Hi Cinette,
I trust that you are in the best of health and faith
Interfaith, as I understand it, is about understanding where there is similarity and thus shared truths that we can work together on for mankinds’ benefit. Also, we should identify difference so that we know the limit of where this work ends; here we’ll have to agree to disagree since there should be no concession of one’s beliefs;
‘Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion.’ [109:6]. Sometimes we shy away from the latter, but this part is just as important. HH Pope Benedict XVI suggested that
“in our attempt to discover points of commonality, perhaps we have shied away from the responsibility to discuss our differences with calmness and clarity. … The higher goal of interreligious dialogue requires a clear exposition of our respective religious tenets.” This
‘higher goal’ is the achievement of truth.
Understanding of difference does not mean acceptance because to accept is to become of that religion and compromise one’s own faith. It is quite clear that - despite many similarities - we diverge and this divergence might be something we find quite repugnant. Each faith must also have an ‘explanation’ for the others existence since there can be only one absolute truth, the alternative - as Cardinal Newman pointed out - would be a logical absurdity.
As a Muslim I have heard verious explanations for Islam, such as saying Muhammad (pbuh): was a renegade Priest, perceived revelations were epileptic episodes, was a false Prophet or even worse a devil! Or Louis Massignon’s rather interesting explanation of Islam not being a ‘revealed’ religion, but actually one brought out from an internal ‘revelation’ left by a Divine indelible mark (a sort of natural religion). All of these are not pleasing to my ear, I may even see some as stupid or insulting, but I must admit that there does need to be an explanation for logic to prevail. This does not mean that we cannot work together, however, but it does express the limits of this work.
We see religion as one; the same belief system although there may have been different instructions in terms of worship throughout time. As such we see relgions as the narrative of God’s guidance to mankind. The parts that conform with Islam are seen as truth that has been preserved and the parts which disagree are considered corruptions, additions or subtractions made by man’s hand.
Islam has an explanation for Christianity too. Unlike Christianity it is mentioned in our Holy Book because it came after the advent of Christianity and it is seen as wholistic, with guidance for all things. It is our view that St Paul fought the disciples and killed them, in vengence for realising that he’d be damned for killing the righteous he decided to spread falsehood with truth; mixing ideas popular at the time with true Christian teaching and spreading them among the gentiles and Hellenised Jews. I wont go into details or perceived evidences for why we may believe that, since it will be of no benefit and you’d think it absurd anyway. This is ‘hoodwinking’ by St Paul is what [1:7] is refering to; a type of unintended misguidance.
Islam is seen as the middle way, so generally [1:7] is seen as part of a prayer to remain in the middle and not fall into extremes of deliberate or unintentional error. The words are general and do not mean just Christians and Jews, otherwise that would have been said. Rather - as we have it - the Christians are an example of a group who were lead astray and the Jews are an example of a group who rebelled against God and brought His Wrath upon them. It is not a personal attack (Islamic metaphysics and teaching never allows this) but rather a guidance to how things are - well, in at least how Islam sees it.
The Qur’an has a unique style and so it should be noted before embarking on interpretation - as Catholics you know the dangers of Solar Scriptura type interpretations. The Verses of Chapter 2 are a specific, relative to those at the time in Mecca who disbelieved (primarily pagan), and so as a punishment God put a seal on their hearts; "
God does not change a people until they change what is in themselves" [13:11]. This is not a general verse and cannot really be applied to Christians and Jews. The verse remains because one may well come across others who are so hateful toward Islam upon hearing it that they too become deaf, blind and dumb. I’m sure you have something similar otherwise why did not all of Jerusalem become Christian upon the advent of Christ?
I would have like to have written a little more, but I’m constricted by time. I hope the above was useful. I tried to be honest of how the Muslims understand things. I didn’t sugar coat anything; its pretty much direct from my teachers.
Go in peace
Do you want to have a sort of tug o’ war over this person 
Given the poster is thinking about converting to Catholicism then it might be best to talk to her about its beauty. Taking the stance of pointing at Islam’s ‘errors’ will not cause endearment and - like with ‘Arabic Catholic’ - will simply show one’s own errors.
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The Iraqi people are proud of their heritage and I don’t think these two examples of skilled professionals returning to help their fellow Iraqis is that uncommon. This is great, but there are so many problems that need to be resolved, for example you can’t have love until you have justice. There will be a long ‘running in time,’ but I think that eventually they’ll sort it out… its just how many lives will have to be lost before that happens? 
That was a surprise. Christians, too, hope he died in the peace of God. No one can judge another’s state of soul anytime including at death. It seems we agree on that.