Question Summary:
Visiting the Baytullah as a tourist

Question Detail:

I come from a family that is not religious. Can we go to Kaaba only as tourists and not Muhrims and not do Tawaaf around Kaaba? Or will we be sinful for visiting Kaaba not being in a state of Ihram? 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
 
The Ka‘bah is among the sacred symbols of Allah Ta’āla on earth, that demands and deserves ones utmost respect and humility. It is for this reason, a person approaching the Ka’bah has to remove his attire of comfort and don the simple two sheets from the meeqat and recite Labaiyk Allahumma Labaiyk (I am present Oh Allah, I am present).
It is not permissible for person to pass the Meeqat without the Ihram.[1] If he does he will be penalised with the obligation of sacrificing a goat or sheep in the Haram. It is clear from the above that the Ka’bah is not a tourist destination at all. It is a destination of servitude and spirituality. If Allah blesses one with the opportunity of visiting the Ka’bah, that is a great bounty and boon from Allah Ta’āla. Only people that are hand-picked by Allah Ta’āla are blessed with visiting the Ka’bah. Discuss this divine bounty of Allah Ta’āla with your family and encourage them to perform ‘umrah. The fact that you and your family have decided to visit the Ka’bah, is proof enough of your Imān and love for the house of Allah.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Saleem Khan
Student Darul Iftaa
Bradford, UK
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net