Book Review: Answering Jihad

Consider the following headlines from March 22, 2016...

ISIS Claims Responsility for Brussels Attack
ISIS Attacks US Firebase in Iraq
ISIS: 75 Attacks. 20 Countries, 1,280 killed

And here is a list of the attacks in the past 30 days.  

Terrifying.  Terrifying and maddening.   Innocent people, often women and children, brutally murdered under the flag of Islam. And, oh my, people are mad.

As Christians, how are we to respond? Do we really understand what is going on? Do we even care to understand? Or are we content to feed our anger with Facebook posts and rating-driven news reports? 

Nabeel Quereshi, in Answering Jihad, says, "There is too much confusion, too much misdirected anger, too much misinformation, too little balance and too little grace to remain silent any longer." And he doesn't remain silent. Instead, he provides a better way forward. 

Answering Jihad is very readable.  It is separated into three parts: The Origins of Jihad, Jihad Today and Jihad in Judeo-Christian Context. The chapters within these sections are short (5-10 pages long) and are in a question/answer format. At 173 pages, you could easily finish this book in a weekend.

Here is a list of the questions that he tackles:

Part 1:  Origins of Jihad

What is Islam?

Is Islam “a Religion of Peace”?

What is Jihad?

Is Jihad in the Quran and the Life of Muhammed?

What is Sharia?

Was Islam Spread by the Sword?

Part 2: Jihad Today

What is Radical Islam?

Does Islam need a Reformation?

Who are Al-Qaida, ISIS, and Boko Haram?

Who are the True Muslims- Violent or Peaceful Muslims?

Why are Muslims being radicalized?

Are Muslims trying to take over the West with Sharia?

Part 3: Jihad in Judeo-Christian Context

Do Muslims and Christians worship the Same God?

Why do some Christians call God “Allah”?

How does Jihad compare with Old Testament Warfare?

What does Jesus teach about Violence?

How does Jihad compare with the Crusades?

What does Jesus have to do with Jihad?

Nabeel Quereshi asks and answers the hard questions.  But he's not writing in isolation from the kingdom of acadamia.  As a former Muslim, he writes, "Islam was my identity, my culture, my worldview, my pride, even my raison d'etre. For me, Islam was more than just a religion; it was my entire way of life." As a Christian, he seeks the truth.  But as a man with Muslim friends and family, he seeks love and grace. 

This book is written with a tone of grace and respect. And the author exhorts Christians to respond to Muslims with the same tone of grace and respect. This can be done without compromising the truth. But we must be willing to seek the truth, which won't be found in soundbites from Fox News.

I encourage you to read this book.  You will find it very beneficial to your understanding of the events of today.

I received this book from the publisher for this review.

Hiding in the Light {Blogging for Books review}

From the publisher:

Rifqa Bary grew up in a devout Muslim home, obediently following her parents’ orders to practice the rituals of Islam. But God was calling her to freedom and love. He was calling her to true faith. He was calling her to give up everything.

Leaving Islam for Christianity cost her more than she imagined but gave more than she could have dreamed.

Hiding in the Light is the story of Rifqa’s remarkable spiritual journey from Islam to Christianity. It is also the untold story of how she ran from her father’s threats to find refuge with strangers in Florida, only to face a controversial court case that reached national headlines. Most of all, it is the story of a young girl who made life-changing sacrifices to follow Jesus—and who inspires us to do the same.

UPS dropped off this book shortly before supper last night.  I had finished it by bedtime.  I couldn't put it down.  It is an absolutely riveting, but heartrending story of a young Muslim girl in an abusive family who, because of her faith in Christ and fear of retribution, runs away.  This throws her life into chaos.  Legal battles and foster homes ensue.  It also throws her into a firestorm of media coverage.  And media coverage is anything but forgiving.  A Google search on Rifqa will verify that. 

I was fortunate to have missed the media sensation and came to this book with no preconceptions of the story.  And I would encourage you to read this book and take it at face value.  Read with discernment, yes.  But just because her experiences don't fit into how you see the world, do not label it as false. In my world, truth trumps honor.  But in the lives of many Muslims honor reigns supreme.  Honor trumps truth.  And when this happens, a culture is created that is difficult for westernized Americans to understand.  Reading this book gives us a vicarious look into this culture.

I would highly recommend that you read this book.  Highly.  However, I would offer two caveats.

First, don't let this become the lens through which you view all American Muslim families.  In the words of Nabeel Quereshi, "Islam is not monolithic."  All Muslim families are not abusive and repressive as was Rifqa's.  Quereshi's book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, is testimony of that.  His family was the antithesis of Rifqa's.

