A Christian is asking about the Muslim attitude towards Catholicism and peaceful co-existence

According to Islam and for the Muslims,
taking a position of enmity is not something haphazard. On the contrary, it is governed by
principles and guidelines, and thus is like all the other rulings of Islamic sharee’ah.
These principles and guidelines come from Allaah, Who is above having any shortcomings and
to Whom belong the Most Beautiful Names and Sublime Attributes. The sources of rulings for
us are the Qur’aan and the proven Saheeh (authentic) Sunnah (the words and deeds of the
Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)). The Qur’aan and Sunnah brought a
clear message and ideology, which is the belief in Tawheed (Divine Unity) based on the
testimony that there is no god except Allaah, and Muhammad
(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) is the Messenger of Allaah, the Seal of the Prophets [i.e., the final
Prophet] and the Imaam (or leader) of the Messengers. We do not associate any other god in
worship with Allaah; on the contrary, we regard Him as Unique in His Divinity and
Lordship, and in His Names and Attributes. We do not claim that He has any spouse or son.
We take as friends those whom Allaah takes as friends, and regard as enemies those whom He
regards as enemies. We hate those who slander Him and attribute to Him a wife or son, for
Allaah is Unique, He is the One, the Self-Sufficient Master, Who begets not nor was He
begotten, and He has no wife or son. Glory be to Him, how can He have a child? To Him
belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth. He has no partner and He does not need
children as human beings do. He is the Creator of the father and of what the father
begets. Muslims follow the commands of Allaah and have no choice with regard to His rules
and regulations, rather they adhere to the rulings of Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allaah and His Messenger have decreed a
matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allaah and
His Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plain error” [al-Ahzaab 33:36]
Among these rulings is that we should love for the sake of Allaah and hate for the sake of
Allaah.

But there is also plenty of room for debate with the Muslims; indeed, in His Book Allaah
commanded the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his ummah (nation)
after him to engage in debate and dialogue with the People of the Book, i.e., Jews and
Christians. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad
): ‘O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a
word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allaah (Alone), and that we
associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides
Allaah.’ Then, if they turn away, say: ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.'” [Aal
‘Imraan 3:64]

We believe in Jesus (‘Eesa) – peace be upon him – as a Prophet sent by Allaah, but God
forbid that we should describe Jesus as a god or lord as the Christians claim, and fail to
distinguish between the Messenger and the One Who sent him, between the Creator and His
creation. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And (remember) when Allaah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): ‘O ‘Eesa
(Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Did you say unto men: ‘Worship me and my mother as two gods
besides Allaah?’ He will say: ‘Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no
right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is
in my inner-self though I do not know what is in Yours; truly, You, only You, are the
All-Knower of all that is hidden (and unseen). Never did I say to them aught except what
You (Allaah) did command me to say: “Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord.” And
I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were
the Watcher over them; and You are a Witness to all things.’ (This is a great admonition
and warning to the Christians of the whole world).” [al-Maa’idah 5:116-117].

And Allaah says – addressing you and your fellow-Christians, and you will be blessed if
you respond – (interpretation of the meaning):
“O people of the Scripture (Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your
religion, nor say of Allaah aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam
(Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allaah and His Word, (‘Be!’ – and he was) which
He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Rooh) created by Him; so believe in Allaah and
His Messengers. Say not: ‘Three (trinity)!’ Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allaah is
(the only) One Ilaah (God), glory is to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him
belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allaah is
All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.” [al-Nisaa’ 4:171]

Islam is the religion of guidance, mercy and love, but there are people who force the
Muslims to fight when they stand in the way of their conveying the guidance to mankind.
The Muslims do not fight anyone until they have told them about the religion of Allaah and
given them the choice between two things, either accepting Islam or, if they refuse Islam
and keep their own religions, paying the Jizyah (tax) to the Muslims in return for
protection. If they refuse both of these choices, then they are to be fought.

When we Muslims fight, it is for the sake of saving people from worshipping other people,
and teaching them to worship the Lord of the Worlds, and bringing them out of the
injustice of other religions to the justice of Islam, and freeing them from the
constrictions of this world so that they may enjoy the bounty of this world and the
Hereafter.

We believe that Jesus (‘Eesa) – peace be upon him – did not die, but Allaah took him up to
Himself. Jesus will come back to this world at the end of time and will rule according to
Islam. The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Jesus will descend to Damascus, by the white minaret.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood,
4/117; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani, may Allaah have mercy on him).

Islam cancels out the messages that came before it, and Allaah will not accept any other
religion from anyone who comes to know of Islam during his lifetime. If people submit in
Islam to the Lord of the Worlds, follow the Best of the Messengers, Muhammad
(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), and do righteous deeds, then Allaah will be pleased with
them and will bless them with a good life in this world and the next. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
“Whoever works righteousness – whether male or female – while he (or she) is a
true believer (of Islâmic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this
world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a
reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the
Hereafter).” [al-Nahl 16:97]

We hope that we have answered your questions. We ask Allaah to guide us all and help us
all to follow the truth. Peace be upon those who follow true guidance.