Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward

A very thoughtful and helpful book for those of us Christians who tend to distrust all Muslims. Nabeel is a most well informed author on things Muslim and Christian. His assessments give hope and faith to a troubled world.

A must read for anybody wanting to understand one of the most challenging political/spiritual questions of our day; What do Muslims believe about Jihad and why? It is very well written, compassionate and honest.

In this time, when radicalization seems to be brewing everywhere, Qureshi's book gives defining answers to the questions of why this is happening. Based on his own experience of discovering the roots and history of Islam and facing the choice between the tb

Answering Jihad's value is in its strong warning about the truth of the violence in the foundations of Islam, and exhortation for people to respond compassionately to individual Muslims. The author clearly distinquishes between the idealogy of Islam, and the beliefs and practices of people who may or may not be faithful to Islam as taught in the Koran and Hadith. This and the very basic overview of the complexities of Islam and the response this requires from the world makes the book a worthwhile read. However, compared to the author's first book, "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus" the book is a disappointment. Answering Jihad does not contain the clarity, conviction, and heart of the prior book. The superficial overview of the issues combined with short attempts to balance every statement show that the book was written quickly and before the author has come to clear convictions on the difficult issues he outlines. I look forward to future books by Nabeel Qureshi but I hope he will take more time to write them, and that he will wait until he finishes his formal education and comes to clear positions on the issues he addresses.

I loved his first 2 books, very inspirational and moving and well written, but this is not "a better way forward", I can't agree.

Sorry, but Muslims are not truly called to assimilate at all. Nabeel has documented that in this book, yet at the end he wants us to ignore all that came before and assume they will ignore their own religion if we just pretend they are fine. The supposed "radical" Muslims are actually being what they are supposed to be and living out their true faith, They must be the only Muslims actually reading their own documents. It's the "non-radicals" that are apostate and somehow we are supposed to be ok with the fact that the apostate Muslims will stay that way, but no reason is given other than the hope that they will go further away from their true faith in time.

This book disappoints me because he ends up concluding that all non-Muslims need to ignore what he stated truly devout Muslims should do since they don't do it all that much (yet). ie: jihad. That is according to him what Islam and Mohammed calls them all to do in order to please Allah. As he states in the book: Mohammed 'wrote' that there is nothing more pleasing to Allah than jihad, not even perpetual fasting and prayer. How many currently practicing Muslims know that?

He is an expert on Islam and explains in this book that the truly devout Muslims should all be following what Isis is currently doing if they truly believed. He admits that Mohammed did much worse than they have (forced to eat dust until you die?), at least so far.

Isis are actually doing what the devout Muslims are called to do. He also explains why most Muslims don't follow suit: because their Imams don't tell them to or perhaps apathy. Apparently, most Muslims don't read the Quran nor the Hadith and practice their faith directly from what a human tells them to do. They are certainly not alone as there are numerous Christians in the same boat. Ignorance, however temporary, is no cause for hope however.

I still recommend you read this book because it's well worth the price and full of years of scholarship and research, I just can't agree with the conclusion which ruins it for me. See: Moses and Joshua.

If you've ever had any questions regarding the Muslim religion this is the book for you. Its highly informative and offers an in depth examination of the religion and its leaders. Quershi, being a former Muslim, offers a fair and unbiased opinion as well as informing readers on how we should approach our Muslim brothers and sisters. Its truly a masterpiece of literature.

I just got through finishing this book. I was glued to this powerful testimony. I learned so much. Every page had me turning for more. EVERY non christian to Christian alike should seriously consider reading this book. I am so thankful I ordered it. WOW powerful! Review for seeking allah finding Jesus.

I was impressed with the thoughtfulness of the author. His personal background growing up Muslim in the United States helps us understand the nature of radical Islam Jihad by looking at the the personal crisis that many Muslims will face as they examine the foundational texts of Islam in the information age.

This book should become the definitive primer on the subject.

