"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 Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: 'Bear witness that we are Muslims.'" [3:64]
Meaning: say to the people of the scripture – the Jews and Christians, "come to a word that is just between us and you" – Meaning: Come let us unite upon it – the statement which all the Prophets and Messengers agreed upon and no opposed it except the obstinate and misguided. This statement is not specific to anyone of us, rather it is something that you and us should establish between us, so this is justice and fairness in debate. Then Allah explains this and said: "that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him" – Meaning: We should single out Allah in worship, devoting all love, fear and hope to Him alone, and we should not associate anyone as partner with Allah in worship – neither a Prophet, an Angel, a Righteous Person, an Idol, a Deified image, a living or non-living thing, "and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah"; rather all obedience is to be devoted to Allah and His Messengers. "Then, if they turn away, say: 'Bear witness that we are Muslims.'" [Tafseer As-Sadi]
The Christians wrote to Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and claimed that Islam considers all religions to be equal and that this has been mentioned in Surah Baqarah as follows: "Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." [2:62]
So, Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah replied to them saying: So, (according to them), this statement makes all the people equal – the Yahood, the Muslims and other than them. The response to this firstly is that there is no proof for you in this Ayah regarding that which you seek. Indeed, (the ayah) places you (Christians), the Jews and the Sabians on the same level. You (Christians) are in agreement with the Muslims that the Jews became disbelievers after belying the Messiah and the Sabians became disbelievers after belying the Messenger sent to them. Therefore, if it were the case that this Ayah exalts the Religion you are upon after the advent of Muhammad (saws) then in it will also be praise for the Religion of the Jews, and both the Muslims and yourselves consider this to be falsehood. So, if the Jews have not been praised in this Ayah after the abrogation and replacement of (their religion), then there will be no praise in it for the Christians after abrogation and replacement of (their religion). Rather the meaning of the ayah is that those who believe in Muhammad (saws), and those Jews who followed Moosaa (as) – those who were upon his path before its abrogation and replacement; and the Christians who followed the Messiah – those who followed his path before its abrogation and replacement; and the Sabians – the Sabian Monotheists, such as those amongst the Arabs and other than them who were upon the Religion of Ibraheem (as), Isma’eel (as) and Ishaaq (as) before its abrogation and replacement, because the Arabs are from the children of Isma'eel (as) and other than him from amongst those who were neighbors of the Baitul Ateeq (the ka’bah), which was built by Ibraheem (as) and Isma'eel, and they used to be Monotheists upon the religion of Ibraheem up until one of the heads of the (Khuzaa'a clan) Amr Bin Luhai altered the religion of Ibraheem (as) with polytheism and prohibited that which Allah did not prohibit. That is why the Prophet (saws) said: “’I saw Amr Bin luhai dragging his guts in the hell fire for he was the first one who set out across the small sea and changed the religion of Ibraheem.” Likewise, there were those of the Children of Ishaaq (ra) who were upon the religion of Ibraheem (as) before the advent of Moosaa (as) and they used to be from the favoured, praised ones.
Therefore the above mentioned and others like them are those who have been praised. Allah said: "Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." [2:62]
Therefore, the People of the Scripture who (came) after the abrogation and replacement of (these Religions) are neither from those who believed in Allah and the Last day nor from those who worked righteous good deeds. Those people of the Scripture (who came after the advent of Muhammad) disbelieved because they either substituted the religion of the Messiah or belied him or belied Muhammad (saws) in various affairs. The Ayaat of the Qur’aan (about this affair) are clear and many, have been transmitted in abundance and are known by necessity in the Religion of Muhammad (saws). However, these Christians approach the Qur’aan in the same way they approached the Torah and the Injeel. They make undue claims on the Muhkamaat (i.e. the texts) which do not carry except a single meaning, whilst clinging onto the Mutashaabih (i.e. the texts which must be referred back to the Muhkamaat for explanation), even though in them is there is that which is in opposition to what they desire.
[Al-Jawaabus Saheeh Liman Baddala Deenul Maseeh. Vol 2. Pages 51-52]
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