Ordering a disbeliever to shave his head before his Islam

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: I met a Christian today and asked him why he had not embraced Islam. He told me that a person had told him, when he went to visit the community center, that he had to shave his head. This became the reason he did not embrace Islam. His question says: I told him that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) had long hair, but not like women. He says: The Christian left. Was my action correct? And was my statement correct?

Answer:
The one who told him to shave his head is mistaken. Be patient with him. When he embraces Islam, if he embraces Islam, he will be guided. But to tell him to shave his head before he embraces Islam, or that he should not go unless he has shaved his head, this deters from the path of Allah. But because of his ignorance, we do not say he deters from the path of Allah, but rather, he became the cause of this person turning away from Islam. One does not tell a disbeliever to shave his head before he embraces Islam, or to be circumcised before he embraces Islam, or that he should not embrace Islam unless he is circumcised. No, this is after he embraces Islam and feels secure in Islam. Then the rulings of Islam are explained to him, and he acts upon them out of conviction and faith. Yes.