The second half of the book examines the truth claims of both religions. Qureshi identifies three central truth claims of Christianity: “(1) that Jesus died, (2) that He rose from the dead, and (3) that He is God” (153). The two central claims of Islam, beyond the existence of Allah as the one true God, is that Muhammad was a prophet and that the Quran is the word of God. These five truth claims are examined one by one in Parts 6-10 of the book.
In order to make this already long review shorter, I will move quickly through these parts. However, I should add that it was this part of the book that felt more coherent, and more central to the debate. It’s important to observe the differences between the religion (as Qureshi does in the first half of the book). But it’s more important to know whether one religion (or, at the least, some of one religion) is true.
That Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross in Jerusalem when Pontius Pilate was the Roman procurator of Judea is one of the surest facts of ancient history. Virtually no scholar denies this. Yet the Quran does deny that Jesus actually died on the cross. (It should be noted that in Islam, Jesus is not the Son of God, but he is a prophet. He was born of Mary and ascended into heaven, but, according to Islam, he did not die and therefore he did not rise from the grave.) Since all the evidence we have points to the fact that Jesus died on the cross, Islam is wrong in this regard.
Jesus’ resurrection is more debated. There are a number of biblical scholars who don’t believe that Jesus actually rose from the grave in a physical body. But the majority of scholars do agree on three basic points: (1) Jesus died, (2) his followers claimed that they had seen him after his death, and (3) some people who didn’t follow Jesus prior to his death (namely, Paul and James, but also Jude) claimed to have seen him after he died and their lives were changed. The only hypothesis that can adequately account for these facts is the resurrection. This is the argument made by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona, the argument known as the “Minimal Facts Approach.”
Muslims believe that Jesus’ message was somehow corrupted immediately after his ascension, but there is simply no evidence to support that view. Muslims believe that Paul corrupted Jesus’ message, but Qureshi shows that Paul had nothing to gain in doing so. Also, Paul’s message was the same as the message of Peter and the other apostles.
Qureshi demonstrates effectively that the consistent witness of the New Testament is that Jesus is God. This was not a claim fabricated by a later generation of Christians. It is demonstrated in the earliest gospel, the Gospel of Mark, as well as the latest one, the Gospel of John. It is also very clear in Paul’s letters, some of which are among the earliest Christian documents that we have.
These issues were not, for Qureshi, dry and academic. As he was weighing the evidence for Christianity, he realized that the evidence in favor of the truthfulness of this faith was very strong. But he still was reluctant to leave Islam. He had to consider, as objectively as possible, whether the evidence for Islam was as strong as the evidence in favor of Christianity.
Therefore, Qureshi considered whether Muhammad was really a prophet of God. He had been taught that Muhammad was meek, humble, a champion for widows and orphans, and a great leader of impeccable character. He had been taught that the Bible actually prophesied the coming of Muhammad (in Deuteronomy 18 and John 16, among other places). He had been taught that Muhammad had attained miraculous knowledge of science that would have been otherwise unknown in his day.
Yet when Qureshi examined these teachings, he found them not to be true. Muhammad may have been admirable in some regards, but he also was a man who committed great violence. He sent assassins to kill his enemies in their sleep. He punished his enemies by cutting off their hands and feet and branding their eyes with a hot iron, and had killed the men of a tribe while making slaves out of their women and children. He allowed his men to rape female captives and he declared that women were mentally inferior to men. He even said the majority of those in hell would be women.
Qureshi easily shows that Muhammad was not the prophet prophesied in Deuteronomy 18 (that would be Jesus) nor is he the “paraclete” prophesied in John 16 (that would be the Holy Spirit). Furthermore, Muhammad did not have miraculous scientific knowledge. When we read passages from the Bible and the Quran in context, we see that the claims of Muslims are easily refuted.
Interestingly, there are some scholars who question whether Muhammad actually existed, given that most of our knowledge of him comes from the hadith, which are traditions of Muhammad’s life written down centuries after he lived. Qureshi boldly writes, “”There is almost nothing we can know with certainty about the historical Muhammad” (263).
