The Price of Love - A Review

 The Price of Love: The Fate of a Woman and a Warning to the West - A Review

Before I review this book, I want to explain what led me to read it.

A student who transferred to my school from another private Christian school made a statement that left me in utter shock and disappointment. They casually said, "What does it even matter? God and Allah are the same?"

That single sentence convinced me that we are failing to disciple the next generation. Parents often rely on the church to teach their children biblical truth, yet churches have one or two hours each week to preach the gospel while competing against thirty or more hours of internet access through phones, tablets, gaming systems, social media, and private chat rooms. If Christian parents are not intentionally discipling their children, someone else will. Our children are being discipled every day by the voices they consume.

That conversation led me to The Price of Love by Sabatina James.

This book is far more than an autobiography. It is the story of a young woman raised in a devout Muslim family who eventually came to faith in Jesus Christ. Her decision cost her nearly everything. After questioning Islam, she was abandoned by her family, sent to a madrasa for intensive religious instruction, and pressured into accepting an engagement for an arranged marriage to her cousin. Her testimony reveals the tremendous cost many Muslim converts pay simply for following Christ.

One of the most powerful aspects of this book is Sabatina's courage. Despite threats against her life, she remained faithful to Christ and obedient to what she believed God was calling her to do. Her story is a reminder that religious persecution is not merely something found in history books. It continues today, often quietly and with little attention from the Western world because many fear being labeled intolerant or "Islamophobic."

Sabatina also warns about what she believes is happening throughout Europe as large-scale migration occurs without successful cultural assimilation. She argues that many Western nations underestimate the influence of Islamic ideology and the challenges that arise when communities become increasingly governed by religious principles that differ significantly from Western democratic values. Whether readers ultimately agree with every conclusion she reaches, her firsthand experiences deserve thoughtful consideration.

As a Christian, I found myself reflecting on the profound theological differences between Christianity and Islam. Christianity teaches salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ, who commanded His followers to love their enemies, pray for those who persecute them, defend the poor and vulnerable, care for the widow and orphan, welcome the foreigner, and forgive as they have been forgiven.

The differences between the two religions are not simply cultural; they are theological.

Sabatina points to passages from Islam's foundational texts that she believes shaped the worldview she was raised in. In Surah 9:29, the Qur'an states:

"Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day, nor comply with what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, nor embrace the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture, until they pay the jizyah with willing submission, fully humbled."

In Surah 33:21, the Qur'an teaches:

"Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often."

Because Muhammad is presented as the model for believers, Sabatina argues that his teachings carry enormous significance. She also references the hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim (Book 1, Hadith 36), in which Muhammad says:

"I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah..."

For me, these passages stand in stark contrast to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus said:

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9)

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)

"Put your sword back in its place... for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." (Matthew 26:52) 

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10)

Those passages summarize why I reject the idea that Christianity and Islam simply worship the same God in different ways. While both religions profess belief in one God, they present fundamentally different understandings of God's character, the identity of Jesus, salvation, and the example believers are commanded to follow. Christianity teaches that salvation is a gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Islam teaches submission to Allah and follows Muhammad as the supreme human example. These are not minor distinctions; they are foundational differences.

I also appreciated Sabatina's discussion of the vastly different expectations placed upon men and women within the Islamic culture in which she was raised. Her descriptions of the restrictions imposed on women, compared to the freedoms afforded to men, were heartbreaking and helped me better understand why leaving Islam often comes at such an enormous personal cost.

One statement from the book continues to stay with me: ideas have consequences. Sabatina argues that theology is never merely private; it shapes families, cultures, governments, and civilizations. She warns that Europe underestimated those consequences, and she believes America is making many of the same mistakes. Whether readers agree with all of her political conclusions or not, her testimony deserves thoughtful consideration because it comes from lived experience rather than theory.

While this book contains political and cultural warnings, at its heart it is the story of a woman who counted the cost of following Jesus Christ and chose Him anyway. Her testimony is one of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering faith.

The book challenged me to pray more intentionally for persecuted Christians around the world, to disciple my own children with biblical truth, and to remember that freedom is not always free. It also reminded me to pray for Muslim converts whose lives are often placed in jeopardy simply because they chose to follow Christ.

I would recommend this book to Christians who want to better understand the cost many believers pay for their faith, the realities of religious persecution, and the importance of thoughtfully examining competing worldviews through the lens of Scripture. Whether you ultimately agree with every conclusion Sabatina reaches, her story is one that should not be ignored.