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May 1, 2006
Cloud-Cuckoo Land: Which Way Shall Muslim Astronauts Pray?
Enter this one in the "Islam is weird" folder: Finding Mecca
As Malaysia prepares to pick its first astronaut, the country's space agency is hunting for solutions to the problems it expects devout Muslims to face while in orbit, such as in which direction to pray.One of the five pillars of Islam requires the faithful to pray five times a day, and to face Mecca, the birthplace of Islam, while doing so. Astronauts aboard spaceships could have difficulty meeting these requirements. "Among the astronaut's needs, if he is a Muslim, are guidelines on performing prayers in space, and other aspects of life according to Islamic principles," Malaysian government official Mohd Ruddin Abdul Ghani told a two-day meeting of scientists and religious experts to thrash out solutions.[...]
Posted by Ruy Diaz at May 1, 2006 2:40 PM
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