Non-Muslims in Makkah and Madinah (No Infidels Allowed!)

Arab News ^ | March 4, 2005 | Adil Salahi

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Q. Some people argue that preventing non-Muslims from visiting Makkah and Madinah deprives them of a chance to be impressed with Islam. Some say that they could be informed of the protocols they have to observe and allowed to visit the two mosques. After all, Islam is very tolerant in its attitude to other faiths. Please comment.

Muhammad Asif

A. That Islam is tolerant is beyond doubt. But tolerance and kind treatment of the followers of other faiths does not mean contravening the rules of our religion. The question of prohibiting entry of non-Muslims into Makkah and Madinah is not one on which personal points of view can be voiced. It is a religious matter legislated by God. It is He who says: “Believers, know that the idolaters are certainly impure. So, let them not come near to the Sacred Mosque after this year is ended.” (9: 28) The Prophet explained that this prohibition applies to all non-Muslims. We cannot change a clear divine ruling. Besides, there is no question of trying to impress non-Muslims by allowing them to visit the place. If they want to learn about Islam, they can certainly do so without having to visit a place, because Islam is not about places; it is about one’s relations with God. As for Madinah, the Prophet extended to it the same treatment as Makkah.

[Diogenesis]

[Sender]

Oh shucky-darn. No family vacation in Mecca again.

[Frank_2001]

"Islam is very tolerant in its attitude to other faiths"

ROTFLMAO!!!

[zahal724]

I know, this guy is quite the joker.

[jeremiah]

We should wait until the maximum amount of Mooslims are in the holy cities, then use a neutron bomb and send them to paradise.

[Ready4Freddy]

LOL, except for all the 'xxth most holy place in ALL of islam' boolshiite that we have to hear about....

...because Islam is not about places...

[tet68]

God. It is He who says: “Believers, know that the idolaters are certainly impure. So, let them not come near to the Sacred Mosque after this year is ended.”

So appearently there WAS a time when infidels COULD enter
Mecca and Medina.

[transhumanist]

The only "visit" to Mecca or Medina I would care to make would be from 40,000 feet, with a shiny red button under my thumb.

But that's just me.

[tet68]

I'm waiting for the "Griswold Family Vacation goes to Mecca!"

Can't wait to see what hijinks those zany Griswolds get
into.

[Salman]

So appearently there WAS a time when infidels COULD enter Mecca and Medina.

It was the center of worship of a pre-Muhammad Arabian cult.

[Uncle Miltie]

Very tolerant.

[MindBender26]

> The only "visit" to Mecca or Medina I would care to make would be from 40,000 feet, with a shiny red button under my thumb.

Why waste the time when there is probably a good Spring Training baseball game on satellite TV.

Just do as Hallmark suggested we do for years; "Send the very best..." In this case, the W-88.

[Mark17]

After all, Islam is very tolerant in its attitude to other faiths. Please comment.

OK, I will comment. That is the biggest crock of BS I have seen in many moons.

[Glock17]

Why a Neutron bomb? I'd rather "spread the wealth".

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Observe Islamic dictates, or die infidel dog.

[rdcorso]

Who would want to see a worthless building in a land that meant nothing in the past.Muslims claim that Mecca is the center of Islam and Mohammud's birthplace but history says that's a lie.Mecca is not mentioned once in any of the historical books of that time as it should be if it was the center of the world.The other thing is Mohammud was born over 300 miles away from the city according to historians.Plus the koran is said to be from the lips of the prophet himself except it wasn't written until over 300 years after Mohammud's death.This means there wasn't even a great great grandchild of someone from Mohammuds day that could give personal accounts.

[Cultural Jihad]

Sounds like the adherents of any religion have the right to set their own customs and usages for their own religion, and to expect adherence of same from anyone seeking to be considered as a member in good standing.

[Cultural Jihad]

Plus the koran is said to be from the lips of the prophet himself except it wasn't written until over 300 years after Mohammud's death. This means there wasn't even a great great grandchild of someone from Mohammuds day that could give personal accounts.

Of course, the very same can well be said for the Old Testament. Semitic peoples have traditionally been well-able to recite verbatim long texts or messages they have only heard once.

[RichInOC]

Nice little towns. It'd be an awful shame if somebody airdropped a drove of diarrheic pigs on them...