Finally, Qureshi considers whether the Quran really is the word of God. Muslims claim that the Quran is the best piece of literature, so great that it must be of divine origin. They claim that there are prophesies in the Quran which have been fulfilled in history, that the Quran teaches knowledge that would not be discovered by scientists until centuries later, that there is something of a mathematical code in the text of the Quran, and that it has been perfectly preserved from error.
Qureshi shows that the first argument is completely subjective. Who is to say what is the best piece of literature? The prophesies that have been fulfilled in history are dubious, as is the so-called “science” of the Quran. The claim that the Quran evidences a mathematical structure can only be supported through a very selective sifting of evidence, and the Quran has actually been edited as late as the early twentieth century.
In short, the evidence in favor of the truthfulness of Islam is slim. Therefore, if one were to test both Christianity and Islam in as objective a manner as possible, one would discover that Christianity is true.
Qureshi ends by continuing the story of Fatima, the one that began the book. She was killed by her own brother because she became a Christian. Shortly before dying, she published a poem online. The last lines of that poem are:
My last words I pray to the Lord of the worlds,
Jesus the Messiah, the Light of Clear Guidance:
Change their heats and set right their discernment.
May he spread love among you, O Muslims (296).
Qureshi has written a book that is clear and accessible to the motivated reader. It is very difficult to summarize, compare, and then explore the veracity of two religions. Qureshi does so in as succinct a manner as possible, without sacrificing important details and all the while adding in enough autobiographical detail to keep readers interested.
My main critique would be that I would like to see a more coherent structure in the first half of the book. I would also have appreciated a bit more history, particularly of the origins of Islam. If I were to write the book, I might have started there. He does discuss Islamic and Christian history throughout the book, but in not in the systematic way he discusses the Trinity and the identity of Jesus.
However, if Qureshi went into greater detail, whether discussing history or theology, the book would become much longer, and I’m sure that would attract fewer readers. -
I have 2 problems with that book:
A) I wanted it to be A LOT LONGER. I wanted more of everything; more brainstorming, more challenging concepts, more points of view, more arguments and more answers.
B) I'm sad already because in a couple of months I would barely remember what I read in here. (I highlighted over 150 passages!)
Thank you, Nabeel Qureshi for this! I'm pretty sure that's the highlight of my 2022 reads! -
“No God But One-Allah or Jesus? A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam & Christianity” by Nabeel Qureshi
Right up front let me state that this book is great & is worthwhile having. The author, Nabeel Qureshi was for many years a dedicated believer in Islam, but he discovered that his reasons for rejecting Christianity were not nearly as solid as he had been told: "Examining the claims of Islam and Christianity over four years, I went from utter conviction in Islam to reluctantly embracing the gospel."
The author emphasizes that the central claims of Christianity are explicitly rejected by Islam. It's not just a little difference--it's a fundamental incompatibility between Islam & Christianity...the central claims of Christianity are explicitly rejected by Islam.
In reading this book, you will learn these important things
-What Muslims believe & why they believe them
-What Muslims are taught Christians believe
-Christian core beliefs & the supporting evidence for those beliefs.
Nabeel covers these by dividing up the book to answer two key questions:
Question 1: What are the differences between Islam & Christianity? He thoroughly compares & explains the differences between Sharia & the Gospel, Tawhid (Monad) & the Trinity, between Muhammad & Jesus, the Quran & Bible, & Jihad & the Crusades.
Question 2 : Can we know whether Islam or Christianity is true?
Christianity & Islam both make claims about the past that can be tested against the records of history. Nabeel determined that to believe Christianity to be true one would have to prove that Jesus died on the cross, He rose from the dead & He claimed to be God. After examining these ideas, he moves to what would be needed to believe Islam to be true: is Muhammad a prophet of God & is the Quran the Word of God.
