What is the ruling on permanent settlement

The Shaykh : The disbelievers, in the general sense, are not permitted to settle in these lands that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) called the Peninsula,

The questioner : Yes, that is correct.

The Shaykh : Permanent settlement is not permissible, but entering and exiting for trade is permissible, and this is in the interest of the Muslims.

The questioner : It seems to me that I understood from our master, Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him), a fatwa I read in one of the newspapers that he does not permit even the maids who enter, or the experts who come with the status of experts.

The Shaykh : In these lands, of course?

The questioner : It is not permissible.

The Shaykh : Not the Peninsula in general, but the Peninsula in the legal sense.

The questioner : Makkah, Jeddah, and Yemen.

The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.

The Shaykh : And the Gulf states, these are Oman and the Gulf states, and this falls under the meaning we discussed, whether it is included or not, and I do not think it is included, and Allah knows best.

The questioner : If a person stays for six months for a mission, is this considered permanent settlement?

The Shaykh: No.

The questioner : So why do the maids, who may go and come back,

The Shaykh : Go and come back?

The questioner : They come for a year and go, for example, or the foreigners...

The Shaykh : Because realistically, it appears that they live and die there.

The questioner : The objective is non-residence.

The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.

The questioner : I mean, Makkah and al-Madinah are the same, meaning the current situation does not allow them to enter at all.

The Shaykh : What is the current situation?

The questioner : They do not allow them to enter at all, not even for trade.

Another questioner : Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter Makkah

The questioner : Under any circumstances.

The Shaykh : No, no. Makkah has a special ruling. It is permissible to enter al-Madinah because this has occurred, but permanent settlement is not permissible. As for Makkah, they must not approach the Sacred Mosque after that year of theirs.

Another questioner : Regarding the hadith, you clarified to us that this hadith is not a report in the sense that it is not...

The Shaykh : It is legislation, legislation...

Another questioner : Yes, but it is an exhortation and encouragement.

The Shaykh : Correct, and it is so.

Another questioner : The Sacred Mosque is considered the entirety of Makkah, or...

The Shaykh : Sometimes it means the mosque where prayer is performed, and sometimes it means the Sacred Precinct.