Nabeel Qureshi strikes a superb perfect balance of truth and compassion. He is very compassionate towards Muslims, including his own family, while yet seeking the truth about the origins and theology of Islam.

If you have any questions about violence in Islam, its early history, its scriptures and theology, read this book first. Nabeel’s love for Muslims comes out very clearly, but so does his search for truth and commitment to good scholarship and history. History shows “the pages of Islamic history dripping with violence (p.16).” The commonly used term, “Religion of Peace” is no where in Islam’s original sources, and originated as late as 1930 (p.29). The life, example, and words of Muhammad, as well as a faithful interpretation of the Quran are all filled with violence and exhortations to commit violence, especially Muslim to non-Muslim.

However, Nabeel carefully walks through this while maintaining a genuine love for people, warning that “we must be careful not to slide down the slippery slope of assuming every Muslim is a threat (p.18).” He advocates responsible receiving of Syrian refugees and rebukes Islamophobia, which his family experienced. That, however, does not keep him from earnestly seeking truth and doing scholarship.

The chapters are short, in question format, addressing a host of topics: Islam, violence, sharia, ISIS, jihad compared with violence in the bible, the crusades, etc. Nabeel has read widely and is very knowledgeable, but includes only necessary information, making this very accessible and readable.

First, I purchased this book from a Christian discount site, so my review is not listed as a verified purchase.
I love Nabeel's first book "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus" & I looked forward to this book. There were some good parts & some parts that made me angry or think him crazy.
Pros:
His explanation of the history of saying that Islam is a religion of peace (Question 2). I thought this was part of the religion & I am happy to see that there is no basis to justify this saying.
The history of Radical Islam & the man who inspired the movement. I had only known the story of the movement, not the man whose writings inspired it. (Questions 7)
The argument of religious leaders' interpretation vs what is recorded in the Quran & the Hadith. (Question 8)
The history & similarities of the 3 main terrorist groups. (Question 9)
Violent Muslims vs Peaceful Muslims with our understanding of what is "good" & what is "bad". (Question 10)
Exposing Muslim cultural organizations as opposing free speech with the threat of islamophobia. (Question 12)
Comparing jihad with Old Testament battles & violence. "...the Bible recounts many events not endorsed by God, but simply recorded in God's Word. (p.121) Recorded events as opposed to the bloodlust described in the Quran. (Question 15)
Jihad vs the Crusades. (Question 17) He quotes Thomas Madden's article in the National Review about the Crusades being a defensive war due to the Muslim conquests of two-thirds of the Christian world. (p.135) However, on the next page he condemns the Crusades because the Cross that brings salvation was used in the name of inhumane methods of slaughter & of war to retake lands from the Muslims. He fails to include that at this time Christianity was politically used. One story says that Constantine saw a vision of crosses that he interpreted as victory in battle if Christianity was the accepted religion. Suddenly, instead of being radical followers of the Savior, the Christian religion became fashionable. Outwardly people were Christian but inwardly they continued their political plans. So, in theory I agree that we cannot kill in the name of Jesus but at the same time we must look at the Crusades in their historical context, the culture, & without the lens of modern culture.
Cons:
He was against President Trump's travel ban suggestion during the election season. I can understand this since his family is Muslim but we must also consider the context (just as he write
s concerning Christianity & Islam). (p.10)
I was almost disgusted by his suggestion to wear hijab after writing a brief summary of the controversy between Wheaton College & Larycia Hawkins. "As a former Muslim, I have many Muslim family members & friends I spend time with regularly, & I often encourage Christians to consider gestures of solidarity.... I have even recommended that Christian women consider wearing the hijab in certain circumstances, as well as counseled Christian men to consider fasting with their Muslim neighbors during the month of Ramadan, as long as it is clear these gestures are out of Christian love & not submission to Islam." (p.111) I believe that he is recommending this through the lens of American culture & moderate American Muslims. Having students in the Middle East, I cannot believe that they would see this as an act of Christian love. They would never consider this an act of solidarity.
I like his explanations of the "violent" verses found in Luke that disgraced Reza Aslan uses. (p.128-129) He also covers the account of Jesus cleansing the temple. "So Jesus purged the temple of all three groups of people, yet struck no person." (p.130) (Question 16)
He includes a list of hadith from Bukhari (Appendix B) used to justify jihad which will help when people claim that Muhammed was the perfect person & was not at all violent.

