How will Muslims pray in space: Malaysia

[Ulhas Joglekar <joglekarulhas@xxxxxxxx>]

Daily Times
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/

Thursday, April 20, 2006

How will Muslims pray in space: Malaysia
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\04\20\story_20-4-2006_pg7_18

KUALA LUMPUR: How do Muslim astronauts pray in space? Malaysia's National
Space Agency is holding a conference to consider such questions as the
country prepares to send its first citizen into orbit.

A nationwide competition in the majority-Muslim country has narrowed the
field to four astronaut candidates, three of whom are Muslims.

Two will eventually be trained and sent into space by Russia, and Malaysia's
space agency - Angkasa - said it had been scratching its head over how
Muslim rituals could be carried out properly.

Performing ablutions for Muslim prayers with water rationing in space and
preparing food according to Islamic standards will be among the issues
discussed, said Angkasa Director General Mazlan Othman.

"So far, Angkasa has not discussed these matters with Russia because the
candidates have not been decided and the needs of Malaysian astronauts have
not been determined," Mazlan was quoted as saying by the state-run Bernama
news agency.

"We have to make preparations to discuss with Russia when the time comes,"
she added.

The astronaut will also visit the International Space Station, which circles
the earth 16 times in 24 hours, so another thorny question will be: How to
pray five times a day as required by Islam, she said. Working out the
direction of Mecca while hovering above the earth will also prove
challenging.

The two-day Islam and Life in Space seminar will begin next Tuesday,
bringing together 150 scientists, astronauts, religious scholars and
academics.

An official from the Malaysian Astronomy and Islamic Law Association said
that the gathering would be the first time the Islamic world mulled life in
space. AFP

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