How to perform traditional salat in space?
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Recently I read an article in the newspaper about Chris Austin Hadfield, a Canadian Astronaut. He used to orbit our earth in about 90 minutes i.e. 16 times in 24 hours. It means there will be
about 16 fajar (rising of sun) and gharoob (setting of sun) times. How many times we have to establish salah in such situations in the light of Al-Quran? -
This is where similar logic to fasting comes into play.
People near the poles have to accept that fasting dawn till dusk is impossible so have to copy the time of somwhere more sensible, some places don't even get dark at all.
In regards to praying in space, you would base it on your routine. Although you might be spinning round the planet in 90 minutes but living a 24 hour routine. Either base your timings on where you lived on earth or the ground base you took up from.
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Yes, because floating around with barely any gravity would be the most ideal time to perform a physical ritual...
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With regard to the regular/timed salat, the only plural address I am aware of is 2458, which doesn't strictly mention movement of the sun. However one could infer it is twice daily, morning and evening, whenever one's morning and evening was.
And with regard to sawm/abstinence 2185 says "...so whoever among you witnessed the shahr, then let him abstain it...". Thus one may wish to consider what if one does not witness it.
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With regard to the regular/timed salat, the only plural address I am aware of is 2458, which doesn't strictly mention movement of the sun. However one could infer it is twice daily, morning and evening, whenever one's morning and evening was.
And with regard to sawm/abstinence 2185 says "...so whoever among you witnessed the shahr, then let him abstain it...". Thus one may wish to consider what if one does not witness it.
Thanks Wakas
How about 1778 wherein sun is mentioned.(
So traditional ritual namaz is linked to sun. Can we overrule a Quranic command with human agreements?
Or salah is not ritual namaz? -
This is where similar logic to fasting comes into play.
People near the poles have to accept that fasting dawn till dusk is impossible so have to copy the time of somwhere more sensible, some places don't even get dark at all.
In regards to praying in space, you would base it on your routine. Although you might be spinning round the planet in 90 minutes but living a 24 hour routine. Either base your timings on where you lived on earth or the ground base you took up from.
Thanks Mikebloke
Regarding fasting please see brother Wakas's reply.
What is your understanding of 1778 where salah is linked to sun.?
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Establish prayer at the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night and the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed. -
My hay penny worth,
I think its all about getting people to work group
saum(fasting) is also linked to shamas(sun) , maybe saum isn't fasting and shamas is not the sun.
There are countries where you have six months of daylight and night.
2185
activities heinous/bad/unscrupulous/vain was in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). whoever among you witnesses such an activity should abstain it??..what is salaat???
4102
When thou (O Messenger) art with them, and standest to lead them in prayer, Let one party of them stand up (in prayer) with thee, Taking their arms with them When they finish their prostrations, let them Take their position in the rear. And let the other party come up which hath not yet prayed ?Here the the commander talks about the tactics of war?..of course at other times you talk about other matters , so people can perform better.In the advanced countries performance is increased by working together by way of consultaion.
But saying that nothing wrong by fasting and doing Salaat if one ......
hmm
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Peace,
It fascinates me that people always need to follow things so literally. If you have no space or time then simply glorify and bond with God on a frequent basis, i.e. whenever you need Him and whenever you wake up from resting or before resting. Even if you are in outer space you are still bound to a physical body that is designed to require sleep.
God bless you
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Recently I read an article in the newspaper about Chris Austin Hadfield, a Canadian Astronaut. He used to orbit our earth in about 90 minutes i.e. 16 times in 24 hours. It means there will be
about 16 fajar (rising of sun) and gharoob (setting of sun) times. How many times we have to establish salah in such situations in the light of Al-Quran?Peace Novice,
In space you are involved in a different set of circumstances. Astronauts when in orbit are basically floating in
space around the earth, therefore the normal ritual salat in such abnormal circumstances would be very difficult
because standing on the floor without floating would be a great if not an impossible challenge. Reflection and
dua'a would be good alternatives in such a situation.God bless
peace
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No east nor west is virtuous; our 'sujud' to His Command upon our RUH is salat, for only such prostration to Allah brings us His Salam that embraces us from the right and from the left that marks the end of the salat.
