By: MuslimVillage
Source: MuslimVillage
When in 2007 Malaysian astronaut, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukoor, was to travel to space he asked Muslim scholars about the prayer (salat). Shukoor was not the first Muslim in space nor the first to pray in space but the result of his question was the coming together of 150 Muslim scientists and scholars under the auspices of the Malaysian space agency to answer his questions. Their consensus became a fatwa that was approved by Malysia’s National Fatwa Council.
The Muslim World Journal gives the following summary of that fatwa which is available in full from their website:
“Regarding facing Makkah they said there are four options:
- Face the Kaaba on the land (which will move relative to the ISS)
- Face the projection of the Kaaba in the sky
- Face the Earth
- Face anywhere
…with regards to standing, bowing and prostrating, they simplified the matter saying that he can do whatever is possible in a space suit, even if that means praying without any movements or lying down – something very helpful to know at zero gravity! The focus, of course, being the worship as opposed to trying to achieve what may be extremely difficult or dangerous.”
Those scholars ruled that fasting times, like those of the prayer, should be determined by the timing of the place of launch.
Shukoor was therefore able to continue his ritual worship even in space.
What about the future of Muslims in space?
There can be little doubt that with continued advances in technology and plans for Mars landings that Muslims will likely continue to be involved in space travel. If that turns out to be feasible and productive, and the Earth survives long enough with us on it (and elsewhere!) then it is only a matter of time before inter-planetary jurisprudence emerges indicating that the human potential for faith, like our potential for technology, can be taken to greater and greater heights. Whatever the outcome we pray that Allah accept the efforts of the Umma and blesses us in them.