A non-Muslim Indian delegation has been granted entry to the Saudi Arabian holy city of Madina Munawara in an unusual act of diplomacy.
Leading the non-Muslim Indian group was Smriti Irani, the Minority Affairs Minister for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday for an official two-day visit.
The Hindu delegation went to see Masjid Quba, the earliest mosque ever built by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and Masjid Nabawi (SAW), located atop Uhud Mountain.
Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter Makkah or any area of the revered city of Medina. Penalties for trying to enter include fines and maybe deportation. Thus, the delegation headed by Iran is the first non-Muslim party to enter the city and tour Islamic landmarks.
Irani requested the visit, and the Saudi authorities approved it with special authorization. Minister of State for Parliamentary and External Affairs of India V Muraleedharan was also present in the delegation.
Notably, Nirupama Kotru, a Kashmiri Pandit IRS officer serving as a joint secretary in the Indian Ministry of Minority Affairs, was among the women in the group in addition to Irani.
The delegation’s two female members strolled around in Shalvar-Kameez and Sari without covering their heads. Bindiya was also worn by Smirti on her forehead. The state minister was dressed in a saffron Kurta and an off-white Dhoti, as is customary for men in India. A collage of pictures from Irani’s trip to Madina Munawara was shared on X by the former artist, who portrayed Tulsi in the Indian soap opera Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.
embarked on a historic journey to Madinah, one of the holiest places in Islam, which included stops at the mountain of Uhud, the Quba Mosque, the earliest mosque in Islam, and the perimeter of the mosque built by the renowned Prophet, Al Masjid Al Nabwi. The importance of Saudi officials’ travel to these locations, which is entwined with the early history of Islam, highlights the breadth of our spiritual and cultural exchange.
