Friday, September 16, 2011

Ehteshaam Gulam on Farhan Qureshi's Apostasy

If you thought Ehteshaam's debates were bad, check out his YouTube videos!

Farhan Qureshi was raised as an Ahmadi Muslim. He later left this sect in favor of orthodox Islam. Muslims responded: "What a strong-minded individual! He was willing to go where the evidence pointed, even if it meant abandoning his community! Brave and noble man!"

Now Farhan has left Islam altogether. The Muslim response? "What a weak-minded fool! He must have been brainwashed by Islamophobic bigots like Nabeel Qureshi and David Wood! Sniveling coward!"

So if Farhan leaves a sect of Islam, it's a sign of strength. If he leaves the Islamic religion, it's a sign of weakness.

Here's the problem with these inconsistent Muslim responses. When Farhan left the Ahmadi sect, he explained his reasons for leaving. These reasons are either (a) good reasons, or (b) bad reasons. Similarly, when Farhan left Islam, he explained his reasons for leaving. These reasons are either (a) good reasons, or (b) bad reasons.

It's quite possible for someone to abandon one position for good reasons, and to leave another position for bad reasons. For instance, if an Ahmadi Muslim recognizes the clear inconsistencies between Muhammad's teachings and Mirza Gulam Ahmad's teachings, such a Muslim might leave the Ahmadi sect for good reasons. But a person can also leave a false position for bad reasons. For example, if someone says, "I left Islam because I wanted to eat pork," I wouldn't consider this a good reason for leaving Islam.

The question, then, is whether Farhan had good reasons for leaving Islam. If he didn't have good reasons, Muslims like Ehteshaam should be exposing Farhan in public debate. If, on the other hand, they can't refute Farhan's evidence, calling him "weak" in horrible YouTube videos just isn't going to cut it.

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very bold claims against Christianity and Christian apologetics for a guy who now refuses to debate altogether. I challenged Eteshaam to a friendly debate on the Trinity and Muhammad and he says he quit debating. I think after James White debated him he is finished.

taomeano said...

Ehteshaam

Farhan Qureishi started thinking for himself. He started thinking about the verses he has been reading in the qu'ran and soon came to the conclusion they could not have come from the True Living God. If you do the same you will leave Islam too. I challenge you to do it if you have the guts.

Radical Moderate said...

Farhan shared this video with me a few days ago. What is funny is that Farahan only met Esthsham ONCE, and didn't have any corespondence with him after this encounter.

In the video Esthshaam makes it sound like they were Best Friends Since birth.

Esthshaam then goes on to insult Farahan over and over again. Then says "I don't know why Farahan doenst want to be my friend or respond to my emails" lol

Wow you instult someone over and over again and then wonder why they don't want to be your friend.

goethechosemercy said...

God bless Farhan Qureshi.
I remember his essay, his name, and I still pray for his continued well-being.
He is an individual of singular strength and integrity; an exemplary individual.

Deleting said...

He's made more videos addressing Farhan. Talk about fatal attraction.
dude, seriously, move on! Get a life!
Thank Jesus my eyes are open!!

Baron Eddie said...

Hello to all Christians and Good Bye to My Muslim friends ... He looks like sinking (I see only his head), and only Jesus can help him ... I guess showing his neck is 7ram ... I could not watch the whole thing, he puts me to sleep ...

Kim said...

I sense the jealousy and hatred.

Radical Moderate said...

Oh man he made another video lol.

I think he threated Farahan. He said "If you would of PEACEFULLY left Islam I and other Muslims would not have a problem thats between you and Allah. But you didn't do that instead you have gone public....your hanging out with muslims in muslim circles and we Muslism don't want to hear it" ...


Oh man he just said " me and you where bad debators" lol

Kim said...

In every debate I heard having David Wood, I can sense some sarcasm in the way he talks. I'm not sure if he talks like that normally or just when he debates Muslims. Anyone else notice? No offense to David Wood.

David Wood said...

I think I sense more than "some" sarcasm in my debates. I sense quite a bit.

Neverrepayevilwithevil said...

