Geographic Poles, Travels and Religious Rituals

Flame_Master

Hello All,
I am new to this forum, in posting part at least, I have been stalking here and reading articles for sometime now. I guess these questions might have been discussed before (If it was, then I hope the mods delete the thread rather than banning me...).

I happen to stumble upon this video of Yusuf Estes from Huda TV from the Youtube of a member on this forum
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO6Z9R2-2gk&feature=plcp

Now although some of his questions shed light to his careless/poor knowledge of Qur'an (Subjective to my opinion), a point he makes did quite surprise me and its about "What if someone say X is at the South Pole and he is a Muslim and he wants to pray? (When he has no prayer time tables as well)"
Now I believe, due to the hardships involved following what the Qur'an says about "sun-timings" and prayer one can pray (but that means 5 prayers a year?)
What about the Qiblah? (I guess the even though all directions are north from south pole, there is a specific north that is closest to Qiblah?)

Now what will X do about Ramadan?
By 2184 I suppose one is exempted from fasting in his Antarctic expedition, he may arrange righteous duties using phone or something I imagine..

Here is an interesting answer I found from someone in a forum, interesting because I am skeptical whether his claims are true since his way of writing is bothering me (subjective non-logical conclusion)
http//www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4124&p=20853&viewfull=1#post20853

Another scenario I came across is a flight from London to Japan through India (I am imagining this, I dunno if there's even such a course of its practical from considerations from Spherical Geometry and geodesics). Now if a person boards this flight and is due for a prayer how will he pray?
Since there are the dual questions of changing time zones changing and Qiblah changing!
Now I understand one can turn in prayer to correspond to Qiblah (however ridiculous that sounds!) but what are the rulings of prayers during such journeys in general - other than perhaps to shorten it!

I would like to have thoughts and possible answers (or answers themselves) to these kind of questions

Peace be with all of you
Flame Master )

Wakas

peace,

Perhaps first proving the assumptions in your questions would help, e.g. that there is one specific physical prayer direction in Quran. Is there?

Or perhaps reading Quran to find the answers, e.g. 2185 "...so whoever witnesses among you the shahr so should abstain therein...". If you do not witness the shahr, then...... ?

Similarly, in regards to salat, perhaps finding a verse with a salat timing involving the sun that is in the plural address will help establish your premise. Is there?

Flame_Master

Thought provoking reply , I am not an Arabic speaker, just know how to read and write so that also means I need to now go look up verses I've taken for granted...

perhaps reading Quran to find the answers, e.g. 2185 "...so whoever witnesses among you the shahr so should abstain therein...". If you do not witness the shahr, then...... ?

Hmmm...I guess if you code this instruction in a computer it would go poop because I never programmed a - "No abstain" if "No Ramadan"(I am using translations found online P).
In human terms it means free will then? As in I can chose whether to abstain or not?

As for the Salat and Prayer Direction, I need to look further then...
btw, Thanks for a really great reply
Peace

Flame_Master

Okay, I'm stumped! I cannot unplug myself to solve the question of "a common direction of prayer"!
Now "assuming" the historical records given here are true "http//free-minds.org/where-was-mohammed" (Since I saw similar evidence in "some other christian site" and was stumped),
Then this could also mean that the ancient people understood Qibla as focal point for prayer as well! Which then could be their mistake, perhaps they just did it for their zealousness in preserving the "focal point" but actually it was not needed!
I do not know, and of what I do not know I cannot conclude, God knows best. I am just in need for some kind of solid answers here (I know my assumptions are not very sensible either - still) -\

Wakas

Being stumped or not having the answer is not a big deal, just means more study and time is required. Let us know what you find.

youssef4342

Peace be with you as well.
don't let it bother you, if you don't know something keep looking and praying for an answer.
I personally accept that the Forbidden/Sacred Masjid is the one in Mecca....From where i am, i can in either direction.

Take a sphere, tilt it 21 degrees, put a sewing pin (with a thread) relatively where you are, then put a pin where the Forbidden/Sacred Masjid is, you now have a direction to face.
I never tried this, but hey....
God knows best,

Flame_Master

Peace youssef,
I stumbled on to Yusuf Estes's response through your video channel (I believe you already knew that )

I personally accept that the Forbidden/Sacred Masjid is the one in Mecca....From where i am, i can in either direction.

Is there a thread here that discusses this issue? Are there any discrepancies in the archaeological evidence he gives? (Because I happen to see the same arguments in a christian site other than the one in that article a while back in time)