Why non muslims can't enter Mecca?

14/12/2016

Kiblah

Kiblah means the direction of the Kaaba (the sacred building at Mecca), to which Muslims turn at prayer. Kiblah is a direction for prayer, as a sign of unity. However, muslims do not worship the Kaabah, but muslims worship Allah, the creator directly. The Kaabah was built by Prophet Abraham and His son, Prophet Ishmael. Muslims follow the words of Allah in Quran:

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 144:

"We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do." (Quran 2:144)

Malay

Kerap kali Kami melihat engkau (wahai Muhammad), berulang-ulang menengadah ke langit, maka Kami benarkan engkau berpaling mengadap kiblat yang engkau sukai. Oleh itu palingkanlah mukamu ke arah masjid Al-Haraam (tempat letaknya Kaabah); dan di mana sahaja kamu berada maka hadapkanlah muka kamu ke arahnya. Dan sesungguhnya orang-orang (Yahudi dan Nasrani) yang telah diberikan Kitab, mereka mengetahui bahawa perkara (berkiblat ke Kaabah) itu adalah perintah yang benar dari Tuhan mereka; dan Allah tidak sekali-kali lalai akan apa yang mereka lakukan.

I went to the Putra Mosque for volunteering after work yesterday. I had a chance to meet 2 tourists from Sweeden. They asked me, "Can I enter Mecca since we are non muslims?"

My answer is, "You need to be a muslim before you can enter Mecca". Mecca is for the muslims only. It is a place of worshipping, not for tourism. Though Mecca is very historic and large, it can't afford to have billions of muslims worldwide at once. That's why the Saudi government set quota for each muslims from each country to visit Mecca. Logically, it is prioritize to allow the muslims that worship Allah to enter Mecca, rather than those who do not worship Him.

Allah mentioned in the Quran regarding the prohibition:

Surat At-Tawbah (The Repentance), Chapter 9, Verse 28:

Sahih International

O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so let them not approach al-Masjid al-Haram after this, their [final] year. And if you fear privation, Allah will enrich you from His bounty if He wills. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Wise. (Quran 9: 28)

Malay

Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Sesungguhnya (kepercayaan) orang-orang kafir musyrik itu najis, oleh itu janganlah mereka menghampiri Masjid Al-Haraam sesudah tahun ini; dan jika kamu bimbangkan kepapaan, maka Allah akan memberi kekayaan kepada kamu dari limpah kurniaNya, jika dia kehendaki. Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Mengetahui, lagi Maha Bijaksana. 

 Surat 'Ibrāhīm (Abrahim), Chapter 14, Verse 35:

Sahih International

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this city [Makkah] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.(Quran 14: 35)

Malay

Dan (ingatlah) ketika Nabi Ibrahim berdoa dengan berkata: "Wahai Tuhanku! jadikanlah negeri Makkah ini negeri yang aman, dan jauhkanlah daku dan anak-anakku dari perbuatan menyembah berhala. 

 Surat An-Naml (The Ant), Chapter 27, Verse 91:

Sahih International

[Say, O Muhammad], "I have only been commanded to worship the Lord of this city, who made it sacred and to whom [belongs] all things. And I am commanded to be of the Muslims [those who submit to Allah ] (Quran 27: 91)

Malay

(Katakanlah wahai Muhammad):" Aku hanyalah diperintahkan supaya menyembah Allah Tuhan negeri (Makkah) ini yang telah menjadikannya suci lagi dihormati dan yang menguasai segala-galanya; dan aku diperintahkan supaya tetap menjadi dari orang-orang Islam (yang menyerah diri bulat-bulat kepadaNya), -