Every bit of this book is thoughtful, careful, thorough & logical. A great read, easy to follow & yet will make for a great reference. Nabeel absolutely came to Christ reluctantly, he did so because the truth was simply overwhelming & as he says towards the end-“if there was one thing that Islam had taught me, it was that I must submit to God and not to man. That meant following the truth, no matter where it led.” -
Nabeel has done it again! I have been very interested in apologetics since before I became a Christian, to me, it was important to not have blind faith, to know that my beliefs were credible, had proven evidence. I originally became acquainted with Nabeel’s work through Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, it was through his book Jesus Amongst Other Gods that Jesus worked on my heart and I left Wicca for Christianity. After reading Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, I was left in love with Muslims, but also thankful that I knew Jesus. However, loving apologetics, I was left wanting to know the evidence behind why Nabeel left Islam for Christianity, now that I understood his heart. No God but One: Allah or Jesus, was the answer to these questions. Whether you are a Muslim or a Christian this book is theologically sound, there is a lot to be learned through Nabeel’s journey. After reading this book I was even more in love with Jesus, and felt my faith was even stronger than it had been before. There is something about apologetics, about the evidence that just lights a fire for me. Knowing that my God was so thoughtful, so purposeful is amazing. Also, I left with a different understanding of Muslims, of Islam, of Christianity, of history that really pushed me to pursue being more intentional with my life, being more intentional with the people around me, truly understanding love, and what it means to love others. I feel bolder to proclaim the truth as eternal lives really do hang in the balance. This book is not just a nice read, you cannot just read it, put it down and expect your life to stay the same, it really calls us to action. Personally and relationally you will be challenged in the best sort of way. I cannot recommend it enough. If you are on the fence, just buy it, if you ended up here on accident, please, just buy it, read it, you will not be disappointed.
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Truly an incredible book!! It is clearly apparent how much time, effort, and work Nabeel put into this book. He uses great sources and comes from as close to a true objective mindset as possible. I highly recommend this book if you want to know more about either Christianity or Islam or both. And I wold highly recommend this book to any believer in Christ.
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I really wish Nabeel was still with us. What a mind. This is a great book that explains both sides of beliefs. Obviously, it's slanted toward Christianity, but I think Nabeel did a great job of laying out all of the views equally, and not landing on cheap answers that weren't based off of the texts.
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Intellectual, Approachable, and Relational
I really loved Qureshi’s first book, the heartfelt and relational Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. It didn’t surprise me at all that I liked this book just as well. Qureshi explains that his first book was written the way it was (mostly as a story, a personal testimonial) less to prove anything in a debate form, and more to share his journey through the debates and questions that he had had. I certainly got that sense reading it, and appreciated that he was always so sensitive to the Muslim perspective that he used to have. He then explains to us that while the first book was more the “heart” of his story, this one is the “mind” – this one DOES seek to engage us in debate, and bring into the light more of the research that led him away from Islam and into Christianity. This one is a true apologetic, an examination of evidence and its most reasonable conclusions.
For those curious about the audience, this book is clearly aimed at Christians and Muslims only. The Christians who read this book should get a better understanding of Muslim views – or at least Muslim views and criticisms of Christianity – and Muslims who read this book will be challenged to reassess those criticisms and the defenses of their own faith. There are others outside this audience who may still get some empathetic understanding, but are mostly out of the conversation. An atheist who denies the “But One” of the title won’t be any more convinced by this book than he would be by Lewis or Strobel; Jews who affirm the One God but not Jesus will not find a case being made here for how Jesus fulfills the Torah (for that, see Paul?). Anyway, these limitations are not for lack of evidence but because of an agreed upon playing field. Qureshi’s aim is not to build the case for theism, but rather to compare the apologetic cases for the two monotheistic religions with which he is experienced. And unlike many apologetic cases, even if you remain unconvinced you will come away from this book with greater empathy and without feeling insulted. Taken in that scope, he is very effective.