In my opinion, take this book out from the library & read it. It's a quick read & a light history of some things. He recommends other books for a more detailed &/or scholastic read which I appreciated.

Answering Jihad is a rather short but informative book that attempts to answer a number of questions that non-muslims have about the religion. Being written by an author who was raised muslim but later converted to Christianity, the book is at once refreshingly honest while still leaving the door open to individual interpretation.

As you will quickly find, the book doesn't just talk about answering questions, it literally is a chapter-by-chapter question and answer dialogue. As such, chapters are limited to a few pages, which makes for a fairly quick read. While I do admire the straight-forward simplicity of such a format, it does have its limitations in regards to the depth of discussion from one chapter to the next. The discussion seems quick and choppy, and perhaps a little bit rushed at times.

While I very much appreciate the personal insight that Nabeel Qureshi provides in his answers and in no way question their accuracy, the majority of the book seems to be based upon personal interpretation and experience rather than a strict academic approach to investigation. As such, you will not find (quite literally) any footnotes for further research or in-depth discussion of specific verses from the Koran. Some answers seem to be hedged with a reference to the book not being large enough to completely answer every aspect of a question, which would seem to indicate that the author was writing on some sort of tight deadline or had to keep the book to a certain amount of pages. Either way, it left the book feeling incomplete in a lot of ways, which distracted from its enjoyment.

For a quick read and some basic insights into the religion of Islam, I think that this book does a good job. I would definitely like to see something that is a bit more in-depth and points to outside sources for independent analysis though.

In this book the author gives his experience as a child growing up in a Muslim household and then further as a young adult facing the tensions and pressures of the people living around him and his family in America right after the 911 Terrorist Attacks. His family was very loyal to America. His grandfather, father and uncle all having served extensive time in the U.S. Military. As such he was taught to respect and love his country, the United States.

But with the problems of 911 and the issue of terror threats on the rise he decided to take a much stronger look at his Islamic Faith and determine if what he knew of it was in line with the truth of the Quran. What he found startled him. It was not the peaceful religion that he heard talked about in the Media or with others at the Mosque. What he found was a religion that had different goals and objectives than what his family had raised him to believe.

During this search he compared the Muslim Faith and Belief against that of Christianity. What he found brought him to a point of needing to make a decision and so he did. He decided to abandon his Muslim Faith and to accept Jesus Christ as his lord and savior and thus turn to Christianity and embrace it's teachings and theology completely.

In this book he gives us his answers to the Eighteen Questions that he is most often asked about the Muslim Faith. Each chapter answers a different question. The chapters are relatively short, but that doesn't mean his answers are superficial or drab. He cuts to the chase and gives a clear and concise answer to the questions being asked.

Some of the questions he answers are:
What is Islam?
Is Islam a Religion of Peace?
What is Radical Islam?
Who are Al-Qaida, ISIS and Boko Haram?
Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?

I think you will find his treatment of these questions and his answers to be eye opening and helpful as you consider what Islam truly is and how it should be viewed by those of us living in the West.

In an attempt to better understand the world wide increase in terrorism I have read quite a few books lately on the religion of Islam and their relationship to the many acts of terrorism in the United States and around the world. This amazing 173 paperback book is the most recent one I have read (Answering Jihad: A better way forward by Nabeel Qureshi) on the topic of radical Islamic jihad.

First off, I found this book to be one of the most honest and objective volumes I have ever read lately on the subject of Islam. The author (Nabeel Qureshi) was born and raised in a strict Islamic home and followed teachings in the Quran until he converted to Christianity. This review cannot do this book justice because it takes more than one reading to grasp all the essential information to better understand this often complex Islamic religion.