It's 2177, the contex is for people who dispute about where is Qibla.
And the answer is 2115 which said if God's face is in anywhere both in east or west.But for the salat circumstance, we cannot create our own methods, because the God already gave us the scheduled times (kitaban mawqutan).
4103 And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times (kitaban mawqutan)
Peace be with you
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It's 2177, the contex is for people who dispute about where is Qibla.
And the answer is 2115 which said if God's face is in anywhere both in east or west.
Peace be with youPeace, 2177 and 115 are not connected to salat. Any reference to salat in those ayats?
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Peace, 2177 and 115 are not connected to salat. Any reference to salat in those ayats?
I'm still studying it, whatever Qibla in the Quran related to salat or not
Refer to 2115 or another verses indeed Qibla means vocal point, pointing on where the God lies.2177 Piety is not to turn your faces towards (qibala/qibla) the east and the west
because
2115 And to God belong the east and the west, so wherever you turn, there is the face of God. God is Encompassing, Knowledgeable.
This is my current understanding.
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My qiyas (qiyas only. I'm neither an analyst of fiqh nor can I issue a fatwa) would be the following, in the end Allah knows the best.
- Regarding position/method of salah
Rules of handicapped or disabled person applies to an astronaut. Perform salat however possible.
2.Time of salah
All their daily activities are divided by 24h period regardless of their days being only about 90 minutes. For ISS for example, they follow times of (at least) both Houston,Texas,USA and Moscow,Russia. The way I see it, they have about 16 opportunities a day for each salat (16 times for one fajr in 24h, 16 times for one zuhr in 24h and so on). I think this is the fundamental concept that's debatable.
So choose 12am of Houston or Moscow to count your 24h period. Perform fajr at when it seems dawn from ISS. One has to be very quick for fajr as s/he gets only about 2 minutes. Then at the same or different 90 minute cycle, perform zuhr at appropriate time from ISS (not Earth time). The time duration of zuhr and asr (also maghrib and isha) may be considered as one (like the day of Arafah) for convenience.There are some situations in outer space that I can't even imagine a solution for. Would things be different if one orbits the Earth east to west (sunrise would be from the west and sunset in east)? What about for long distance journeys in outer space, for example 3 day journey to moon or 6 month journey to Mars? What should be the rule of fasting up there?
- Regarding position/method of salah
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My qiyas (qiyas only. I'm neither an analyst of fiqh nor can I issue a fatwa) would be the following, in the end Allah knows the best.
- Regarding position/method of salah
Rules of handicapped or disabled person applies to an astronaut. Perform salat however possible.
Are there any such rules in the Quran? Do we perform or establish salah?
2.Time of salah
All their daily activities are divided by 24h period regardless of their days being only about 90 minutes. For ISS for example, they follow times of (at least) both Houston,Texas,USA and Moscow,Russia. The way I see it, they have about 16 opportunities a day for each salat (16 times for one fajr in 24h, 16 times for one zuhr in 24h and so on). I think this is the fundamental concept that's debatable.There is no mention of 24 hour period for salah.
11114
Sahih International
And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.1778
Sahih International
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night and the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.So choose 12am of Houston or Moscow to count your 24h period. Perform fajr at when it seems dawn from ISS. One has to be very quick for fajr as s/he gets only about 2 minutes. Then at the same or different 90 minute cycle, perform zuhr at appropriate time from ISS (not Earth time). The time duration of zuhr and asr (also maghrib and isha) may be considered as one (like the day of Arafah) for convenience.
There are some situations in outer space that I can't even imagine a solution for. Would things be different if one orbits the Earth east to west (sunrise would be from the west and sunset in east)? What about for long distance journeys in outer space, for example 3 day journey to moon or 6 month journey to Mars? What should be the rule of fasting up there?East is the place of rising of the sun so it does not matter which direction you are going.
2258
Sahih International
Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord because Allah had given him kingship? When Abraham said, "My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death," he said, "I give life and cause death." Abraham said, "Indeed, Allah brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up from the west." So the disbeliever was overwhelmed , and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.I leave it to your qiyas brother.
Rules of fasting can be a different topic.
Brother see my replies in red above.
- Regarding position/method of salah
