Farhan Qureshi Threatened with Death for Leaving Islam

I've been friends with Farhan Qureshi for years. We did several public debates when he was a Muslim, and we also debated after he left Islam. Our mutual friend Antonio sent me this:

David Wood vs. Farhan Qureshi: How Should We Confront the Islamic Challenge?

On the one hand, many of us know peaceful Muslims who have no interest in jihad or imposing sharia law. On the other hand, more than 24,000 deadly terrorist attacks since 9-11, along with the recent advance of jihadist groups like the Islamic State (ISIS), demand our attention. How can we confront intolerance without becoming intolerant? How can we protect ourselves from jihadists while also protecting peaceful Muslims from discrimination?

In this debate on the Trinity Channel, Farhan Qureshi and I discuss how we should respond to the Islamic challenge.

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.

Farhan Qureshi Renounces Islam

Farhan Qureshi was raised as an Ahmadi Muslim, but later became an orthodox Muslim. (Ahmadis believe in all five pillars and all six articles of faith of Sunni Islam, but they have some different beliefs about end times. Unfortunately, their unorthodox eschatological views have led to worldwide persecution at the hands of their more orthodox counterparts.)

Sam, Nabeel, James, and I have had a number of public debates with Farhan on the Deity of Christ, the inspiration of the Qur'an, the prophethood of Muhammad, and other topics (click here to watch some of our debates with Farhan). Farhan was once a member of the infamous Muslim Debate Initiative (which seems to be crumbling). The general consensus of those of us who knew Farhan was this: "It's only a matter of time before Farhan leaves Islam. He's too good a guy to keep defending these teachings."

Recently, Farhan circulated a letter declaring his apostasy. I didn't post the letter or announce his decision, since I wasn't sure he wanted this information to go public. However, Farhan has now quite publicly proclaimed his apostasy. Here's the announcement posted on Faith Freedom:

After years of having been involved in think tanks, advocacy groups, da’wah (invitation or propagation) initiatives and academic apologetics as a Muslim, I have I decided to evolve my perspective of reality and existence as knowledge has reached me and renounce my faith in Islam. This was a thought out decision that took months of prayer, consideration, evaluation and knowledge-seeking on my part. Every bit as it has been a search for meaning and truth is has been a grieving process for me to realize that what I have been attached to all of these years is in fact not the ultimate reality behind our existence. Nevertheless it is simultaneously liberation and continued enlightenment that brings about serenity and peace of mind for me as well.

My apostasy has not been based on disliking Islam or its requirements rather it was based on a realization that Islam is in direct contradiction with contemporary knowledge involving and including science, philosophy, ethics, anthropology, and the field which I am most interested in, educated in and practice as my line of work, namely, psychology: the science and study of human behavior.

In the coming months I plan to contribute articles to FFI which explore the behavior and psyche of the different types of Muslims out there: the western Muslim, the mystic (Sufi), the purist (Salafi), and the politically driven (Hizb/Ikhwan) are among the many colors of the Ummah, each having its own set of advocates with unique behaviors and mentality. I have spent time and energy studying and experiencing the different denominations and sub-cultures within the Ummah. Having experienced their spirituality and religiosity first hand, having studied with their scholars and preachers, and having read books, articles and arguments from them, I believe that I have a grasp of where they stand psychologically and I plan to explore this more in-depth in the near future as I publish articles.

I realized that 1400 years worth of consistent Islamiyya theology is not what I believed was the ultimate truth, rather I realized that it was a primitive attempt at understanding and implementing social, spiritual, religious and ethical standards. These seventh century standards might give slight insight into how humanity, and in this case, Arab civilization was evolving and progressing from its previous ‘jahiliyya’ or ignorance, and yet effectively became stagnant with its own set of conservative traditionalism that would not allow Arab civilization to move forward. The only attempts at progression were the rationalist Mu’tazilites of the eight century which gave rise to what many observe as the Golden Age of Islam. Yet these rationalists were viewed as heretics and apostates themselves and would become extinct by the thirteenth century. Instead dogmatic traditionalism or Sunnah would thrive in the Muslim world and the European Renaissance with its progressive attitude would pick up where the all but extinct Middle Eastern rationalists left off.

Perhaps the most important realization I have come to is that I would receive the death penalty under Shariah law for simply coming to these conclusions or realizations. This disturbs me to the core and demonstrates how the Ummah uses fear tactics under its Shariah system in order to preserve and strengthen their theological and political agenda. What I am grateful for however is the opportunity to witness the evolution of humanity where we no longer are restricted by primitive forms of theology and law and yet we continue to strive for integrity, honesty, humility, character development, and moral stability. There is a promising future for our species and not a dark one as theologians are attempting to brainwash their adherents with.

As a Muslim apologist I remember debating at numerous types of venues including Mosques, Churches, Universities, Convention Halls and Libraries. Having engaged with notable Christian apologists such as Dr. James White, Dr. Tony Costa and Professor David Wood I learned that the purpose of apologetics was not confrontation rather to come to an understanding of truth even if it meant evolving one’s own perspective. The idea of receiving an apparent truth is to embrace it, not fight it. The moment we try to fight an apparent truth or reality we begin to dwell in hypocrisy: understanding that something is apparently true and yet denying it for selfish reasons or attachment to preconceived notions. I want to thank Ali Sina for giving me the platform to explore Islam and to expose its primitive nature as incompatible with contemporary reality unless and until Muslims choose to reform it. (Source)

Sam Shamoun vs. Farhan Qureshi: "The Trinity in the Old Testament"

Farhan Qureshi vs. David Wood: "Can We Trust the Qur'an?"

Farhan Qureshi is one of my three favorite Muslims (the others being Ahsen Malik and Bassam Zawadi). In this debate, we discuss some of the central claims of the Qur'an, and the implications on its reliability. (For more by Farhan, visit the Defending Islam website.)

FARHAN'S OPENING STATEMENT


DAVID'S OPENING STATEMENT


REBUTTALS


CROSSFIRE, CONCLUSIONS, Q&A

Debate: Morality in Christianity and Islam

WHO: David Wood vs. Farhan Qureshi
WHAT: Debate on Morality
WHEN: Sunday, August 17th, 1:00-3:00 P.M.
WHERE: Sheraton Reston Hotel (11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA)
WHY: Why Not?