The three parts in this book explore in some detail the reasons why westerners often cannot fully understand the reason for the terrorist acts of radical Islamists. The author points to the facts of reality rather than the false wishful thinking of westerners when it comes to the religion of Islam. I just love the question and answer format of this book.

After the introduction (Understanding Jihad and our Muslim neighbors), the first part covers “the origins of Jihad.” Questions are answered such as what is Islam? Is Islam a religion of peace? What is Jihad? Jihad in the Quran and the life of Muhammad. What is Sharia? And Was Islam spread by the sword?

The Second part (Jihad Today) asks the questions: What is Radical Islam? Does Islam need a reformation? Who are Al-Qaida, ISIS, and Boko Haram? Why are Muslims being radicalized? As well as other questions.

The third part deals with (Jihad and Judeo-Christian context) and some of the questions include the following: Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God? Why do some Christians call God Allah? How does Jihad compare with the Old Testament warfare? What does Jesus teach about violence? How does Jihad compare with the Crusades? In the conclusion, the author attempts to the old and failed idea that if we could just show WE LOVE those of different faiths such as Islam, may be they would change their radical views. To be fair he does not appear to be optimistic that the radical element will ever be eliminated from Islam because of the many who believe and follow the OLD ORIGINAL teachings of their beloved leader Mohammed in the Hadith and the Quran.

Do not pass up the appendix sections because they provide a wealth of valuable information for anyone interested in learning about Islam. Even though I disagree that merely loving our enemies is the answer to deal with radicals who want to kill us; nevertheless, I loved this book and recommend it to everyone who desires to better understand the Islamic religion and politics.

Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Never Trust a Politician: A critical review of politics and politicians).

Excellent book. Although Dr. Qureshi is writing on a very sensitive topic of which there tends to be much heated debate and widespread confusion, he does so with clarity, truth and compassion.
If you are looking for a book that will fuel your anger towards Muslims and validate your prejudice, then don't read this book.
But if you want to know the truth about the foundations of Islam and how they relate to the rise of jihadists in our day, or to clear up any confusion about how that relates to peace- loving Muslims in America and around the world...this is a book you will not want to miss.
"Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward" is captivating and compassionate, informative and straightforward. It will be eye-opening for many who read it, challenging for others, and may be infuriating for some. But, as Jesus tells us, "...the truth shall set you free".
I also recommend Nabeel's first book, "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus." OUTSTANDING BOOK. ONE OF THE BEST I'VE EVER READ. In fact you might want to read it first so you can have a better understanding of Nabeel's heart behind "Answering Jihad."
And just as a side note, you may want to keep a dictionary handy. Although both books have great readability and are easy to understand, there are some words I had to look up. Dr. Qureshi is very intelligent and has an extensive vocabulary.

In this book Nabeel Qureshi, a convert from Islam to Christianity, details his own realization, particularly in the aftermath of 9/11 that Islam at its foundations was not the “religion of peace” in which he was raised, that many Muslims as well as American political figures touted to differentiate the perpetrators of terror from the mass of Muslims.

Qureshi contends in this book that it is true that many Muslims were raised as he was, and that the vast majority of Muslims indeed simply want what all want: to live peaceably, to be financially secure in fulfilling work, and to raise healthy families in their faith. However, what he found as he researched the foundational texts and early history of the Prophet Muhammad, was a trajectory toward increasing violence, both in the Qur’an, and in the acts of Muhammad, and that not all of this was merely defensive. He particularly points out that Surah 9, the last of the Surahs is the most violent and, he would contend, abrogates earlier peaceable Surahs.

