I have always wondered why Mecca was deemed a muslim only place to visit. has mecca always been islamic? what makes it so special?

surely a muslim has the answer. or should I google it?

Does not really answer the question - I would love to hear from Muslims about this.
I googled and apparently it is in the Koran however the saudi government have extended it on their on to include the whole city of Medina. It is seen a muslim refuge that could not handle more visitors.

Still dont see the point. If Islam is an inclusive faith why the exclusion.

Muslims please give your version

A christian talking about Islam not being inclusive...is a christian skating on extremely wafer thin ice.

Bismillaah ir Rahmaan ir Rahiim. Peace LadyDay. Christians need to realize that they are presenting a problem for themselves. A Muslim is one whom submits to The One GOD - Allah, Alone. I know for a fact that there are Christians who take Christ 'Isa [Jesus, PBUH] to be The Only One. Additionally, some Christians still follow Emperor Constantine's trinity of god's. I have been run-off of Christian Forums for teaching that Prophet, Christ 'Isa is not The One GOD.

I read somewhere years ago, (1990's), that some high ranking Christians have performed the hajj. I can't recall their names. Maybe you can google it. But, I can not believe that they accepted the Prophet, Messiah Jesus PBUH, as The Only GOD, Allah, All Glory Be To HIM. That would be idolatry, and I am certain that the Saudi's would know better than to permit them to the hajj.


Peace. OriginalBM

Well bredda, I don't know where you are coming from on this one and you probably don't either...

the bible says that "God would have all men to be saved..." It also says "WHO SO EVER will let him come..." Also, "behold I stand at the door and knocketh, WHO SO EVER..."

Hell is a place that men choose to go. The bible says that it was made for satan and his angels..not men. God clearly gives men opportunity to avoid hell...

Where is christian exclusiveness? Show it to me and I will show you a place where icabod dwells and not the spirit of God....

You have not answered the question. I could easily say some high ranking Muslims believe a woman should cover her entire face that is not the queston as it just deviates.
I will correct myself it was sura or add on to the koranic texts that excluded non muslims from mecca and the saudis excluded them from medina in its entirety

why is a mecca a muslim only place to visit. Christians welcome people from all faiths to visit us where we worship and holy places. Many people have converted to christianity as a result

so um why is mecca a muslim only place?

Bismillaah. Peace, LadyDay. I think that your post raises a moot point. There are all types of non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia, every day of the week. You are just looking for an argument, and you won't find one with me.

Peace. OriginalBM

Original BM..........I am not look for an argument just a reasoning behind this code of practice.
Of course there are many people in Saudi Arabia but you will find that they are banned from Medina and Mecca or Makkah

I put this question to one of my muslim friends at work and he found that it was not in the islamic holy books just a clause that the saudis introduced themselves. The saudis felt mecca can not manage the crowds they have and felt reducing crowd numbers by banning non muslims so that it stays a spiritual muslim retreat and that tourist do not interfere with what goes on there.

Moot ---------------nah ------------ my question was about mecca and the city medina. thanks for your input but I asked a Muslim friend who does not mind these sorts of questions.

Christian exclusiveness expresses itself within its own belief system. Such as the belief that there is a place called heaven (a place) where only those who believe in chistian dogma will enter. There are numerous christian sects which demand that their members only attend their particular religious gatherings and will ostracise those who dont ( such as Jehovah Witness/. 7 day adventis and these other nutter groups that black people seemsto be over-reprsented in.

Do Christians welcome tradtional spiritualists from among the various peoples in the world to practice their spirituality in their churches. Would anyone be welcome in a church wearing a picture/ or acrryig a sculpture of a Kemetian Neter?
Only on the pretext that they give up their original practices and 'follow' christianity. "Its OK as long as we can convert you to our 'superior' beliefs." Thats what Christians term as being inclusive.

Do Christian even respect other peoples faiths? Missionary behaviour in the past and in the present would suggest not otherwise why else try to 'convert' people if you have a healthy respect for their way of life and practices.

So the threads author's attempt to downgrade Islam into some 'inclusive' practice via Mecca/ without acknowledging the religious intolerance of her own faith reveals to me a wish to elevate one faith over another based on very shaky criteria. No doubt Original BM could quote a passage in the Koran whcih welcomes non Muslims to Mecca/ and Lady could counteract that regardless of what the Koran says/ this is the concrete practice practiced by Muslims. Much the same as Christians who quote some spurious position in the Bible and then claim that the majority of those within Christianity were not in fact following the Bible.. but were led by satan/political breed/ etc.

He who is without sin.. mek him fling the first stone. LOL.

