# mecca and medina **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 15, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mecca-and-medina/234451 "2004-03-15T16:34:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kad271](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/278dde/32.png) [@kad271](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kad271)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mecca-and-medina/234451/1 "2004-03-15T16:34:21Z")
I read on many websites that only Muslims are allowed to enter Mecca and Medina. How do they check if you’re really a Muslim? I doubt they have membership cards. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mecca-and-medina/234451/2 "2004-03-15T20:28:57Z")
Non-muslims have been known to get through. One famous 19th Century writer went to Mecca wearing local garb, though I disremember who it was at the moment. I suspect if you have a beer belly, a mullet, and an “I’m with stupid” t-shirt, you might be politely asked to leave. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mecca-and-medina/234451/3 "2004-03-15T20:34:07Z")
The 19th century writer you refer to is probably Sir Richard F. Burton. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mecca-and-medina/234451/4 "2004-03-15T21:14:21Z")
It was Burton. A description of his pilgrimage can be found here: [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1853Burton.html](http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1853Burton.html) ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mecca-and-medina/234451/5 "2004-03-15T22:49:43Z")
A previous thread on this topic, closed because it got heated, is [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=138033). The requirements for a U.S. Resident to get a Hajj visa are found on the [Saudi Embassy Website](http://www.saudiembassy.net/Travel/Hajj.asp). ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mecca-and-medina/234451/6 "2004-03-15T23:41:38Z")
**Cecil Adams** on [Has any non-Muslim ever made the pilgrimage to Mecca?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010608.html) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mecca-and-medina/234451/7 "2004-03-16T00:56:48Z")
Do they still kill you if you’re a trespasser? ---
**Author:** ![Spezza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Spezza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spezza)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mecca-and-medina/234451/8 "2004-03-16T02:11:28Z")
The question is not whether non-Muslims are allowed to participate in the Hajj, but rather if they are allowed in Mecca or Medina at any time. According to “Lonely Planet” Saudi Arabia does not accept normal tourists. You can get a two day pass if you can prove you have to stop-over there during your travels; not easy I assume. You can get a visitor visa if your sponsored by a citizen or company; again I would presume it to be rather difficult. Though converting to Islam is easy enough, just recite the Shahada in the presence of a Muslim, then you could apply for a Hajj Visa, though you would probably stick out like a sore thumb once there. “Lonely Planet” says that joining an organized tour can get you into Saudi Arabia; though who wants to join an organized tour? I’d rather convert.