“Embrace Islam,” and he did not add, “so that you will enter Paradise and be saved from the Fire.” Instead he said, “Embrace Islam, for Muhammad gives with the generosity of one who does not fear poverty,” meaning that he will grant you abundant wealth.

Yet when people embrace Islam for the sake of money, it is only a short while before Islam becomes the dearest thing to them—dearer than this world and everything in it. For that reason the Messenger ﷺ would sometimes give a man gifts to win his heart: the man might accept Islam for the money, but before long Islam itself was dearer to him than all worldly possessions.

From this and similar reports we learn that we must not keep our distance from unbelievers and openly sinful people, leaving them for the devils to toy with. Rather, we should win them over—through material help, gentleness, and good character—until they grow fond of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ himself gave to the unbelievers, even distributing to them from the fayʾ (public booty).

Indeed, Allah has allotted them a portion of the zakah so that we might incline their hearts toward Islam until they enter the religion of Allah. A person may accept Islam for worldly gain, but once he tastes its sweetness it becomes the most beloved thing to him.

Some scholars said, “We sought knowledge for motives other than Allah, but knowledge refused to be anything other than for Allah alone.” Righteous deeds must therefore nurture their doer toward sincerity for Allah and conformity to the Messenger ﷺ.

If this is Islam’s approach to those who are given gifts to win their hearts, then we must take the matter seriously: we should give to a non-Muslim when we sense his nearness to Islam, present him with gifts, and treat him with exemplary character. Should he be guided—then for Allah to guide