Archive for October 2007
Prayer in Space? Malaysian Muslim Astronaut
“I am not sure how it would be done but I will share my experiences
(with) all the Muslims all over the world when I get back,” Sheikh
Muszaphar Shukor wrote in his Web journal before launching into
space. “After all, Islam is a way of life and I am quite sure I
would not face much difficulties.”
Malaysian is first Muslim in space during Ramadan, vows to follow
Islamic rituals
The Associated Press
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
—–
Up-to-date day by day news from the Malaysian media:
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A Malaysian surgeon became the first Muslim
to reach space during the holy fasting month of Ramadan on
Wednesday, vowing to Islamic rituals even while hurtling around the
earth at 17,000 mph (27,500 kph).
“I am not sure how it would be done but I will share my experiences
(with) all the Muslims all over the world when I get back,” Sheikh
Muszaphar Shukor wrote in his Web journal before launching into
space. “After all, Islam is a way of life and I am quite sure I
would not face much difficulties.”
Sheikh Muszaphar, along with one astronaut each from Russia and the
U.S., lifted off in a Soyuz spacecraft from Baikanour in Kazakhstan,
en route to the International Space Station, where he will spend
about 10 days.
Reaching the station will take the spacecraft two days, a period
coinciding with the last days of Ramadan, when Muslims are required
to fast from dawn to dusk.
Sheikh Muszaphar, 35, is taking vacuum-packed Malaysian food —
including skewered chicken, banana rolls, fermented soybean cakes
and ginger jelly — to mark Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan this
weekend, in space.
A handsome bachelor who has become a national heartthrob, the
Malaysian orthopedic surgeon is not the first Muslim in space. But
he is the first Muslim to go during Ramadan, which had initially
presented a dilemma about fulfilling religious duties such as
fasting, kneeling for prayers in zero gravity or facing Mecca as the
devout must do.
Praying the prescribed five times during each day-night cycle — on a
craft circling the globe 16 times in one Earth day — would have
meant praying 80 times in 24 hours. Also, it is virtually impossible
to face Mecca continuously during prayer while traveling at about
17,400 miles (28,000 kilometers) an hour.
Before prayers, Muslims are required to wash their hands, feet, face
and hair — a luxury on the Soyuz, where water is so precious that
even sweat and urine are recycled.
To get around these problems, 150 Malaysian scholars, scientists,
and astronauts brainstormed and published an 18-page booklet of
guidelines for Muslim astronauts.
If Sheikh Muszaphar follows the guidelines, he can forgo fasting
while in space and make up for it when he returns to earth. He can
pray three times a day instead of five, and facing Mecca is not to
be taken literally. He just has to face Earth, and if that’s not
possible any direction will do.
On Earth, Muslims follow a sequence of praying positions — stand,
bow, kneel. In zero gravity, astronauts need simply stand. If that’s
difficult, then they may pray either sitting or lying down, the
guidelines say.
The ritual washing before prayer is not necessary and “dry ablution”
will do, according to the booklet.
Sheikh Muszaphar’s religious duties in space have hardly been an
issue in Malaysia, where his journey is being hailed as a national
triumph befitting a rapidly progressing country that hopes to become
part of the developed world by 2020.
The US$25 million (€17.7 million) agreement for a Malaysian to fly
to space was negotiated in 2003 with a US$900 million (€637 million)
deal for Malaysia to buy 18 Russian fighter jets.
The launch was broadcast live on Malaysian television networks,
watched by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who had earlier
attended special prayers for the mission’s success.
“This is a truly historic moment for all Malaysians,” King Mizan
Zainal Abidin, the constitutional monarch, said in a statement.
Sheikh Muszaphar will experiment in space with microbes of tropical
diseases and with proteins for a potential HIV vaccine, and to study
the effects of microgravity and space radiation on cancer cells and
human genes.
Sheikh Muszaphar’s parents watched the liftoff from an observation
area in Baikanour, praying and in tears.
“I’m happy for my country, for Russia, for the United States and
everybody,” said his father, Sheikh Mustapha Shukor.
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Eid Mubarak!
On behalf of the writers, we’d like to wish you a wonderful Eid!
May Allah Accept our Iba’daah!
May Allah Accept From Us and From You!
Islam and Women
Diamonds And Pearls
The following incident took place when Muhammed Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that are not modest. Here is the story as told in detail by one of his daughters:
When we finally arrived, the chauffer escorted my youngest sister, Laila, and me to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.
My father took a good look at us. Then he sent me down in his lap and said something I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down and in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You’ve got to work hard to get them.”
He looked at me with serious eyes. “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.”
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I love this story, Its so beautiful and simple. Mashallah may allah help all the sisters in this world who strive in the path of allah and help all the ones who are lost and guide them to the path of allah.
Advice to Women:
-Abdullah Zain
Road to Perfection: Prayer and Wudu
I get it.
You can’t stop talking to girls.
You can’t stop listing to Music.
You can’t start volunteering
You can’t stop spending money
You can’t stop going out to the clubs.
“To Change The World, You Must First Change Yourself”
May Allah help you with all of these but, if you want to change, you have to start by taking the first step.
Get on the Road To Perfection.
Step One: Make the Niyah to Change and lets go!
First Stop: Prayer and Wudu
Wudu
Prayer Part One
Continue on for more videos and Articles.
Inshallah Next Stop: Al-Siyam
-Abdullah Zain