Why should there be a book comparing the evidence for Islam and Christianity? I can think of many reasons! First, there is clearly a lack of understanding and empathy today (as much as any time the last thousand years or so) between the world of Christianity and the world of Islam. The most religiously fervent in each camp seem bent on denouncing and attacking the other, and it’s likely that most members of each group have no friends from the other group. I have been intrigued because I regularly interact with Muslims in my classroom, and my next door neighbors are Muslim; I’m pleased to have that opportunity that so many don’t take. Second, the WAY that these groups tend to disagree with one another, stemming from those misunderstandings, is perpetuated in the ways that they argue their cases. Both sides put up straw men for what the other side believes, and then attempt to take it down with assertions from their own beliefs. For example, Muslims may accuse Christians of being polytheists, and then misunderstand the Trinity to consist of God, Jesus, and Mary; Christians may accuse Muslims of wanting Sharia law in the US, when really following Sharia is far more nuanced and reasonable in practice than some Muslim theocracy trumping the Constitution. Qureshi goes beyond these small misunderstandings (many of which are also addressed in his first book), however, and focuses on the essentials to each faith.
The last reason that this book exists is the same reason that Qureshi’s first book did: this is something he himself experienced. He encountered a fruitful relationship with a Christian (our first challenge – love your neighbor!) that challenged him to examine his beliefs, leading him ultimately to a crisis of faith in which he submitted his intellect and will to the stronger evidence. This is immensely difficult and is to be applauded, even if you are an atheist who thinks he just traded one lie for another – this came at great cost to himself, and even atheists who once had a faith might sympathize with the experience of that crisis and the numerous ways your life changes as a result. Even if you have only a passing fancy in Christianity or Islam, his story (in the first book) and the key evidence being argued (in this book) are of interest as a human story of a faith journey.
Qureshi examines what he considers to be the key elements of each faith. As two of the world’s largest religions, there is clearly a great deal of diversity within those religions, so he tries to pare it down to things that, if they are eliminated, cease to be that religion. This technique is already a great tool, since it cuts past the surface arguments that so often get nitpicked by theologians, within and between each religion. Another great tactic he takes is how he talks about God – since one of the fundamental differences is what each religion believes about who God is and what He is like. While there have been effective cases in other places that show that “Allah” and “God” are synonymous (the words are synonyms, and both refer to the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, uncreated Creator), Qureshi decides to show that because there are essential differences in WHAT and WHO each religion believes God/Allah to be, he will use different names. One of the central cases he makes, unlike many other apologetics books I’ve read, is explaining the doctrine of the Trinity. This was clearly an odd thing for early Christians, both Jew and Greek, and it’s a huge stumbling block and misunderstanding for Muslims as well, who believe Allah to be a “monad” – similar to the Jewish Shema’s “The Lord your God is One.” Qureshi shows how the doctrine of the Trinity is both essential to Christians to explain the divinity of Christ and essential to clarify to Muslims to show them that Christians are not polytheists – that we still believe in One God, not 2 or 3. To make this distinction, he separately defines (for his use) the words “Allah,” “God,” “Jesus,” “Father,” “Son,” “Holy Spirit,” and even borrows the term “Yahweh” (with a hint of irony from Judaism’s view of God’s oneness). While the use of these terms may not translate beyond the scope of this book, they are incredibly helpful in keeping straight some of the most vital misunderstandings in the key terms of each religion’s view of God.
Other essential elements of the book focus on the reliability of the respective scriptures, but he clarifies well that the Qur’an is held in a higher place than even the Bible, since the central piece of Christianity is the Word of God made Flesh, i.e. Jesus, not the actual text of the Bible. (This alone could be news to some Christians, but that’s a bone I’ll pick elsewhere.) Thus it is the truth of the person of Jesus and how he reveals the nature of God to us that is essential to Christians, and the truth of the Qur’anic text that is essential to Muslims. It is helpful to know not only what Muslims think of their own scriptures, but what they think of Christian texts, and which ones are or are not helpful in bringing them to an understanding of Christian doctrine.
