Question:
A non-Muslim man hears about Islam and knows that it calls to monotheism and that there is only one God. However, from what appears to him regarding Muslims—based on the information that reaches him—he perceives them to be fierce and combative, and that their Prophet was like that as well. Nevertheless, he believes that there is only one God. What is the recompense for this person on the Day of Resurrection?
Answer:
This person is a disbeliever. As long as he does not believe in the Messenger [Muhammad] ﷺ, he is a disbeliever. The duty of anyone who truly desires Islam—with a sincere intent—is to look into the teachings and guidance of Islam itself, not at the actions of Muslims.
This is because Muslims commit various sins; some even commit major shirk (associating partners with Allah), such as supplicating to other than Allah. This fulfills the statement [of the Prophet ﷺ:] “You will surely follow the ways of those who came before you, feather by feather [exactly], to the extent that if they were to enter the hole of a lizard, you would enter it too.”
A lizard’s hole is well-known to be winding and not straight. Yet, even if they entered this narrow, winding, crooked hole, you would still follow them into it.
Therefore, it is obligatory for a person who truly wants to attain faith in Allah (the Mighty and Majestic) to examine Islam itself, not Muslims.
As for Muslims today, as you can see, among them are those who engage in lying, cheating, fornication, homosexuality, theft, usury, shirk (polytheism), and unjustified aggression. Such traits are completely inappropriate for them. Furthermore, these characteristics are not prevalent among all Muslims. However, this man might happen to encounter only those who display such bad manners, while the victorious, sound group of Muslims is elsewhere, and he knows nothing about them.
The duty—as I have said and repeat—is that a person must look solely at the teachings of Islam, not at the behavior of Muslims.