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Muslim astronaut in space worship problem | News.com.au
OK, I was thinking of posting it under 'Jokes', but I believe this is real! :scared:
OK, I was thinking of posting it under 'Jokes', but I believe this is real! :scared:
Here's more:HOW do you pray facing Mecca five times a day when you are circling the Earth 16 times every 24 hours?
This is one of the problems facing Malaysian authorities as they prepare to send their first man into space.
There are others: how to hold the prayer position in zero gravity, ensure that only halal freeze-dried food is in your space cupboard and perform your ritual ablutions before worship?
They have all been answered by a team of Islamic scholars and scientists that has spent more than a year working on guidelines for the astronaut.
The Malaysian will travel to Russia's International Space Station in October, in exchange for a lucrative arms deal.
Read more: Muslim astronaut in space worship problem | News.com.au
Freaky shit! :scared:The space station travels around the world at 27,000km/h, making Mecca a target in perpetual motion. With 16 orbits a day and five daily devotion sessions determined by times of sunrise and sunset, devout Muslim astronauts could find themselves chanting their prayers as many as 80 times in 24 hours.
Water is a valuable commodity in space, but Muslims are required to wash before each prayer session.
The holy month of Ramadan also falls during the mission.
All Muslims are required to abstain from food during daylight hours -- but what is daylight in space?
Malaysia insists, however, that maintaining Islamic beliefs "is mandatory for Muslims in every situation, time and place".
Read more: Muslim astronaut in space worship problem | News.com.au