Read this book if…
(1) you have already read his first book and are curious about the intellectual details of the story of his journey from Islam to Christianity, and/or…
(2) if you have regular interaction with Muslims and/or Christians and wish to better understand their essential beliefs and worldview, and/or…
(3) are curious about apologetics within the context of interfaith dialogue, and/or…
(4) are interested in engaging in such dialogue. (There is a good example of such an interfaith debate group that Qureshi participated in that I would love to enact in the future.)
All 4 of these were true for me, but even if only one of them is for you, you may still enjoy this book or find it enriching or challenging. His heart for understanding and his devotion to intellect and the truth are inspiring. I do recommend that you read his first book first, but if it’s the intellectual evidence that you’re interested in, this will satisfy that.
There is enough in here to be a decent apologetic for many of the tenets of the Christian faith, and to be a fair criticism of the tenets of Islam. As long as we know that that’s what this book is, it will accomplish its purpose and we will be better for it. There are other good books out there highlighting the large amount of common ground that Christianity and Islam (and Judaism) share, and other empathetic ways Christians and Muslims can relate to one another with understanding; this book is built on (respectful) debate, and thus highlights differences more than similarities, but it does acknowledge many of the most valuable connections.
Bottom Line:
I think we would all benefit from more interfaith dialogue, both personally and professionally, and whether we do it within the realm of apologetics or not, it is important that we all examine our own faith more critically, and others’ faith more empathetically. This book contributes well to both of those goals.
NOTE: I listened to the audiobook, and it was bittersweet to hear the author read it himself, as he passed away last year after a tragic battle with cancer. It is inspiring to hear, in his introduction and epilogue, the passion that he has for this topic and for the ears he wants to hear it. This is a debate that matters to Qureshi, just as it matters to many others in the Muslim world who may be encountering Christianity through messages like Qureshi’s, and for whom the stakes are high. -
This is a surface-level dip into the world of Islamic and Christian apologetic debates. It's a useful guide for those wanting to know some of the basic arguments in order to have simple conversations. The book is well-structured (albeit takes a while to get going). I couldn't help but feel like we were only getting casual selections of what Qureshi knew, not deep dives. Still, a good companion to other books like
The Case for Christ.
I enjoyed Qureshi's personal conversion story more:
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity. -
Learned a lot and it was really interesting! Glad I picked it up.
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A must-read comparison of the evidence for Islam and Christianity
The stakes couldn’t be higher — for author Nabeel Qureshi (particularly with the tragic news of his advanced stomach cancer), for the Muslim-raised woman introduced in the prologue and for everyone who reads this book.
Christianity and Islam both make bold truth claims. While many insist those claims are fundamentally similar and only superficially different, Qureshi systematically shows that they are actually fundamentally different and only superficially similar — and the differences matter. Either Jesus died on the cross or He didn’t. Either He claimed to be God or He didn’t. Either God is Trinitarian or He isn’t. Simply: They can’t both be right.
But which is right?
Qureshi was raised a Muslim, and he fought hard to prove the veracity of his beliefs. But he couldn’t believe something without evidence. And the evidence continued to mount … and mount … and mount until, in his words, “the evidence in favor of Christianity was so strong I had no choice.”
The emotions of that journey are captured beautifully in his book, “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.” Qureshi describes that book as the heart of his journey. “No God but One,” on the other hand, is the mind of his journey, an in-depth investigation of the evidence.
But don’t for a second think this book is somehow more dry or academic. To be sure, it demands some intellectual rigor, but Nabeel’s passion for the truth bleeds through amply to make it a captivating read.
It captivates by tackling the most important issues head on, while always considering the practical ramifications. Outlined simply, the book asks two questions: 1) Are Islam and Christianity really all that different? 2) Can we know whether Islam or Christianity is true?
Each question is answered in five parts. The first question addresses issues side by side: Sharia or the Gospel, Tawhid or the Trinity, Muhammad or Jesus, the Quran or the Bible, Jihad or the Crusades. The second question is answered by distilling each belief system to the core of its message, tackling each core belief in a point-counterpoint style and asking, “Would an objective observer find the arguments compelling?”