What he faced, and he believes faces young Muslims who turn to these teachings, particularly as they are promoted online, is that there is a choice between apostasy through leaving Islam, apathy through ignoring Muhammad’s teaching or “radicalization” which seeks to obey all his teachings, including those concerning jihad as violent struggle, not merely “spiritual” struggle as it is sometimes portrayed. Thus he would propose that efforts to separate violent radicalism from religiously rooted motivations are misinformed and dangerous.

The book consists of a series of short chapters, each which attempts to answer a single question. The first part is concerned with the origins of jihad and explores whether Islam is a religion of peace, what is jihad, is it in the Qur’an and the life of Muhammad, and what is sharia. Many of the conclusions mentioned above come from this section.

The second turns to jihad today, asking what is radical Islam, does Islam need a reformation, who are Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Boko Haram, and why Muslims are being radicalized. He would contend that the “reformation” of Islam is actually at the heart of violent radicalism, and that what is needed is re-imagining a peaceful Islam, but does not hold out much hope for this because it means ignoring or de-emphasizing some of the teachings of Muhammad.

The final section compares Islam and Christianity. He contends that what Christians and Muslims believe about God is sufficiently different that they do not worship the same God, contra theologians like Miroslav Volf. In fact, he criticizes Volf for stifling dialogue because of Volf’s categorical statements denying that there was any theological justification for the suspension of Larycia Hawkins from the Wheaton faculty for affirming that Christians and Muslims worship the same God. At the same time, Qureshi acknowledges differences here and would like to see more dialogue, which he believes Volf’s statements precluded.

In this final section Qureshi also discusses the comparisons of jihad with holy war in the Old Testament and with the Crusades. He quotes a friend who said, “If you want to follow the biblical model of attacking a land, the first thing you have to do is wait 400 years.” He also contrasts the biblical and Islamic trajectories–the former begins with war but ends in the New Testament with a renunciation of violence that carried through the first 300 years of the church’s existence, where Christians were martyred but did not fight back; the latter becomes increasingly violent in the later Surahs and its earliest centuries are filled with violent conquest and often viewed as the Golden Age of Islam.

What Qureshi would contend is that we need to have eyes wide open to these things–and to proactively love even those who could turn out to be enemies. It is a call neither to close our eyes and minds to discerning the roots of violence that he contends is at the heart of Islam, nor to close our hearts to Muslim neighbors, including those who seek refuge. It raises the question of whether we can be both vigilant and compassionate. It is a call that recognizes the possibility that some may be “radicalized” and yet that many others may be won by friends, who like a Christian friend of his, suggested that radicalization was not the only option.

It strikes me that Qureshi exemplifies the “both-and” thinking that characterizes Christians who believe the gospel calls us to a “Third Way”. Vigilant compassion succumbs neither to naive sentimentality nor to fear and hatred. It reckons with the fallen, violent world in which we live, and holds to the redemptive possibilities in the way of the Christ. As Qureshi concludes, this is not the final answer, but rather a way forward.

____________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I had read this author’s former bestseller Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus and was overwhelmed with the personal price he had to pay with respect to his own family when he left the ‘faith of his fathers’ and embraced new faith. When this book came out and he was coming to my city to speak about it I made sure I was there. I also bought this book and read it.

Nabeel Qureshi’s speaking engagement in Toronto had to be moved from its original venue at the University of Toronto (at one of their religious colleges, Anglican in fact) because the faculty had been warned by administration that there could be trouble as this converted, well-educated, medical doctor would likely annoy many Muslim students. Fortunately, a nearby church welcomed the event. Qureshi was up to dealing with all comers in his usual soft-spoken, respectful, manner, affirming each member of the audience, regardless of their religious stripes – after all it was not too long ago that he would have died for Islam.

In this book, this former Muslim attempts to clarify “both the reality of violent jihad in Islam” and the response that we should have to that. He bravely calls for a “compassionate approach to our Muslim neighbors”. That alone was enough to make me think twice about writing a review recommending Answering Jihad even though, whether we like it or not, Islam has, and continues, to change our world. But as I read, I found that Qureshi succeeded in his hopes for the book, and in the process, radically changed my own mind on the subject.