I have had the privilege of watching David's debate so many times. I can say for certain that he has a lot of confidence in what he believes. Maybe that' s why he expects people to think for themselves about issues pertaining to their eternal destiny. This I totally support. I noticed also that he's a deep thinker does not get perturbed when an opponent tries to distract him, like nadir tried to do in the most recent debate on violence in Islam. This tends to unsettle many of his opponents. Well done David and God bless you all

Baron Eddie said...

I am glad "Kim" that you agree with me for the hatred this man have for non-Muslims ...

First, He said "Al Salam Alykum" to Muslims which means "Peace to you" ...

But after a little pause he says "Hello to my non-Muslim friends"

You got it ... there is no "Peace" to non-Muslims

We hear "Al Doaa" means "call against" from Mosque on Friday prayer ... the Mullah screming out of mega-phone calling against Christians from Allah to give Christians cancer and diseases ... to burn us alive ... etc

donna60 said...

David Wood! How dare you convert that poor weak man to agnosticm!

donna60 said...

Kim,
I am always delighted when I see your comments, and know that you visited Answering Muslims. That says a lot about your intelligence and curious nature.

Please say anything you want. I hope no one is very mean to you. You don't deserve it.



Proverbs 27:5
5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.

Cristo Te Ama said...

If it was the other way, i mean i.e David Woodleaving Christianity, we would wait until David starts explaining the reasons why he left, and we would refute with the scriptures the claims he may use against christianity. Yet what we see here is a personal hating video.

Hemel said...

When these muslims use foul languages it no problem for them,but if any christian apologist become a bit hard on them then he gets criticized from both sides.And what I find ironic that this EG guys admits that he does not know about islam,then how come he calls Nabeel,Wood names when they have spent their time in studying islam?He should study islam and then going to a stage when he is confident then he may call David,Nabeel names as muslims do.He is not qualified to speak like that.And he maybe bit like Sami Zaatari who loves islam because he hates christianity.

John said...

Gulam states: "we need to hang out with the right Muslims,.... I gave up debating,.. debates never really proved anything"

No comment needed.

Anonymous said...

If Ehteshaam has any more sour grapes he'll be drinking wine. Wouldn't want that would we?

Radical Moderate said...

Some good quotes,

"Three reasons Farhan left Islam...
He was mainly hanging out with Christian Nut case David Wood and Nabeel Qureshi...Two idiots who have a entire ministry of hate mongering against Muslims. I think this is what SCREWED him up mentaly becasue he wasn't around too many Muslims."


But wait he then says "I have meet David Wood and Nabeel Qureshi and both these people are screwed up people I mean their very WEIRD" POT MEET KETLE LOL

And if that wasn't enough out of the blue he side swipes you with thsi racial comment.

"Indian and Pakistani they have a lot of emotional problems.... I don't know why but Indians and Pakistani get emotional over little things" lol

Man its like a train wreck don't want to watch but can't look away

Haecceitas said...

I don't know if Farhan is interested in debating at this point but it would be interesting to see him defending agnosticism in a debate, if that's his current position. I don't know where I got the idea but initially I got the impression that Farhan had just left Islam and was still at least leaning in the direction of some kind of generic theism or deism. But perhaps I was mistaken on that. Does anyone have further details on this? (I know Ehteshaam Gulam said in this video that Farhan is now agnostic but I don't necessarily trust his opinion.)

John 8:24 said...

Baron Eddie,

Could you (or anyone else) explain me about "Al Doaa" part of your comment? I am not really aware of that.

Kim said...

Seriously I do sense sarcasm in his voice when he debates. I'm not attacking him, I just think its funny .

carol_7 said...

Islam must be a very weak religion for someone to say, "Inchalla I will remain a Muslim forever."

search 4 truth said...

@ Kim

Here I will show you jealousy and hatred, The real thing, not your imagined victim hood type!


Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves… (48:29)

Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. (9:29

Those who reject (Truth), among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, will be in Hell-Fire, to dwell therein (for aye). They are the worst of creatures. (98:6)

Surely the vilest of animals in Allah's sight are those who disbelieve, then they would not believe. (8:55)

And if Allah please He would certainly make you a single nation, but He causes to err whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases; and most certainly you will be questioned as to what you did (16:93)

Qur'an (5:51) - "O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people."

