Associated Press
Star City, Russia – Among the things Malaysia’s first astronaut will be worrying about next month: how does an observant Muslim pray toward Mecca while soaring hundreds of miles (kilometers) above the Earth?
Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, 35, is one of three people who will blast off aboard a Russian-built Soyuz space craft next month en route to the international space station. Shukor – along with Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson – was officially approved for his mission Thursday by a Russian space flight commission.
They blast off from the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Oct. 10.
Speaking at a news conference at Russia’s cosmonaut training center at Star City, on Moscow’s outskirts, Shukor said during his 10 days in space, he hoped to perform life science and other research, but said also he would not ignore the responsibilities of his faith while soaring some 220 miles (350 kilometers) up.
“I do agree, that I am a Muslim, I am Islamic, but my main priority is more of conducting experiments,” he said.
“As a Muslim, I do hope to do my responsibilities, I do hope to fast in space,” he said.
After months of discussion and two international conferences, the Islamic National Fatwa Council came up with guidelines as to how Muslim astronauts should observe daily rituals. The rules were published in 12-page booklet titled “Muslim Obligations in the International Space Station.”
Observant Muslims are required to turn toward Mecca – located in Saudi Arabia – and kneel and pray five times a day. However, with the space station circling the Earth 16 times a day, washing one’s face and hands, and kneeling in zero gravity to pray – or facing toward Mecca for that matter – makes fulfilling those religious obligations more difficult.
Malaysia’s National Fatwa Council ruled that Muslim astronauts will not be required to kneel to pray if the absence of gravity makes it too hard, nor will they have to wash with water – a simple wet towel will do.
Facing Mecca while praying will be left to the “best abilities” of the astronaut, the council said.
Adding to the difficulties is the fact that the launch coincides with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan – when Muslims are expected to fast from dawn until dusk. The fatwa decided the fasting may be postponed until returning to Earth.
Other exceptions include allowing simple silent prayer if performing physical rituals would be impossible.
Shukor will return to earth Oct. 20 along with two members of the station’s current crew – cosmonauts Fyodor Yurchikhin and Oleg Kotov.
Malenchenko and Whitson will remain aboard and be joined later in the month by astronaut Daniel Tani, arriving with the next U.S. shuttle Discovery.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Beliefnet
Advertisement
posted September 20, 2007 at 5:14 pm
“how does an observant Muslim pray toward Mecca while soaring hundreds of miles (kilometers) above the Earth?”
Wait ’til you see Arabia below you, and talk fast—the thing is going what, 18,000 mph?
Incidently, I assume Mr. Shukor is the first Muslim in space? Let’s see, we’ve had Christians and Jews, and most of the Russians were probably atheists…I wonder when India or Tibet will build a space shuttle.
God bless.
posted September 20, 2007 at 6:55 pm
But if you count Astral Travel, pagans were the first.
posted September 20, 2007 at 7:13 pm
OH, NightLad! That was just wonderful!
posted September 20, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Oh yeah? The monotheists were going up there thousands of years ago too:
“As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” 2 Kings 2:11
God bless.
posted September 20, 2007 at 9:37 pm
It would be easy to ridicule this, and I may possibly get to that later, but he and the fatwa committee seem to be making reasonable efforts to do what they think needs to be done while he does what he’s being sent up there to do, so I’m inclined to just congratulate them a bit.
And it would be sooo neat to be up there!
posted September 20, 2007 at 9:40 pm
It’s good to see the Maylasia National Fatwa Council used good sense in how they instructed the astronaut to carry out his religious duties. Especially holding the fasting until he returns to earth, also praying with his mind and inner-sight when it isn’t possible to physically carry out his kneeling to pray to Mecca.
posted September 20, 2007 at 9:40 pm
So what would a muslim do outside of the solar system?
How does a muslim pray on some planet in a farway galaxy?
Lena
posted September 21, 2007 at 12:07 am
“So what would a muslim do outside of the solar system?”