Second, her conversion story was murky.  Analytical and cerebral does not describe her conversion. Emotional and experiential does.  Salvation in Christ comes through repenting of the sins that separate you from a Holy God and acknowledging him as Lord and Savior in your life.  (For a clear presentation of the gospel, go here.)  As I read her conversion, I thought, "does she know who Jesus really is?" and "does she see herself as a sinner?" Did I miss it?  Perhaps I read too fast.  But even so, if your goal is to show what Christ has done in your life the gospel should be presented with such clarity that even a speed reader won't miss it.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Book Review: Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

Two elements are important to me in a book:  the clarity of the message and the delivery of the message. It is a rare biography that can excel in both.  Biographies are often littered with inane details of a person's life that obscure the message.  (Really, what you eat for breakfast?  And how does this relate to the story?)  And sometimes the delivery of the message is severely impeded by a lack of writing ability.

However, for once the endorsement on the back of a book rings true.

"I have seldom seen such genuine intellect combined with passion to match...truly a 'must-read' book." ~Ravi Zacharias (on the back of Seeking Allah Finding Jesus)

I agree.  The author, Dr. Nabeel Qureshi, combines a passion and intellect that delivers a clear and important message.

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus recounts the dramatic journey of Nabeel Qureshi from a ardent Muslim to a devout Christian.  Using the form of a narrative biography, we enter the world through the lens with which Dr. Qureshi sees it.  First, as a faithful Muslim who loves Islam.  Then, as a lay historian seeking to uncover the truth of Christianity and challenged by his friend to apply the same scrutiny to Islam.  Lastly, as a man having uncovered the Truth, struggling to submit to it, but in the end turning to the Jesus of the Bible in faith.

I've read about a dozen books on Islam and if I could only recommend one it would be this one.  And that is saying a lot because there are a few that I really like.  Why?  Because if you read this book thoughtfully, you will walk away with not only a better understanding of Islam but also a better understanding of the heart of a Muslim.  You will be challenged by Dr. Qureshi's desire to seek and know the truth whatever the cost.  And there is a cost.  And, if you are a Christian, you will hopefully have a new desire to reach out to the Muslims around you seeking to share the love of Christ and His truth.

What I'm Reading

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss

"Katy," Helen inquired, "do you always submit to God's will?"

"In great things I do," I said. "What grieves me is that I am constantly forgetting to recognize God's hand in the little everyday trials of life, and instead of receiving them as from him, find fault with the instrument by which he sends them."

Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow

What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Qur'an by James White

This is an excellent and scholarly work!  I can't recommend it highly enough.  This paragraph in his introduction exemplifies his attitude in undertaking this study.

 The Christian who writes on this subject must do so first and foremost with a commitment to the highest standards of truthfulness and accuracy.  While none of us is perfect, and hence none can claim infallibility in anything we do, our highest goal always must be to honor our commitment to Christ by seeking transparent honesty in all things.  Islamic doctrine denies many of the central truths  that followers of the Messiah hold dear, and because many today use the Qur'an as a pretext for the persecution of Christians, many Christians are willing in essence to let slide the standard and accept unfair, biased and distorted counterarguments.  While I fully understand the human emotion and motivation, I cannot allow myself to entertain such a temptation. 

Review: In the Land of the Blue Burqas

Author Kate McCord* left her high powered career to work at a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Afghanistan.  In the Land of Blue Burqas details the challenges of entering into the lives of Muslims as a westerner and also the amazing spiritual conversations that ensued.

This was my favorite book in 2012.

Why?

Writing - Her writing is thoughtful and engaging.  Her sentences were crafted and words carefully chosen.  You can almost feel the labor she went through to write this book.  I felt as though she was having a conversation with me. 

Arrangement - The author arranged the chapters by subject and weaves in stories that relate.  This is unique in an autobiographical book which in usually arranged chronologically.  (Although, I'm not sure this is technically an "autobiography.")  Some of the chapters include How Do We Respond to Insult?, How Should We Fast? and Choosing Love.  By arranging the chapters in this manner, the reader is able to reflect on each of these subjects.

Her heart -  The author's desire was to understand the Muslim women that she was surrounded by and to appropriately share with them whom she followed - the Honorable Jesus Messiah.   She did this by entering into their world.  A world dramatically different than her own.

Amazing book.  I can't say enough good about it.  If you are able to read this book I would encourage you.  And if you know me, I have a lending copy of this book.  Ask to borrow it. :-)

 *Not her real name.  In order to protect herself and those she has conversations with, all of the names, as well as the setting in which the conversations took place, in the book have been changed.

I received this book free from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review.