Qur'an (5:80) - "You will see many of them befriending those who disbelieve; certainly evil is that which their souls have sent before for them, that Allah became displeased with them and in chastisement shall they abide."

Qur'an (3:28) - "Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them..."

I doubt you will be consistent in your standards. Because this is clear evidence for hate!

Deleting said...

I don't think Ehteshaam knows what an agnostic is. He confused atheist with agnostic several times in his videos.
All kafirs are the same to muslims.

donna60 said...

Far, far, far,be it for me to play devil's advocate, but two points that Mr Gulam make have some merit.

I would make a lousy debater. I just don't think very fast. I have to mull new things over for a little bit before I can form a response or opinion. But that doesn't mean I am not a Christian, or that I am uninformed about my beliefs.

The other point is that even Christians are warned to chose friends carefully. Of course, I befriend people from a wide range of religious beliefs, but I wouldn't pick friends who were going to pressure me to behave in a way I believe is wrong.

1 Corinthians 15:33
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

Baron Eddie said...

John 8:24 ... the word that I am talking about is (دعاء Do aa) which it means (ill wishing for someone)

That is different from the word
(الدعوة Al Da wa) which means (to call / ask someone to Islam)

Pray for all Muslims to see the Light

Osama Abdallah said...

When I last corresponded with Farhan via email, some months ago, he assured me that he was still a Muslim. I still have Farhan's words in email but I won't post them here, because at this stage Farhan needs to step forward and clarify this for himself before everyone.

If Farhan Qureshi is still a Muslim, then HE NEEDS to step forward and make a statement here. Otherwise, I'll consider him an apostate as well.

In any rate, Farhan had serious heretical views, such as Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, had a biological father here on earth. I've already posted about this more than a year ago (long before Farhan left Islam) here on another thread. So Farhan Qureshi was far far from being an Orthodox Muslim.

Think of this as the modern-day Christians who consider GOD Almighty a female, for instance. They do not represent mainstream Christianity.

Regards,
Osama Abdallah
www.answering-christianity.com

Haecceitas said...

What seems quite evident is that Ehteshaam is projecting from his own experiences when he stresses the importance of not spending time with "anti-muslim" people (or whatever similar term he used).

It was at least my impression that at one time he wanted to be friends with David and Nabeel, and it's not difficult to infer that the change in his attitude may have something to do with the common phenomenon that it's hard to attribute dishonesty, worst possible motives, etc. to a person that you like. So it seems like cognitive dissonance required him to change his attitude toward Nabeel & David as he had to find some way to deal with the reality that he was unable to convince them with his own evidence and probably the evidence for the opposing view also began to look like it has some merit.

This is just a hypothesis but it is one that would seem to account for certain things.

goethechosemercy said...

Quote:
In every debate I heard having David Wood, I can sense some sarcasm in the way he talks.
end

And I should care about this because . . . ?
The fact is that I don't. The content of what a person says is much more important than how he says it.
Adults look at content.
Only the immature look at the speaker with the insecurity drumming in their heads: does he like me? does he like me?
What the speaker likes or doesn't like is irrelevant.
The rationality of his case and the strength of his evidence are much, much more important.

donna60 said...

Kim,

Think irony. I detect irony in David Wood's voice. It comes out when he is denoting an inconsistancy in the fellow he is debating with. I praise you by the way, for watching these debates.

Nicky said...

David's sarcasm is not cocky or insulting. He is confident and drives his point home as his muslim counterparts evade his evidence. In his last debate, the muslim was extremely arrogant and downright insulting, with no reason to be. He lacked evidence and instead relied on insulting and evasion tactics. Keep watching Kim. I'm praying for you.

minoria said...

I dont know why Ehtesham has to resort to personal insults,he even made a video insulting Mary Jo Sharp of confidentchristianity.com.She must have thought:"What the heck is the matter with him?"

Let us hope he grows out of it,even though it will probably take a few more years.

Radical Moderate said...

Esthsham suffers from a serious mental disorder, it is obvious he suffers from some sort of Manic Depressive disorder

Robert said...

My God forgive me but 2 minutes in I was laughing so darn hard! The things this man is saying are more hate mongering then anything I have ever heard David say. Why is it when someone put the truth in the face of a hard line Muslim they immediately distract, deflect, and go to hate mongering? Why are they so afraid of the truth, oh ya that is right, cause its the truth! Darkness hates the light, and nothing stands against God's truth in Christ!