That would just make it easier. Pray toward earth; the difference between directions toward different parts of earth would be insignificant (at least in a practical sense, if not a religious sense).
posted September 21, 2007 at 10:01 am
This conundrum would have made an excellent subplot for a Star Trek episode – especially in conjunction with a similar or parallel dilemna with one of the other races/beings-from-another-planet. Anyone know if a sci/fi author has tackeld this situation?
posted September 21, 2007 at 3:22 pm
And what if earth has been blown away in some galactic war?
Yeah great Star Trek episode but it would probably be banned. Wasn’t there another sci fi show where Earth had been? I guess no muslims survived to fight.
Lena
posted September 21, 2007 at 3:40 pm
“This conundrum would have made an excellent subplot for a Star Trek episode – especially in conjunction with a similar or parallel dilemna with one of the other races/beings-from-another-planet. Anyone know if a sci/fi author has tackeld this situation?”
Not specifically… but, in the “Dune” series, there are frequent references to a religious group that is suspiciously close to the Islamic faith… this being thousands of years in the future… interesting reading at the least. If I remember correctly, and interpret correctly, basically two groups remained in existence, though both highly modified… the Islamic and the Catholic faiths…
Don
posted September 21, 2007 at 10:32 pm
“And what if earth has been blown away in some galactic war?”
There’s a question for a theologian! You might say there’s no direction to which to pray, or you might pray toward the expanding nebula of matter that was once earth, including Mecca. Or some Muslims might spend billions of credits (most common future currency, I think) finding which way the piece containing Mecca went.
posted September 22, 2007 at 12:20 am
I have, in part answered my own question. There is a website that has all sorts of sci/fi religion correlations. In fact I have on my own shelf an overlooked book (don;t tell my wife, she constantly declares I have far too many already) called The Crescent in the Sky, by Donald Moffitt, part of a series (out of print) called The Mechanical Sky. It is about a Moslem presence on a colanized palnet. Now I’ll have to read it.
Meanwhile, my advice to the astronaut is to pray toward earth. Given the distance and speed, it is sure that Mecca will be by or nearby soon enough. I expect Allah, who is everywhere, will understand and allow for some adaptations.
There are a multitude of references to religon in sci/fi – in print, video, and film. Some authors sepcialize in that specific genre. There are about 2 shelves of books from this genre in my collection (I’ve told my wife they are work related – so they are safe for now) I have a few favorite Star Trek episodes that tackle some aspect of the issues. And don’t get me started on Star Wars and several other TV series like Babylon 5 or Firefox.
OK, I’m off toic somewhat. BUT, I am also interested in Clergy detectives like Father Brown. Blackie Ryan, Rabbi Small, and Brother Cadfael. One detective type I have not found yet is an Imam, but I keep trying. I think Islamic folks do not share our orientation toward speculative or crime fiction. Perhaps there may yet be a Moslem author who does tackle spiritual fiction in these genres. I would love to find that and add their worls to my collection (don’t tell my wife – please!!)
posted September 25, 2007 at 11:40 am
Greetings. The exceptions made by the Fatwa Council are consistent with the legal exceptions which have always existed for the Muslim traveller. Lack of available water, lack of space, combined and shortened salah, postponed fast are all legally consistent. I assume he will pray based on the times for his homeland rather than his personal proximity. Shukor will not be the first Muslim in space either. There have been a few, the first being a Saudi pilot back in the late 1980s/early 1990s. I believe there was even a wealthy Muslim woman from Central Asia.
