Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, in his book Miftah Dar al-Sa’adah, mentions ten reasons why people do not benefit from knowledge. Among them are reasons why some people, despite being certain of the truth of Islam, still do not accept it. He outlines these reasons as barriers to accepting the truth. Below are two of the reasons he mentions—both of which are commonly encountered when engaging with disbelievers in the West.

“[One of the Reasons:] The Barrier of Desires and Wealth

This is what prevented many of the People of the Book from believing, fearing that their sources of food and wealth which reach them from their people would be cut off.

The disbelievers of Quraysh used to turn a man away from faith according to his particular desire, entering upon him through it. So they would say to the one who loved fornication and immoralities: “Indeed, Muhammad prohibits fornication, and he prohibits wine,” and with this tactic they turned al-Aʿsha the poet away from Islam.

I have personally debated with many from the People of the Book regarding Islam and its truth, and the final thing one of them said to me was: ‘I will not give up wine; I drink it in safety. So if I were to become Muslim, you would come between me and it, and you would lash me for drinking it.’

Another one of them said—after understanding what I had explained to him—something to the effect of: ‘I have relatives who possess wealth, and if I embrace Islam, nothing from that will reach me and I am hoping to inherit from them.’
There is no doubt that this type of thinking is firmly rooted in the hearts of many among the disbelievers. Thus, the strength of the call of desires and wealth coincides with the weakness of the call of faith, so he responds to the call of desires and wealth and says: ‘I will not leave the way of my forefathers and predecessors.’

[Another Reason:] Love for Family, Relatives, and Tribe

He sees that if he follows the truth and opposes them, they will distance him, banish him from among them, and expel him from their midst. This is the reason why many remain upon disbelief amidst their people, families, and tribes.”

Source: Miftah Dar al-Sa’adah (1/266-268)