Learning to Face Death from Nabeel Qureshi

Photo by Nabeel Qureshi

“It’s a little unsettling to watch the vlog of someone who knows he’s about to die,” I remember telling my mother after watching what would be Nabeel Qureshi’s second last video blog on YouTube just last week.

In it, the Pakistani-American Muslim-turned-Christian apologist spoke about his final stages of life and how he was receiving palliative care.

Still, both of us were shocked by how quickly the 34-year-old’s passing came. The popular itinerant speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) died on Saturday, 16 September, after a year-long battle with stomach cancer. He leaves behind his wife, Michelle, and two-year-old daughter, Aya.

As tributes poured in for Nabeel over the weekend, I found myself saddened by his death and wondering why God took him at such a young age, when he was still so active, effective, and passionate in ministry.

I first heard about Nabeel two years ago when a friend told me about his book, Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward. Reading his book, I was struck by how thoughtfully and objectively he had presented the facts about Islam and Christianity.

As I started reading up more about him and watching his videos, I was moved by Nabeel’s deep conviction and commitment to the gospel despite what it cost him, and heartened that God had raised such a brilliant and articulate person to reach the masses—in particular the Muslim community—for Him. Months later, I saw the heartbreaking news on Nabeel’s Facebook page: he had advanced stomach cancer, and the prognosis was grim.

As I’ve been following his progress intermittently since then, his death, though imminent and expected, still feels sudden and surreal. But the legacy that he has left behind—and the lives he has impacted during his short 34 years on earth—is unquestionable. Being just a couple of years younger than him, I cannot help but think about my own life and wonder about the kind of legacy I would leave behind one day.

One of the things about Nabeel that has deeply impacted me was how he faced death. Unlike many others, he had the privilege of knowing and preparing for his last days on earth. Even up till his last days, he was still uploading video clips testifying about Jesus. Perhaps, however, being able to stare at death in the face was a little overwhelming—even for a man of great faith like him.

I remember watching his second last vlog and thinking that he sounded almost discouraged and despondent; he seemed to be really struggling to accept that God may not eventually heal him. This both surprised and encouraged me.

It surprised me, because I had assumed that he would be 100 percent settled in his heart by this time, that his time was drawing to a close. But it also encouraged me, because his complete honesty about his desire to be healed showed how even great men of faith had their “moments”. But, finally, it is what he said at the end of the video—without any hint of bitterness in his voice—that I would always remember: “But if it shouldn’t be Your will, Your sovereign will at the end of the day, then I trust You, and I love You anyway . . .”

And I believe that that is exactly how Nabeel would want all those who are grieving over his death to respond: to completely trust God and love God regardless of the outcome. May Nabeel’s life and death inspire us to devote our lives to Jesus for the rest of our days, so that like the Apostle Paul and Nabeel, we can say with confidence at the end of our lives, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:7)

 

Read author’s follow-up article: Crying Over Nabeel Qureshi

8 replies
  1. Gina Dias
    Gina Dias says:

    That was so comforting to read. I just watched the Celebration of Nabeels life and was feeling despondent. Then I chanced upon this blog – 3 things we have in common – our love for Jesus, Nabeel and potatoes. Thank you for the smile you put on my face.

    Reply
  2. PK
    PK says:

    Great man of god, lived a lovely life , I hope to see you in eternity brother, may god bless the family and comfort them

    Reply
  3. carmen
    carmen says:

    Well said! Thank you for this encouraging article about Nabeel. I had sincerely hoped for his healing, yet knowing I have very dear Christian friends who have passed away because of cancer (even my own beloved brother who was killed in a car accident at age 18) the reality is that not everyone gets healed and we will all face death someday. Death is a sad part of life that no one will escape. However, eternal life is assured because of our wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. John 3:16.

    ❤️carmen

    Reply
  4. Evelyn
    Evelyn says:

    Dear beloved in Christ remember even our Lord Jesus upon approaching His death by the Cross He prayed to the tune of sweating blood, He also prayed for the cup to bypass Him but God’s will be done, He also cried on the Cross, “My God, y God why have you forsaken me”? So Nabeel’s lamenting during such physiological and emotional pains is a normal reaction to human nature. I pray for his Godly wife, daughter Ayah, parents and sister, may Lord comfort them!

    Reply
  5. Evelyn
    Evelyn says:

    Dear beloved in Christ remember even our Lord Jesus upon approaching His death by the Cross He prayed to the tune of sweating blood, He also prayed for the cup to bypass Him but God’s will be done, He also cried on the Cross, “My God, y God why have you forsaken me”? So Nabeel’s lamenting during such physiological and emotional pains is a normal reaction to human nature. I pray for his Godly wife, daughter Ayah, parents and sister, may Lord comfort them!

    Reply

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