Because in space nobody can hear you… pray?
Malaysian Islamic body rules on how to pray, wash and die in space – physorg.com: Two Malaysian candidates, a doctor and an army dentist who are both Muslims, are undergoing training in Russia with the winner expected to be announced on Friday, ahead of the 11-day space mission which starts on October 10.
Other Muslims have ventured into space, but none during the fasting month of Ramadan which began last week, and Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM) is hopeful the astronaut will choose to fast during his voyage.
Because the space station circles the Earth 16 times a day, theoretically a Muslim would have to pray 80 times a day while staying there.
But the guidelines stipulate that the astronaut need only pray five times a day, just as on Earth, and that the times should follow the location where the spacecraft blasted off from — in this case, Baikonur in Russia.
Will it is a good thing these issues are considered and dealt with I doubt it will be of practical value during a space mission.
“..should eat just enough to ward off hunger”. Is all very fine, but I think that the cosmonaut is expected to perform (test/experiment/do lab work/exercise) in space, which he can’t do when undernourished
#1 – don’t fool yourself. I’ve lived in a number of Muslims countries and this far from a real fast. It’s more of a time shift. They refrain from eating (drinking, smoking, sex) during the hours from dawn to dark. They break their fast at sundown, usually with dates or other fruit, then proceed to have a major meal a couple of hours later. They typically will eat again before bedtime and wake up before dawn for another meal. No one goes hungry. I assume he’ll follow the same clock as for prayers. Besides, the fast is optional for travellers – space travel seems sort of like the definition of travelling….
#2 – the fast also includes WATER.
They don’t brush their teeth. The fasting Muslims.
Muslims obey and pray God everywhere: on Earth, in Space. The rulings may vary depending on the situation. Haven’t you heard the pro basketball, football players keeping their fast even during training and games?
Who gives a shit what they do. Islam, just like most organized religion, is just a bunch of bullshit.
does anyone else think its a bad idea to let a member of a crazed religion in space?
This is just stupid! If their religion interferes with their work, they should be scrapped from the mission….. They can practice their religion in their own time. And in what direction are they supposed to pray 😉
Hmm…. I think that those who trust their lives to science would be a lot better off reading science books than reading mythology. After all, what would you rather do if there’s a problem? Pray or fix it. Perhaps we could sacrifice a couple of goats (yes, I know, different religion) whenever a shuttle needs repair. But, I’d rather think that the astronauts will actually fix the problem.
#6 – tallwookie,
That means you’re going to be selecting all astronauts from the pool of 800 million non-theists on the planet. I’m not saying that’s a bad idea. But, it does narrow the pool a lot.
What they fail to mention is that there’s no way to face Mecca is outer space! This proves conclusively that Islam is a plagiarized religion, not a revealed one.
Seems to me if you are facing the earth you are facing Mecca? Course who knows where Mecca was 1000 years ago? No absolute direction in this spinning universe.
You’d be facing Mecca for a split second at most bobbo. It takes about 20 minutes for a Muslim to pray, some spacecraft orbit the entire earth in that time.
This is going to be handy when we nuke ’em into space.
#6 – does anyone else think its a bad idea to let a member of a crazed religion in space?
Yes… I propose only atheists be allowed to be astronauts.
@#6: Seems we let Catholics into space, so how is letting a Muslim into space any different?
-A
shouldn’t this have all been covered in the Koran? what? they didn’t know one day they would be in space?
Prayer-direction and timings and such things must already be well-sorted out as Muslims are seated on 12 hour world-wide flights, or living in total daylight or total darkness above the Arctic circle.
My question is:
If you are at the exact opposite side of the Earth from Mecca (Makkah al-Mukarramah, Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah), can you face in any direction and still be officially facing the holy city? Or might facing East, towards the direction of sun rise, take precedence?
I’ll assume facing straight down towards the actual direction of Mecca is not an option. Though perhaps it is in space or at very high altitudes??
RBG
I give a shit because…..?
16 Canucklehead: I’d bet dollars to baklava, that the answer to your question is that this and all other such questions have already been anticipated and the answers exist in the Qur’an waiting to be correctly interpreted by the pure of heart.
RBG
18 Sounds The Alarm. Because there are over a billion Muslims on this planet who would like to be your friend except for the ones that want to take over the world and kill you.
RBG
Actually RBG there’s different schools of thought on how you face Mecca even on earth, eg should you face along the straightest line or the shortest line. You can buy various Mecca compasses!
And again the point is that in orbit you simply can’t face Mecca or anything like it long enough to complete the prayer.
>>Muslims obey and pray God everywhere: on Earth, in Space.
Yeah, unless they’re wealthy ones away from home, then the money flows faster than Manischewitz on Simchat Torah for the hookers, the liquor, the trannies, the drugs….
21 Milo. What do you mean the straightest line vs shortest? Are you referring to straight through the Earth? On its surface, a great circle would be both the straightest and shortest. Put a tight string on a globe from your location to Mecca. That string travels such a route. That said, it wouldn’t surprise me that figuring out “qibla” is a little more complicated than anyone might first think.
As I mentioned, millions of disoriented jet-flying Muslims have dealt with the problem of Mecca-praying for more than half a century. Space is nothing new in that regard.
But space must be an interesting challenge especially if you are on the moon and Earth is directly above you or Mecca is in plain sight from the space station.
RBG
#16 – when was the last time you heard of christians (any denomination) kerploding themselves in an attack?
Its a horrible idea to send ANY muslims into space – and if you dont see why, then you’re a moron
http://tinyurl.com/37c69p
Malaysia has a “Department of Islamic Development”?!
Allah help us all.
24 tallwookie. When was the last time you heard of a Muslim Astronaut driving across Florida peeing in a diaper and charged with attempted murder?
Or does the logic go: scores of people claiming to be Muslims commit suicide bombings therefore all of the billion or so Muslims will naturally open the space station hatch given the opportunity?
RBG
>> Tallwookie
Islam isn’t a crazed religion.
How many Muslims have you known? I’ve known hundreds and met thousands — the typical Muslim is no more — or less — crazed than any one else.
(BTW — I’m not a Muslim. I happen to be an evangelical Christian.)
28–What is “crazed” in your view? Anything outside of “anyone not in direct communication with god who blows themselves up in his name?”==ie, any other examples?
“I’m not a Muslim. I happen to be an evangelical Christian.”
You both reminisce about the good ol’ medieval days I’m sure!