Realizing that we all bring biases to these issues, Qureshi encourages us to “pursue fair-mindedness with intentionality.” Having been on both sides of the issues, he models that.
Fortunately, Islam and Christianity are rooted in history, and their mutually exclusive claims can be tested. The evidence is out there, and if you’re willing to follow it wherever it leads, this book could change your life.
The concluding chapter reminds us of the stakes when it asks, “Is the truth worth dying for?” Nabeel believes so. The woman in the prologue believes so. I believe so. Will you at least examine the truth claims for yourself to see if you believe so?
Ultimately, if you’re looking for an honest comparison of these two worldviews, I can’t think of a better foundational text to assess Islam and Christianity side by side than “No God but One.” -
To be honest, it was not the title of the book that caught my attention, but the prologue. The tale of Fatima, who was discovered to be a Christian by her brother and given the ultimatum "Repent! Otherwise, you have blasphemed!" (Blasphemy = death in this case) caught my heart and got me to request the book.
What made Fatima convert?
I confess that though I know the basics of Islam (mainly through school and newspaper articles whenever there's a conversion case going on), I don't really know what it's about. If you asked me to talk about Islam and Christianity, I would not be able to say anything.
Now, though, I feel much more equipped.
No God but One is written by Nabeel Qureshi, a former Muslim turned Christian who is more than qualified to write this book, having been raised in one religion and turning to the other only after thorough investigation (in fact, he's with Ravi Zacharias' ministry now). The book looks first at the differences between Islam and Christianity - specifically, the Sharia vs the Gospel, the Tawhid vs the Trinity, Muhammad vs Jesus, the Quran vs the Bible and Jihad vs the Crusades.
That alone would have been a lot to digest, but the author goes on to consider the question "Can we know whether Islam or Christianity is true?" The author takes the central questions of each religion and presents two cases for it: one for and one against. And then, as an objectively as he can (acknowledging that people in their religion will have the tendency to accept one set of facts readily and the other less so), he tries to evaluate it.
I found this book to be incredibly enlightening. This conversation (the part 2 evaluation) was actually started while the author was trying to convert a Christian friend to Islam, so his struggles with accepting what he didn't want to accept came across clearly.
Not only will I be re-reading this book in the future, I also want to look for the other books that the author has read. Hopefully, I have enough money to do so.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted at
Inside the mind of a Bibliophile -
In contrast to his book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, No God but One focuses primarily on theology, history, and textual criticism for both Islam and Christianity. In his first book, the goal was to share his testimony and in it he touches on some of the arguments that persuaded him. In this book, it's a flip - he focuses on the arguments he touched on and interweaves his own experiences as they are relevant to whatever topic he is speaking on.
As a Western Christian, I found this book to be illuminating on multiple levels. Islam is truly misunderstood by both the left and the right in the United States and it's no wonder it's nearly impossible to have a coherent conversation about it. I also realized how ignorant I was of certain historical events and how much I had taken at face value from my own cultural biases.
What I appreciate about Qureshi's writing is that he is precise in terms and he belabors a point only to make sure he is being clear. I have a great deal to learn and to think on after reading this book. It maybe thin but it is deep. Worth a slow read, a re-read, and intense conversation. -
For a book about apologetics, I really appreciated the author's tone and earnestness. His thinking is clear, articulation crisp, and research pretty comprehensive. For how he approaches the issue, I think he does a fine job. My qualm is a larger theological one: he approaches the matter as a fundamentalist. His consideration of both religions is based on the fundamentalist view within each religion. As a student of religion, I think his perspective would benefit greatly from studying the mystics of both (and other) religions. To that end, a quick survey of something like Aldous Huxley's Perennial Philosophy would help broaden the scope of the work. As it was, he barely mentioned the Sufis (other than to mention that their views are not mainstream) and made no mention of Christian mystics. He limited his view of Christian theology to the fairly modern and literal interpretations of mainstream evangelical Christianity.