He remembers hearing a slogan at his mosque that he shared with many: “The terrorists who hijacked the planes on September 11 also hijacked Islam.” And he proceeds to show us how that happened. But while he speaks highly of the millions of peaceful Muslims who have been deceived about what is or is not the true origin and circumstances of their faith, he extends no such excuses for Islam itself. Much of the book is spent on exposing the recorded and known behavior of the religion’s founder, Muhammad. He does so with excellent references, almost all Islamic in origin.

His conclusion is that “as long as Islam is practiced in a way that calls Muslims to return to its foundation, violence will follow.” To counteract that, he believes that “the Christian teaching of loving one’s enemies, even in the face of death, might perhaps be the most powerful answer to jihad at our disposal today.” And then he gives his reasons.

If I were to quote here every part of the book that I underlined as a key or unique thought, no publisher would allow me to share my review of Qureshi’s book. Suffice it to say, that he deals with the origins of jihad and jihad today in a most interesting and complete fashion. In the third part of the book, he answers some very pressing questions many of us have wanted to ask, such as: Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God? How Does Jihad Compare with Old Testament Warfare and the Crusades? What Does Jesus Teach About Violence? What Does Jesus Have to Do with Jihad?

He concludes with a chapter entitled “Answering Jihad” and then follows all this up with some very valuable appendices on: Timeline of Jihad in Islam; Muhammad’s Words on Jihad; What is the Caliphate?; and more, as well as an excellent glossary of terms.

You owe it to yourself to hear from a former passionate lover of Islam to learn how best to address the challenge it presents to the world today.

Answering Jihad is dedicated to the author’s sister whom he misses very much and yearns for the day that they can worship the God of Truth together.

-- By Ken B. Godevenos, President, Accord Resolutions Services Inc., Toronto, Ontario, May 11, 2016. [...]

Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward is Dr. Nabeel Qureshi’s second published book. Dr. Qureshi’s first book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim was New York Times bestseller. This short book (only 173 pages long) speaks to issues that are current events. Dr. Qureshi wrote it in just a few weeks. However, don’t think that means it is a half-baked book. It is obvious Dr. Qureshi spent much time prior to writing this book reflecting on the issues addressed in this book. I found the book immensely helpful in understanding what in the world is going on with violence attributed to Muslim extremists.

Dr. Qureshi is qualified to write this book for several reasons. First, he grew up in a faithful Muslim family and was schooled by his family and in his Mosque in Islam apologetics. Second, he is a person who seeks answers to his questions. For example, as a devout Muslim, he states his own sense of “rightness” was shaken by the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack. Third, his journey from Islam to faith in Jesus Christ came as a result of looking deeply into the roots and theology of both Islam and Christianity. Fourth, Dr. Qureshi has holds academic degrees in apologetics from Biola University, in religion from Duke University, and is studying Judaism and Christianity at Oxford.

The book is divided into 3 parts that answers 18 questions. I learned much about the history of Islam, the roots of jihad, and why most Muslims do not embrace the violence of jihad. I learned about current events—who is who in the Muslim world, how the various sects developed, and how they are similar and different. I learned how Islam and Christianity differ from each other on fundamental points. It is written in a warm, conversational, gracious style. It would be easy to picture yourself across the table from Dr. Qureshi drinking a cup of coffee and “picking his brain” about issues he has lived, studied, and is familiar with.

Dr. Qureshi writes with a heart of compassion and love for all people. I found his explanations to be scholarly yet completely understandable to the ordinary person. His writing was objective and dispassionate as he tackled "hot" issues. I really appreciated that. It helped to erase some of my irrational fears, and yet respect the current of radicalism that is sweeping the globe.

I wish there would have been more detail in answering some of the questions. However, in the introduction, Dr. Qureshi was clear that this book is an introduction to a very complex topic and was designed to point a better way forward. My other criticism is the absence of footnotes. I also would have appreciated a bibliography of helpful books (both from Islam and Christian sources). He does mention at the outset of the book a helpful work by an Islamic Studies professor at Rice University. There are helpful appendices in the back and a nice glossary.

