Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward

This repeat performance by the author of the NYT bestseller “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” deserves a place in the religion section of every library, public and private. Organized around eighteen vital questions, this relatively brief (173 pp.) discussion of jihad and related topics is intended for the lay reader. The research is thorough, and the writing is clear, concise, and compassionate.“Answering Jihad” addresses a potentially volatile topic with understanding and a surprising degree of objectivity. Books on religion are inevitably prone to bias, and their authors tend to fall into three categories: (1) some deny being biased, which is either disingenuous or demonstrates lack of self-knowledge; (2) some acknowledge possible bias and leave it to the reader to discern the specifics; (3) a minority admit to and describe the bias present in their work, equipping the reader with a baseline from which to judge the accuracy of the author’s perspective. Qureshi is in the last category, admitting a pro-Christian view, while encouraging non-Muslims to separate criticism of Islam from rejection of Muslims. In the author’s words, “Islam is not Muslims, and one can criticize Islam while affirming and loving Muslims.”Islam is often, particularly in western media and politics, described as a religion of peace. This is an assertion hotly debated across many venues, and the author’s own experience provides an example regarding this aspect of Islam. As a young Muslim raised in the United States, Qureshi came from a family that was both patriotic and peace loving. Like most Muslims in the West, “my understanding of the Qur’an was limited to what I had been taught by the elders in my community” -- a peaceful interpretation of the religion. This is common primarily because “... the vast majority of Muslims inherit their understanding of Islam and have not investigated the foundations of Islam for themselves.” If Imams and other local leaders teach that Islam is a peaceful religion, mosque attendees, usually not fluent in the Arabic of Qur’an, tend to accept what they are told as the truth regarding their faith.The book contributes significantly toward an understanding of what is commonly termed “radical Islam,” and of the disparity between the beliefs of most western Muslims and so-called radicals. Based on the Islamic canon, the Qur’an and the hadith, the author concludes that groups such as Al-Qaida, Boko Haram, and ISIS are in fact following the ‘true’ literal teachings of the faith. More liberal and peace-loving Muslims, by contrast, hold to a less literal and often less informed version of Islam. However, in order to adhere to a peaceful version of the faith, Muslims must “... either ignore or reinvent whole swaths of Islamic history and thirteen centuries of Islamic tradition to dissociate themselves from violent Islam.” The ultimate contrast to the violent Islam of past and present Islamists is the forgiveness and love taught and modeled by Jesus Christ, summarized as follows: “The final marching order of Islam is jihad. The final marching orders of Christians are grace and love.”The book includes four appendixes, including a timeline of jihad and a collection of Muhammad’s sayings on the subject, taken from a popular edition of the hadith. One of the appendixes is a seven page explanation of the author’s (former) sect of Islam, the Ahmadiyyat. Although one could argue this portion of the book will be of limited interest to many readers, and therefore unwarranted, its inclusion is justified in light of the proclivity of various branches of Islam to label others as non-Muslims and heretics. The defense of the Ahmadis is, therefore, necessary to substantiate the author’s background as a true Muslim.Readers can expect to be enlightened and challenged by the discussion of questions such as “What is Sharia?”, “Was Islam spread by the sword?”, Does Islam need a reformation?”, Why are Muslims being radicalized?”, and “Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?”. I strongly recommend this latest work by a well-respected and popular author to all whose world and life may be impacted by Islam and Islamists, and particularly to those who tend to either defend Islam against any type of criticism, or to view all Muslims through the negative lens of violent Islamism.