IslamSINS said...

I, too, met Dr Wood at a debate in Romulus a couple of years ago. It was what cured me of ever attending another live debate. NOT because of Dr Wood, but the agnoy of not being able to mute or red dot Ehteshaam's disjointed and terminally feeble minded podium time (which seemed to go on for weeks). Even watching this video, I have this overwhelming urge to try to help him string together a simple subject and predicate.

If Ehteshaam is an example of what befalls a person when hanging around the Ummah, all I can say is, RUN FOR YOUR INTELLECTUAL LIFE!

If Farhan Qureshi was emotionally weak, Gulam is an example of the intellectually moribund.

How did Ehteshaam arrive at his diagnosis relating to F Qureshi's apostasy? Since he now confesses that he hadn't enough knowledge about Islam to jump into the debate circuit - a condition which was immediately apparent as he struggled to respond to a single question posed by Dr. Wood - has Allah filled that void with clairvoyance?

I pray that Farhan will come to a saving knowledge of Christ, and I pray that Ehteshaam will find a rudimentary brain before opining in front of a recorder.

Call me the eternal optimist!

minoria said...

Guys,
All Christians should know the work of the brilliant Gary Habermas and Michael Licona.I am reviewing their ideas.

GARY HABERMAS

He had the brilliant idea of:

1.Analyzing articles in French,German and English by specialists,articles about the resurrection of Jesus.

2.He made sure those scholarly articles were by:

a.NT specialists only

b.People with doctorates

c.The articles had had peer review.

3.He collected,according to Licona,some 3,400 articles since 1975.

He found that there was a CONSENSUS (agreement of at least 95%) on several things:Jesus died,his disciples believed he had PHYSICALLY resurrected,that James and Paul had some experience that made them also believe in the PHYSICAL resurrection of Jesus,etc.

ALSO

He found ONLY 5% said they disciples had had HALLUCINATIONS and that made them think Jesus had resurrected and that 66-75% accept the EMPTY TOMB.

A QUESTION

If 25-33% do NOT believe in an EMPTY tomb,then the body was still there,then how do they explain the disciples' belief in the physical resurrection?After all,only 5% believe they had a HALLUCINATION.

curly said...

@minora,
AMEN ! Praise Jesus Christ for died on the cross and died on the resurrection

Farhan Qureshi said...

Thanks David for the article!. I am an Agnostic Theist.

Osamah, quite frankly I am not a Muslim. But based on my Universalism, I can consider myself spiritually a Christian/Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist (I am not a Christian or Muslim theologically - I think this is obvious). I do not follow an organized religion at this stage in my spiritual journey. I do attend a Unitarian Universalism Church.

Ehtheshaam has serious issues. First and foremost I would not be shy to say that David Wood and Nabeel Qureshi did provide me with the opportunity to question my religion. They absolutely did that. And I'm grateful for that. Nabeel Qureshi and David Wood are two of the coolest dudes I've ever met and known. I totally love them!

I am still debating, but my position in debating is to challenge my own beliefs, argue a position that I incline toward, and to find truth.

I just had a debate with an AWESOME pastor/apologist (he's both), Pastor Jonathan Switzer. I have another coming up on October 16 with Radio talk show host Bob Seigel.

Rhology said...

LOL - "Indians and Pakistanis always get emotional over little things."
3:45 mark

What a joke, this guy.

Samatar Mohamed said...

I would be very interested in David Wood having a debate with either Zakir Naik or shabir ally. Those two distinguish themselves from the rest of the muslim apologists. And lastly, Farhan qureshi reminds me of the hadith that says that people will leave and enter islam like a bow leaves an arrow. Someone who sleeps a believer will awake a disbeleiver and someone who sleeps a disbeleiver will awake a believer. May Allah (swt) guide you back to the true path Farhan ameen.

curly said...

to Farhan Qureshi,
Hello Farhan, I really want to ask you few questions because of your experience with Islam. You can't mind?? I will be grateful you if you will respond me. For your information, my english written is not wonderful as my primary language, American Sign language. If you will agree, then please email me felipeast@yahoo.com. Thank you so much