I recommend this small book to people who want to know more about current events, to people who find themselves in a knowledge deficit about Islam, and to people who are curious how the world’s two major belief systems stack up against each other.

(Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review.)

Nabeel Qureshi’s stated purpose for authoring the book Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward is to “uncover the violence that suffuses the foundations of Islam, which are the Quran and the traditions of Muhammad’s life, and to demonstrate that a return to those foundations can yield violent returns.” Qureshi accomplishes that task in this short, yet powerful work.
Qureshi addresses eighteen questions that are broken down into the categories: (1) The origins of Jihad, (2) Jihad today, and (3) Jihad in Judeo-Christian context. The book also contains four appendix sections providing a selective timeline of Jihad in Islam, some sections of sahih (authentic) hadiths from the al-Bukhari writings, explains what is meant by a Caliphate, and differentiates between some of the sects in Islam.
The book is a short and quick read, but does pack a great deal of information in a small package. If one is wanting a primer on Jihad, this book will provide a working knowledge of the topic without having to dedicated a few years of one’s life. One thing should be pointed out. Qureshi is a Christian that converted from Islam. While he was raised in the west by somewhat westernized parents, his upbringing exposed him to the honor-shame culture that is predominant in most non-western cultures and intricately woven into Islamic culture. A working knowledge of honor-shame is key to understanding the topic of Jihad. One should not think of this mindset as good or bad when compared to the western ideology of justice, but it is exceptionally different than how most in the west are raised and it should be acknowledged as a factor in the behavior of the Jihadist. Qureshi does a good job of honestly approaching the topic in an understandable way.
Overall, the book is worth the price and read. The best thing the reader can do is to try and forget what they have seen or heard on the national news and be open to the content with fresh eyes.

Is Islam a religion of peace or violence? Yes. Well, which one is it? Yes. As a Western Christian, should I be concerned or not concerned with the expansion of the Muslim community globally? Yes. Nabeel Qureshi's book Answering Jihad is a text that provides a lens for non-Muslim individuals to be able to look at Islam thoughtfully. Although there were some parts of the book that troubled me, overall the book was an acceptable read.

In his book, Qureshi aims to provide a comprehensive understanding for Westerners as to what "jihad" really is based on the history of Islam, its presence in America and Western society, and its relationship to the other two largest Middle Eastern originating religions: Judaism and Christianity. Qureshi works to demonstrate how some Western conceptions of Islam are valid, but the extent to which the religion is viewed can border on misconception.

One big question raised early in the book which I appreciated Qureshi's treatment of is the question of whether or not Islam is a religion of peace or violence. The short answer without ruining the section of the book is that in reality, Islam is a religion which was born out of violence but many of whose followers follow one stream or another of it as the religion has progressed so that to many it is a religion of peace and to others it is a religion of holy violence. And other topics in the book receive a similar treatment. Read the book for a more informative analyses.

Where I felt bothered in the book was in the quotes and excerpts from Islamic holy texts (Quran included). As a Christian, I am used to my holy book being taken out of context not just by non-believers, but by many who are a part of the Church. As I was reading and Qureshi would quote from the sacred texts, I was unable to shut off the voice in the back of my head which kept asking, "Okay, but what does this passage mean in the larger context of the work from which he cited it?"

Answering Jihad does exactly what the title says it is going to do. It addresses the idea of jihad in 21st Century life, looking at it from both angles (peacefuly and not so peaceful) and provides a light to illuminate many of the intricacies in the Islam that people in Western society may not understand. As the title of this review indicates, the matter of making sense of Islam is complex enough that no clear answer can be provided, but plenty of conversations can be initiated.

I received my copy of this book for free through the BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for a review. I was not obligated to post a positive review; the opinions expressed are my own.