Mecca
The mosque of Al-Masjid al-HÌ£arÄm in Mecca surrounds the Kaaba, the place where all Muslims are expected to visit once in their lives (the Hajj) and where they turn towards when praying.
In this picture you can see masses of people around the Kaaba, as millions visit each year it’s usually very busy. Although we’ve featured crowds before this image is different as it’s a Digitalglobe satellite photo, so I believe this is the only example so far where you can see real people on a satellite photograph (previous examples have been aerial photographs).
Also, if you’re not a Muslim then have a good browse around the city of Mecca - it is probably your only chance to as the city is strictly off-limits to people who don’t follow Islam.
Thanks: Stephen Train, Gyorgy Takacs, Babaganoosh, Markus & Faine Greenwood
Wow, there’s a lot of tunnels under the hill to the east and south-east.
Check out that round tent to the east, with a tiny semi parked next to it. That has got to be the world’s biggest tent. I wonder how it’s used?
I was looking at this in Google Maps the other day, and a coworker explained why it’s white… to reflect light and lower the temperature naturally.
Also, there’s supposed to be chilled water pumped under the tiles to further cool the area.
I think that’s rather neat.
I believe this is Mina, the pilgrims’ tent city:
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
And these three objects are the jamarat, where pilgrims are often crushed to death:
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoning_of_the_Devil
Interesting stuff.
From Wikipedia: “Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter Mecca, according to the Saudi embassy in London. Road blocks are stationed along roads leading to the city.”
I’ve been trying to find these road blocks, could this be one?
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
If it’s a road block it’s a pretty fancy one!
you know i really wonder how they know if you’re not a muslim. i mean someone who would really want to go to that city anyways would probably know a lot about it and islam and could probably pass any muslim-proving test, even if they weren’t
I have always wondered that question about Mecca myself….like how they can tell who is a Muslim and who isin’t. Guess it will have to be one of lifes’ imponderables…like why GooglesightSeeing seems to never want to use any of the awesome links I send them!!
Shipwrecks on the coast of Africa, aincient temples in China, etc.
I thought the journey was called a Haji, or maybe thats what you are called when you are on the journey itself…. Regardless the way they know you aren’t a Muslim is because when you set foot inside you are on fire from being struck by lightning from the Holy Man himself.
The traffic pattern is pretty weird over there. I was just cruising along the highway (from the above-mentioned fancy roadblock) and they were empty. So I thought that the city was totally empty, but then again certain streets are totally crowded. Pretty weird. And pretty cool to do some sightseeing!
This looks like a road bloack
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
And here’s another block… the whole city is block… and I wonder… how do they know you’re muslim or not?
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
From what I have heard, the police ask travelers to Mecca to recite some basic passages from the Koran in Arabic, the sort of things most any reasonably devout Muslim will know. Anyone who answers correctly is considered a Muslim and is allowed to enter.
So yeah, you probably could sneak in if you really want to, and you don’t mind flouting Islamic law and insulting the faith of over a billion Muslims worldwide. Or if you don’t mind being struck by lightning from heaven, that might put a crimp on your plans.
Oh yeah, and I’ve heard that a haji is someone who’s made the journey. But It also could be someone who’s on the journey, that would make sense.
Passport and name are two simple identification methods. Several non-Muslim journalists have disguised themselves in the past and it happens every year.
yeah but passport doesn’t say your religion on it
There have been many “infidels” to visit Mecca over the years, it’s just not publicised. Also if you are caught in Mecca and you are not Muslim you will be killed.
This is the Hajj Terminal at Jeddah International Airport where most pilgrims arrive.
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
It was built in the early 1980s by SOM architects in Chicago. It is one of the largest and earliest modern membrane structures.
http://images.google.com/images?hl=bg&q=hajj%20terminal&btnG=Google+%D0%A2%D1%8A%D1%80%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B5&lr=&sa=N&tab=wi
To answer some of the comments here:
> Wow, there’s a lot of tunnels under the hill to the east and south-east.
