Nabeel Qureshi, the author of the best-selling Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, has written another helpful book that examines the evidence that led him to trust in Jesus. No God but One: Allah or Jesus? is further described on the cover by the words “A former Muslim investigates the evidence for Islam and Christianity.”
The investigation is framed under two main questions:
Question 1: What are the differences between Islam and Christianity? (pages 23-148)
Question 2: Can we know whether Islam or Christianity is true? (pages 149-296)
In answering the first question, the author points out that Islam and Christianity have:
- two different solutions – Sharia or Gospel (part 1),
- two different Gods – Tawhid or Trinity (part 2),
- two different founders – Muhammad or Jesus (part 3),
- two different Scriptures – the Quran or the Bible (part 4), and
- two different Holy Wars – Jihad or the Crusades (part 5).
His conclusion:
Christianity is very different from Islam. …Virtually no one with a conservative, devout upbringing in Islam would be under the illusion that Christianity is the same as Islam … -page 150
To understand my journey, and to understand the fundamental incompatibility between Islam and Christianity, it is absolutely critical to internalize this point: The central claims of Christianity are explicitly rejected by Islam. Islamic doctrine is antithetical to the core message of Christianity. Evincing the case for Christianity disproves Islam, and vice versa. -pages 153,4
It was at this point in my reading that I was compelled to read his first book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. I finished reading them together. I found reading them together was helpful in understanding each. His first book adds an emotional dimension that enriches one’s understanding of the second book. I found that reading the two books together engaged both my mind and heart to pray more fervently for the advancement of the gospel among Muslims.
In addressing the second question of whether we can know whether Islam or Christianity is true, the author studies five points:
- Jesus’ death by crucifixion
- Jesus’ resurrection from the dead
- Jesus’ claim to be God
- The prophetic authority of Muhammad
- The divine inspiration of the Quran
The author concludes that the case for Christianity is stronger than the case for Islam. The book is bracketed by the story (started in the prologue) of a Muslim woman who converts to Christianity, resulting in her martyrdom. The story illustrates the seriousness of converting to Christianity.
Nabeel Qureshi tells his own story of estrangement from his family in his first book. His conversion was a four-year process – a reminder for us to not be weary in well doing.
Though these two books are not about contextualization per se, they do provide us with clear descriptions of the differences and misunderstandings between Islam and Christianity. These differences and misunderstandings show us the terrain we need to cross in making the gospel understood in Islamic contexts.