AuthorNabeel Qureshi is a former Muslim, now a Christian, and author of three books Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity, and No God But One: Allah or Jesus and the work under review. He holds an MD from Eastern Virginia Medical School, an MA in Christian apologetics from Biola University, an MA in Religion from Duke University, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in New Testament Studies at Oxford University. Qureshi is also an itinerant speaker for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. His desire in writing this book is encourage people to think carefully about Islam, responding without naiveté or undue fear.Synopsis Answering Jihad is organized into three categories, in which Qureshi answers the 18 most common questions he is asked regarding Islam and Christianity. Part 1 gives an introduction and historic overview of the concept of jihad. Part 2 addresses the practice of jihad today, and Part 3 deals with the differences between Islam and Christianity with respect to violence. The end of the book contains some appendices that explain more about Islam in general, as well as the particular sect to which Qureshi’s family belongs.Analysis In Part 1, Qureshi offers a compelling argument for the idea that those who practice violent forms of Islam are far more consistent with the teachings of the authoritative, foundational documents and the actions of the founder of Islam. He shows from historical context, as well as the documents themselves, that jihad is properly understood as violent warfare.In Part 2, Qureshi explores the resurgence of jihad in modern times. His explanation of how moderate Muslims receive their traditions, which is far different from the Protestant tradition of Sola Scriptura. For Muslims, their Imams carry far more authority than an equivalent leader in Christianity. Therefore, if the Imams are teaching Islam as peaceful, then Islam is peaceful. This is especially helpful in light of claims made by some that all peaceful Muslims are merely employing Taqiya, or deception. However, with the advent of the Internet, Muslims have unprecedented access to their foundational documents, the Quran and the Hadiths, which teach a more aggressive Islam. Qureshi notes that exposure to these documents leads to a crisis of faith for these Muslims. They must choose apostasy, violence, or to live in cognitive dissonance.In Part 3, Qureshi responds to questions and challenges about the seeming similarities and differences between Islam and Christianity. Here he does a good job of differentiating jihad from Old Testament warfare. I thought, however, he could have done a little more research into Jesus’ teaching on “turning the other cheek.” Qureshi claims this is an injunction against even self-defense. However, as J. Warner Wallace points out, “When Jesus told His followers to “turn the other cheek,” He was referring to personal retaliation rather than to responses related to criminal offenses or actions related to military force.” Wallace’s comment was in response to the idea that “turn the other cheek” was a command to be pacifist, but I think it can be applied to self-defense, though not retaliation. One other issue I would take would be with Qureshi’s response to the Crusades and the reports of the taking of Jerusalem. As Rodney Stark points out, “the commonly applied ‘rule of war’ concerning siege warfare was that if a city did not surrender before forcing attackers to take the city by storm (which inevitably caused a very high rate of casualties in the besieging force), the inhabitants could expect to be massacred as an example to others in the future.” (God’s Battalions, 168.) This is not to argue that Christians are to behave this way, but to expect Christians sent to war in medieval times and expecting them to conduct themselves by modern standards is unrealistic. That simply was how wars were fought. It was not a uniquely “Christian” practice.Qureshi concludes by reminding us that we need to realistic in our view of Islam, while charitable toward Muslims. If we wait until our Muslim neighbors reach that “three-pronged fork in the road” to reach out to them, it may be too late. This point cannot be overemphasized. As Christians, we need to see Muslims as people for whom Christ died.RecommendationDespite my nit picking, I highly recommend this book. It is accessible for anyone from late middle school and meaty enough for a graduate student. It is a must read for anyone hoping to have a meaningful interaction with their Muslim neighbors.

As a Christian trying to answer the question "is the god of Islam the same God worshipped by Christians," this book is very enlightening, providing a deep dive into that question. For me, the answer was simply "no," and this book reinforcescthat, but offers more deprh. Simply (for me) ask what is the nature of God and what is the nature of Allah? Jesus, instituting a New Covenant, taught that God loves us andcwants us to love our neighbors; Jesus never called for or justified killing. Allah, on the other hand, calls for killing and even rewards it. These are 2 distinctly different natures. Jesus fied in the early 30's a.d., and Muhammad in 632. Are we to believe that the nature of God changed in 600 years? I don't think so. Does that mean that Christians should despise or hate Muslims? No, love them even though they have different beliefs.

This book was recommended by my physician who told me that "Every American should read this book." It was definitely an interesting perspective and I learned a lot about the history of Islam and gained some insight into what may be driving the minds of today's "radical" Muslims. Qurashi's viewpoint is even more intriguing, as he was raised as a devout Muslim and believed that Islam is a "religion of peace." His research into the history of Islam, however, gave him a different message. The beauty of the book is that the more we understand what motivates others, hopefully, the more we can do to include rather than exclude. And with a better understanding of why youth are being easily radicalized, the more we can meet the needs they are searching for in better ways. An interesting read.

Thank you Nabeel for writing this book. I can only imagine the outbursts & risks you took to publish this. I am sorry you are no longer with us. I was born in an oppressive muslim country to a non religious muslim family. I had my own opinions of islam. Reading this book, I felt valudated & affirmed. Don't be politically correct. Read & educate yourselfs on what islam truly is.

Eye opening

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This book helps you to understand all that about Jihad, and how to take it. I recommend that book 100%

Narbeel is perfectly write such a book, because he spent four years while a thinking Muslim trying to reconcile the 'religion of peace' he'd grown up in with the violent jihad that erupted on the global stage, and that can be found in the canonical texts of Islam. He therefore has great personal familiarity with the source texts, classical teaching, and modern western interpretation.He takes time explain that moderate Muslims (as he was) do not embrace violent Jihad, and that there are many interpretations, and that we should not judge the Muslims we meet by Islam, but with love and compassion. However he does not dampen down his academic rigour, and sets out to answer the questions he poses with concise clarity, (I may even say snappiness) whilst delicately drawing on personal experience.This makes it inherently readable and enjoyable -I gobbled it up for the first time in a single afternoon. As I continue to read into this topic, I find myself returning to this book constantly, as an excellent holistic reference.