# Non-Muslims are not allowed into Mecca: How do they check? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 24, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-muslims-are-not-allowed-into-mecca-how-do-they-check/638721 "2012-10-24T12:53:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-muslims-are-not-allowed-into-mecca-how-do-they-check/638721/61 "2012-10-27T15:31:30Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > But the poor women who were sleeping in an airport terminal for days were probably impoverished - otherwise why would they have been sitting in an airport terminal for days? It’s either that or arab anti-black racism, which I admit is huge in Saudi, but I choose to hope (perhaps foolishly) that they are not racist towards people doing the hajj. Maye they had millions of dollars but simply couldn’t get the money out of their country. That happens all the time, according to my email. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-muslims-are-not-allowed-into-mecca-how-do-they-check/638721/62 "2012-10-27T16:24:14Z")
I’m surprised that no one has linked to these two previous threads: > **[is going on hajj pilgrimage now an expected life event for all Mideastern...](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=628146)** > > given the cheap short range airplane tickets nowadays, can pretty much everybody in the Middle East and Egypt afford to save up money for the hajj? Or are there large groups of people there who don’t expect to ever do the hajj because of minimal... > **[A question about Hajj](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=634435)** > > I’ve done a fair amount of traveling, but there are some places I’ve never been and would like to go. Mecca would certainly be one. Assuming for the moment that I undergo a philosophical and religious conversion to Islam tonight, what steps would... It’s simply impossible, given the limited size of Mecca, for more than about a fifth (or a tenth or a twentieth, but we argue about the exact number in those threads) of all the Moslems in the world to ever go on a hajj. ---
**Author:** ![mirtaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@mirtaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mirtaus)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-muslims-are-not-allowed-into-mecca-how-do-they-check/638721/63 "2013-12-07T10:15:13Z")
\*Police Checkpoints are located around the city of Makkah . \*Foreigners obtain a special visa generally known as an Umrah visa.This is only given to muslims. \*Expatriates residing in Saudi Arabia legally are issued a residence permit (Iqama) .This document also mentions your religion. \*People entering Makkah need to provide these documents if asked by the authorities at the checkpoints. \*Almost all Saudi citizens are Muslim so if asked they need to provide their I.D’s. The police don’t usually inspect all cars , they may do so randomly. While checks are stricter during the month of Hajj. The Quran places restrictions on the entry of Non-Muslims to the Grand Mosque only. The Saudi government has placed it on the entire city. This may be because Makkah attracts millions of pilgrims throughout the year , allowing tourists would stress the infrastructure further and interfere with the pilgrimage. For more information. : > **[Why Are Only Muslims Allowed to Visit the Holy City of Mecca?](https://www.learnreligions.com/makkah-muslims-only-2004315)** > > Mecca is an ancient and holy city of the Islamic faith where Prophet Muhammad was born, so why aren't non-Muslims allowed to visit? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-muslims-are-not-allowed-into-mecca-how-do-they-check/638721/64 "2013-12-07T10:39:18Z")
Just in time for all the Muslim zombies to shamble on over for a hajj! Thanks \*\*mirtaus \*\*🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-muslims-are-not-allowed-into-mecca-how-do-they-check/638721/65 "2013-12-07T12:39:55Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > That would disqualify at least half of all muslims. And a good portions of the other half as well, especially those in Central Asia and parts of the Far East. Please explain, are you saying that many Muslims are uncut? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-muslims-are-not-allowed-into-mecca-how-do-they-check/638721/66 "2013-12-07T16:27:53Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > They could just check your junk to see if it’s been skinned. What if you don’t have any junk to check? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-muslims-are-not-allowed-into-mecca-how-do-they-check/638721/67 "2013-12-07T16:30:46Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > Please explain, are you saying that many Muslims are uncut? I’m guessing AK84 was referring to the fact that half the Muslims in the world are women. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-muslims-are-not-allowed-into-mecca-how-do-they-check/638721/68 "2013-12-07T18:17:05Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m guessing AK84 was referring to the fact that half the Muslims in the world are women. In the first part of his sentence. However, in the second part he implies that he is referring to many man as well (“the other half”). ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-muslims-are-not-allowed-into-mecca-how-do-they-check/638721/69 "2013-12-07T18:54:27Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > Are there any Muslim ninjas? 😉 [Hashashins](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassins). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-muslims-are-not-allowed-into-mecca-how-do-they-check/638721.md?page=3)