The Masjid al-Haram (Sacred Mosque) is surrounded by mountains. Some of the tunnels are for vehicles, and others are for large number pedestrians as they make their way from Mina during the Hajj (Pilgrimage).
> From Wikipedia: “Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter Mecca, according to the Saudi embassy in London. Road blocks are stationed along roads leading to the city.”
Not only the city, but the whole area from Medina in the north (approx 600km’s) to Mecca, which is known as the Hijaz, and considered sacred to Muslims. The road blocks serve other purposes, one being to control where the Pilgrims go at which times during Hajj.
> If it’s a road block it’s a pretty fancy one!
Actually it’s not a road block but a huge monument in the form of the Holy Qur’an on a stand crossing the road. I’ve been googling for a pic of it but can’t find one, when I do I’ll post it, God Willing.
> I have always wondered that question about Mecca myself….like how they can tell who is a Muslim and who isin’t.
When applying to perform Hajj, one must usually show a certificate from the local Islamic Authority to gain a Hajj visa, which is different from the normal visa used to enter the rest of Saudi.
> There have been many “infidels†to visit Mecca over the years, it’s just not publicised. Also if you are caught in Mecca and you are not Muslim you will be killed.
It’s true that non-Muslims do find their way into Mecca - who is a Muslim is largely a matter of sincerity between you and your Lord, and it’s not hard to fake being a Muslim if one put some effort into it. As for the death penalty, that used to be the case, but apparently the penalty now is instant deportation from Saudi.
This looks like a target. A couple of 1000 lb JDAMS right here and things will get better. Come to think of it, maybe a low-yield nuclear device would be better.
I always thought the point of religion was to be inclusive and not exclusive; to voluntarily illustrate to others the beauty of your faith and what you believe. Strange how if I were to go to Vatican City, St Paul’s Cathedral, Golden Temple, etc for any other faith, there would be no problem in me visiting and seeing for myself what it is about the faith.
But to exclude all others strikes me as peliculiar. I find it odd that since 9/11, Muslims complain of being isolated and ostrasised by the world when really they choose that for themselves. The world was not divided by faith by the rise of Christianity in the Middle Ages nor by modern US foreign policy, but by the founder of Islam himself, who divided the world into those who are Muslim and non-believing infidels.
I would normally find this hard to believe that those of a different faith would not even be allowed entry into a city, but frankly less surprises me each day.
I apologise if this sounds a little vitriolic, but modern day political correctness is enough to drive anyone insane.
Your passport doesn’t show religion but your internal document or visa to visit Saudi Arabia does. The intrenal document is obvious as the non-muslim (read christian as that is the only other religion allowed) ones are a different colour. You need to specify your religion when applying for a visa.
Look also for the bypass that circles the city so you can proceed around the restricted area and back onto the highway.
>This looks like a target. A couple of 1000 lb JDAMS right here and things will get >better. Come to think of it, maybe a low-yield nuclear device would be better.
Retarded redneck speakth?
can somebody tell me where the “christian bypass” exactly is?
or do sombody know where i can find some pictures or plans? i need it for a project in the university.
thanks
pls any who can give me the picture of new jamrat its urgent
they deny non moslims in general but they don’t go around to find who is and who is not moslim. they expect the visitors to be in mecca for the reason of worshipping the lord. and some non moslims DID visit the holly city of mecca and made a great report about; PETER JENNINGS. the late Peter Jennings who used to work for channel 4 i think.
they ask you to say “Therez no God but Allah and Muhammed(PBUH) is the messenger of Allah” in arabic if u can you’re considered a muslim,and i am sure you can sneak in but what would be the point?
to answer your questions about how do they know you are muslim, most probably they wouldn’t care and wouldn’t ask..but incase they made a checkpoint they will simply ask for your Visa as it will state the purpose of your visit!! by the way, I am saudi
I am assuming that exceptions are made by the authorities for non muslim journalists who wish to cover the Hajj. Is my assumption correct
They don’t none-muslims because the city is already too crowded. Where they are gonna put people when none-muslims show up?