BredderTukoma ---- you said

Is that your interpretation of my words? INCLUSIVE - means to include whereas exclusive means to exclude.
anyway I am pretty much secure in my faith thank you very much. I also do like to know about other faiths and cultures and why certain things are done.
I would visit a mosque but.........I do not speak arabic nor understand it so hthat would be pointless. When I am in church tongues are spoken and english is followed after. You have to be in church and experience it.

As you see no - one on here actually gave me a direct answer or answered the question. just oohs and ahhs and ummms. So I shared the answer my friend who is a practicing muslim gave me. I am not surprised though. Islam has its origins in Saudi Arabia apparently ( by all means correct me if I am wrong). The saudi government control mecca - thus laws of mecca determined by the Saudis.

Have seen the huge crowds attend the Hajj and general visits and the numbers are huge. Maybe they do not have the correct amount of resources to allow non muslims in. whilst insuring muslims are let in and out as and when they desire as safely as possible


@all another question about Mecca. The big black stone in the middle. Is the significance basically a symbol of throwing stones at the devil. I am sure I heard that on a documentary

Bismillaah. Peace, LadyDay. Please see the following verses:


009.016 أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تُتْرَكُوا وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا مِنْكُمْ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلا رَسُولِهِ وَلا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةً وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
009.016 Or think ye that ye shall be abandoned, as though Allah did not know those among you who strive with might and main, and take none for friends and protectors except Allah, His Messenger, and the (community of) Believers? But Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do.

009.017 مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَنْ يَعْمُرُوا مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ شَاهِدِينَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ بِالْكُفْرِ أُولَئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ وَفِي النَّارِ هُمْ خَالِدُونَ
009.017 It is not for such as join gods with Allah, to visit or maintain the mosques of Allah while they witness against their own souls to infidelity. The works of such bear no fruit: In Fire shall they dwell.

009.018 إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلا اللَّهَ فَعَسَى أُولَئِكَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ
009.018 The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish regular prayers, and practise regular charity, and fear none (at all) except Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.

009.019 أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَجَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لا يَسْتَوُونَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ لا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ
009.019 Do ye make the giving of drink to pilgrims, or the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque, equal to (the pious service of) those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and strive with might and main in the cause of Allah? They are not comparable in the sight of Allah: and Allah guides not those who do wrong.

009.020 الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ
009.020 Those who believe, and suffer exile and strive with might and main, in Allah's cause, with their goods and their persons, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah: they are the people who will achieve (salvation).

009.021 يُبَشِّرُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِنْهُ وَرِضْوَانٍ وَجَنَّاتٍ لَهُمْ فِيهَا نَعِيمٌ مُقِيمٌ
009.021 Their Lord doth give them glad tidings of a Mercy from Himself, of His good pleasure, and of gardens for them, wherein are delights that endure:

009.022 خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
009.022 They will dwell therein for ever. Verily in Allah's presence is a reward, the greatest (of all).



Wassalaam. OriginalBM

LadyDay, about a week before you posted this thread I was in Islam chat room and someone asked the very same question... they asked "but why can't non-muslims go to hajj?" I don't recall anyone supplying the answer.

So, I searched for the answer and found a couple of interesting things. One of those things is that Obama's grandmother, who is allegedly a Christian, is at hajj and a guest of the Saudi King Abdullah.
Otherwise than that news I found a forum thread that asked exactly the same question, to which PersianPride provided answers.

Hi Yass
That was an interesting read. I just take it that all religions have their own wants and needs. I do not think that by allowing non muslims into medina.mecca will lessen the experience for the pilgrims. Due to crowds I would imagine tourist would not want to go at that time anyway for safety reasons.

Thanks for sharing though.

Anyone else have thoughts on this

LD were you specifically speaking of the time of the hadj or anytime?

I was speaking of all the time. I could understand if non muslim tourism was allowed and then restricted during the hajj as then the argument that the pilgrims would be disturbed would not have any weight.

Bismillaah ir Rahmaan ir Rahiim Peace, everyone. But understand that the intent is to tour Mecca, not to join in worship of The Only GOD, but to sightsee.


Tourist Tour"ist, n.
One who makes a tour, or performs a journey, especially for
pleasure.
[1913 Webster +PJC]


Peace. OriginalBM

no one answered the question, but seemed to try and revert to twisting the question back to the person who asked it.

We are unclean as non muslims.


"Oh you who believe! Truly the idolaters are unclean; so let them not, after this year, approach the Sacred Mosque...." (9:28).

Hope this helps answet your question.