As for Islam and Sci Fi, apparently there has been a great deal of fiction combining the two for many years. The book/movie Dune had Muslim culture intertwined with a Sci Fi storyline. Pitch Black/Chronicles of Riddick were recent famous sci fi movies intertwining sci fi and Muslim characters. According to my wife, an avid reader, most of such writing comes from British sci fi writers. Quite frankly, it appears that Islam and Muslims in outspace has been theme of Sci Fi for many years. Of course the American Star Trek has been the least inclusive. BTW, did you know the actor who played the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine doctor is actually a Sudanese Muslim, son of a Sudanese diplomat?
posted September 25, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Usama,
great response. I did know about the Dr. on board Deep Sapce Nine – and heard him speak quite well about the integration of themes from Islam and Star Trek. I am curious about Riddick (I have not read the book or saw the movie) – is the Muslim character positive, as in protagonist, heroic, wise? Dune borrowed so many things from so many places that I can see easily the Moslem themes as well.
posted September 27, 2007 at 6:15 pm
jestrfyl,
the Imam in the two riddick films is a supporting character with a good alignment, almost an exact opposite to riddick who is the anti-hero. the Imam is also the wiseman, sort of the obi-wan kenobi of the film.
in the first film (pitch black), the Imam and his three sons were in the Haj pilgrimage to a planet known as new mecca. it is not known of what has happened to earth. there were a few instances of Islamic prayer as well as ablution using soil/dust. since they crashed on a distant planet, the prayer was performed in a circle rather than in a line. i assume this is to illustrate they’re praying towards the sky (general up direction). not much instances in the second film (chronicles of riddick).
dune, in my opinion, is not exactly about the muslim culture, but more on the arab/middle eastern culture.
posted October 14, 2007 at 10:04 am
Alhamdulillah, it is GREAT to balance things around our life especially physical progress and spiritual progress as everything in the world is created with certain balance between the pairs eg spiritual vs. physical (Please refer early Surah al – Rahman).
Thus, for us Muslims, we believe that the spirituality is developed and strengthened through obliged religious duties plus, the optional ones..and more, to ‘install’ in the Explanatory System of our PSYCHE that the spirituality quality dominates the limited physical ability and possible to release the body some from its limits as understood from the Prophetic History like his consistent ‘Tahajud’ (night vigil) purpose which reflects this facts (please refer the early part of Surah al – Muzammil for proof on this matter).
So, the issue on Muslim’s Duty of Praying on space station is a very relevant discussion to guide the Malaysian Astronaut as he is a Muslim guy, even more with a ‘Sheikh’ title in front of his name ie means he is related to or got root from the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. But mainly, the importance of this ‘Ibadat’ (Worship) guide is the possible spiritual benefits especially to buffer the stress level of the Muslim Astronaut having an unusual experience in his journey to Interntional Space Station (ISS) and staying there for we human beings are feeble and having in mind and soul, there is a Supreme Power above all to protect in this rare human experience, should make him stronger within and helps a lot psychologiocally .
I am proud to live in a multi-everything community which able to respect each other’s lifestyle especially faith orientation and value this aspect high albeit our aim to attain more challenging scientific achievements as a developing nation. Personally, I agree with and support the efforts from Malaysian goverment especially JAKIM to consider up to this point about the Islamic aspects (especially on Ibadah) of the astronaut as a Muslim in the space.
Alhamdulillah, Dr S. Muszaphar Shukor also always concerns about his duties as a Muslim although the challenge is tough to stay consistent with his Muslim identity having to live with colleagues whose faith orientations differ. I pray to Allah that he will succeed to potray a genuine Muslim scientist identity and attitude in all his life and in every aspect of his self especially as a Key Role Model to this future leaders generations in Malaysia. Amin.
Personally, I approve his Akhlak (Ethics) he consistently shows on TV/Media especially his humbleness. Well, apart from Shariah, other two dimensions ie Aqidah and Akhlak are also to be considered no matter where a Muslim lives or stays in this universe. The UNIVERSE is an idea a Muslim is well ‘installed’ since a infanthood, well, enough to empower this ideology through the very early verses in Surah al – Fatihah the very first Qur’anic Chapter: “Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘Alamin” – All the Gratitude Belongs to Allah the Owner of the Universe.”