Hadith 9:23
Tamim ad-Dari said he asked God’s Messenger what the sunna was about a polytheist who accepts Islam by the advice and persuasion of a Muslim, and he replied that he was the nearest to him in life and in death. Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.
وَعَنْ تَمِيمٍ الدَّارِيِّ قَالَ: سَأَلَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَا السُّنَةُ فِي الرَّجُلِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ يُسْلِمُ عَلَى يَدَيْ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ؟ فَقَالَ: «هُوَ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِمَحْيَاهُ وَمَمَاتِهِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ
Original Reference: Mishkat al-Masabih 3064