Can religions live together in respect and love if they share the same God?

Yes, and Islam calls for exactly that. According to the Holy Qur’an all religions at their origin come from the one God, and a Muslim must believe in all the prophets; the dividing differences were added by people later.

Islam begins its answer with the oneness of God. In the laws of nature there is not the slightest contradiction. Had several gods shared the world between them, each would pull at his own part and the order would fall apart. The verse above points to exactly this. So there is only one Creator for all people.

This one God did not turn to one people only. According to the Holy Qur’an He revealed the same foundations to the founders of religions all over the world. That is why a Muslim believes in Abraham (as), Moses (as) and Jesus (as), and in the messengers of every people. Whoever rejects one of them leaves the faith that the Holy Qur’an teaches.

If teachings contradict each other today, that is not God’s doing. The contradictions arose later, when people changed the original messages. The road to real respect therefore leads back to the pure origins, where religions are much closer to one another.

We also have to be realistic. Reciprocity sounds fine, but it can become dangerous when religious leaders meet each other with hostility. Then dislike is answered with dislike. Respect should not wait for the other side to take the first step. A Muslim is obliged to honour the prophets of others, however he himself is treated.

Understood this way, love between religions is not a pious wish. It follows from faith in the one God who created all people.