The Ruling on Associating with Non-Muslims in the Workplace

Question:
I work in a large hospital, and we have many employees. Some of our Muslim colleagues are friendly with them and eat with them. Some of them love them very much, saying it is to soften their hearts in the hope that they will embrace Islam. Is this action permissible, and what is the criterion for this?

Answer:
Da'wah (calling others to Islam) is not done through friendship and softness with them. It is not done by this method. Da'wah is presenting the religion to them, explaining the leniency of the religion, and explaining the falsity of what they are upon. This is the call to Allah the Exalted. As for befriending them and smiling at them, there is nothing wrong with it. This is not permissible. As for eating with them, there is no harm in eating with them if the food is halal. As for them working and you working in the job, you have no concern with them; they do their work, and you do your work. But do not take them as friends, and do not take them as beloved to you. Let them work, and you work in your job. Yes.