Nabeel Qureshi was born on April 13, 1983, into a devout Ahmadiyya Muslim family in the United States. From an early age, he was deeply immersed in Islamic teachings, having read the entire Quran in Arabic by age five. As he grew, Nabeel was committed to defending Islam, often engaging in debates about the historical claims of Christianity and Islam, particularly with his Christian friend, David.
Crisis of Faith in Medical School
Nabeel's life took a pivotal turn during his time at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He found himself in a profound crisis of faith, feeling that the Quran no longer provided him comfort. As he recounts in his writings, "I placed the Qur'an and the Bible in front of me. I turned to the Qur'an, but there was no comfort there...It felt like a dead book." This led him to explore the New Testament, which he described as "electric," with words that "leapt off the page and jump-started my heart."
Dreams and Visions Confirm Truth
It was during this period of intense searching and questioning that Nabeel had profound experiences that he interpreted as divine guidance. He had dreams and visions which he believed were God's way of confirming his decision to follow Jesus. These experiences, coupled with his study of historical evidence and personal encounters with the gospel, led him to embrace Christianity. "I left Islam by studying Muhammad," he shared, "I saw the truth, the light, and life by studying Jesus."
Muslim to Christian Conversion Journey
Nabeel's conversion brought significant emotional and relational challenges. He understood that accepting Jesus meant profound change: "I knew that accepting Jesus would be like dying, and I would have to give up everything," he expressed. Yet, he found beauty and truth in the Christian faith that was worth the cost, stating, "All suffering is worth it to follow Jesus. He is that amazing."
Life Transformed Through Christian Apologetics
After his conversion, Nabeel dedicated his life to sharing his newfound faith. He became a Christian apologist, completing further studies in Christian apologetics and religion, and joined Ravi Zacharias International Ministries as a speaker. Through his books, including *Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus*, and his many lectures worldwide, Nabeel shared his story and the truth he found in Jesus.
Nabeel's journey was tragically cut short when he passed away on September 16, 2017, at the age of 34 after battling stomach cancer. Yet, his legacy continues to inspire many, as he once said, "Though we die, we will live." His journey is a testament to the transformative power of faith in Jesus.
