Punishment for Non-Muslims for entering to Makkah and Madina

Traffic boards instructing diversion for Non-Muslims: If you are a Muslim you must have driven to Makkah and Madina and seen the traffic boards instructing diversion for Non-Muslims.

If you are a Non-Muslim and have driven near to Makkah or Madina, you must have seen these boards near the checkpoints of Makkah and Madina. Embassies of Non-Muslim countries also teach their citizens to not to enter Makkah as it is strictly prohibited in Saudi Arabia.

Why are Non-Muslims not allowed to enter the Makkah and Madina? Now a question will be arising in your mind why are Non-Muslims not allowed to enter the Makkah and Madina? What can be the punishment if Non-Muslims actually enter Makkah or Madina? The answer is given below.;

Actually, this is the decision of Allah as he stated in the Holy Quran “Oh you who believe! Truly the polytheists are unclean; so let them not, after this year, approach the Sacred Mosque” Quran 9:28.

Muslims strictly follow the teachings of the Holy Quran and this is the reason Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter to the Makkah and Madina. Muslims have been criticized for this but I don’t think there should be any criticism of this issue. Islam is not the only religion to stop the non-followers to enter the sacred places.

Islam is not the only religion which restricts access: I know of one major (“Christian”) group that restricts access to any area of worship. The LDS (Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ) “Monmons” restrict access to their major “Churches” to members in good standing. The local worship centers are open to anyone.

There are around 9 Hindu Temples in India where Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter. It should be kept in mind that people of any other religions are allowed to enter into any Masjid of the world except Makkah and Madina.

It is a security issue: In Islam, non-Muslims are only barred from entering Makkah and not Madina as mentioned in Surah Tauba in the Quran. During the time of the Holy Prophet and later during the Guided Caliphate after the death of the Prophet, many ambassadors from non-Muslim states came to Madina.

However, the barring of non-Muslims from entering Madina is a security issue since Madina is also a sacred place and faces similar security threats from some terrorists as Makkah.

Every country has its own rules and people from other countries should not intervene in those rules. The rules have been made and implemented according to the circumstances and situations existing in the country.

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