A Devout Muslim Upbringing
Nabeel Qureshi was raised in a devout Ahmadi Muslim family in San Diego, California. His early life was steeped in Islamic teachings, and by the age of five, he had read the Quran in Arabic and memorized many chapters. His faith journey took a dramatic turn when he met David Wood at Old Dominion University in 2001. This friendship sparked a years-long exploration of the historical claims of Christianity and Islam.
Doubts Emerge Through Investigation
Despite his initial confidence in Islam, Nabeel's investigations led him to discover that the evidence supporting his faith was not as strong as he had believed. As he scrutinized the historical narratives of Muhammad's life, doubts began to emerge. Seeking divine guidance, Nabeel turned to the Quran and prayed earnestly, hoping for direction. Instead, he found answers through three vivid dreams from December 2004 to April 2005, which pointed him towards Christianity.
God Speaks Through Scripture
The Bible became a source of profound insight for Nabeel. He recounted, 'The first time I ever turned to the Bible for guidance and not to critique it, God spoke to me powerfully through it.' Key Scriptures, like Matthew 10:37, revealed to him that he must love God above all else, even more than his family.
Surrendering Everything to Follow Jesus
Nabeel's conversion was not without cost. On the first day of his second year in medical school, he made the life-changing decision to follow Jesus. He knelt by his bed, surrendering his life to Christ. 'With nowhere left to go, I opened up the New Testament,' he recalled. This decision strained his relationships with fellow Muslims and deeply affected his family, yet he remained steadfast.
Post-conversion, Nabeel dedicated his life to sharing the Christian message. He earned degrees in apologetics and religion, authored several influential books, and became a prominent speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Even in the face of terminal cancer, which claimed his life in 2017, Nabeel's faith never wavered. He affirmed, 'All suffering is worth it to follow Jesus. He is that amazing.'
Nabeel Qureshi's legacy is one of love, truth, and an unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ.
