Mecca in 1953 and 2025

[u/hipatyhopity]

[u/hoopstick]

How do they enforce that? Quran quizes at the checkpoints?

[u/HistoricalSpeed1615 → u/hoopstick]

Usually when you go for hajj it’s through agencies or organisations which are supposed to vet you. Of course, it isn’t some strictly enforced thing

[u/NobleK42 → u/HistoricalSpeed1615]

And now you can visit on a regular "tourist" visum outside of the hajj period, so I think technically it is now fairly easy to sneak in.

[u/Webbyx01 → u/hoopstick]

Uniroically, yes. At least to some degree they did in the past. They questioned Malcom X's knowledge to make sure he was a true Muslim, but it happens very far from this particular bit of Mecca.

[u/Low-Hovercraft-8791 → u/hoopstick]

It's not enforced in any meaningful way.

[u/BigBootyHunter → u/hoopstick]

As a man, without the proper pilgrim attire called an ihram you can't get close to the Kaabah. They don't quizz you, they just ask you if you're a pilgrim.

[u/Optimal_scientists → u/hoopstick]

I went a good few years ago and it was pretty lax tbh. At that point you had to go through a travel agency (language barrier and no airbnb/booking.com) so I guess technically they vet you but there wasn't a test or anything, jsut kinda trust that you are. I've seen a few non-muslim travel youtubers go there and no one seems to mind.

[u/Hefty-Pension-4057 → u/hoopstick]

personally when I went for umrah by driving in from jeddah there were no checks whatsoever