The first Muslim astronaut is Sheikh Muszaphar, a Malaysian orthopedic surgeon, and as his time in space will coincide with the last part of Ramazan, the Islamic National Fatwa Council (Malaysia) drew up the first comprehensive guidebook for Muslims in space. In this 18-page guidebook details about issues such as how to pray in a low-gravity environment, how to locate Mecca from the ISS, how to determine prayer times, and issues surrounding fasting are explained. The orbit of the ISS results in one day/night cycle every 90 minutes, so the issues of fasting during Ramazan are also addressed. Sheikh Muszaphar will spend the last four days of Ramazan in space. Fasting while traveling is optional, so Sheikh Muszaphar could choose what he would like to do, but if he did decide to fast in space, the times would be centered around local time in Baikonur, where the launch takes place. Sheikh Muszaphar will celebrate Şeker Bayrami aboard the station, and he packed some cookies to hand out to the rest of the crew on Saturday, October 13, to mark the end of Ramazan.

(translated from an article at www.volkskrant.nl, a Dutch newspaper).

Interesting Trudy, guidebook for Muslims in space.. Hmm, I think I would be more worried about general survival than how to determine prayer times, locating Mecca etc.. I wonder if they have guidebooks for other religions in space. Anyhow, I do understand their good intentions.

muslims dont have their own space station!

.... invading space?

Here's a special holiday song that's been in my head after I got the link from someone! According to the gossip this singer is popular in Turkey these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbIaetu85OM

Bayramınız mübarek olsun
türkleri çok seviyorum

I just wanna express my deep feeling to celebrate you all Happy Bayram and God Bless you all.

Wonderful news
happy Seker Bayram to Sheikh Muszaphar

1. FYI, Christians don't fast. Catholics do a tiny bit of self-deprivation by not having meat on Fridays (nothing compared to Ramadan).
2. Thanksgiving IS NOT a religious holiday. Christmas or Easter is probably similar to Ramadan as far as a big religious holiday.
3. It makes sense given the situation that the guy have a guidebook on how to continue to observe his religion in space. That is an excellent question...how does he find Mecca???

the important thing he will be closer to the MOON!

if I knew femme fatal and her other followers are enough intelligent, I would be very angry coz of their posts. but I know they like to make ppl angry. even if its a religious bairam day or not. Go on ur duty on! when u are in trouble, catwoman will close this forum.

I just posted this text because it was news. And yes, to me extra ordinary news. However, I did not meant to mock.

Sad thing is, we are used to them by now! Even an interesting article like this, about a man going to space, still wanting to practice his religion. They ruin it with their ignorant comments and jokes.

to Badiadancer;

first of all, it is so easy to find the location of mecca from space, with a simple algorithm, everything is known:

1) the latitude and longitude of mecca
2) the speed and direction of space shuttle
3) the speed of the earth around itself and on its orbit

so with a simple mathematical algorithm they can find the direction to mecca

and while i was in austria, thank god i am back now
there was a guy who told me that they also fast for 40 days but the difference is they just drink...

another question, if thanksgiving they is not something religious whats it for? and whom why you thank for at that day?

What I'm seeing here seems to be, in essence, a question of semantics. Prayer is defined in Christianity differently than Islam.

In Islam there is Salat, which is the formally proscribed 5 times a day prayer. It includes a set series of formal steps. One must take formal ablution, find a clean place to make the salat That has given rise to the prayer carpets so loved for their beautiful design. The prayer rug is kept clean so as to offer a Muslim a clean place to make salat. The Muslim then determines the correct position of Mecca and goes through a series of body positions. The body positions help to keep the body flexible and in good health.

In the case some of these are not available, allowances are made. For instance, if one can't bend, they can sit. In these cases reference to a teacher is sought so as to understand how to fulfill one's obligation to the best of their ability.

There is in Islam, also what is called dhua, which is probably closer to what Christians consider prayer. Dhua can take place in any situation and does not include the formality of salat.

SUIGENERIS SAID:
and while i was in austria, thank god i am back now
there was a guy who told me that they also fast for 40 days but the difference is they just drink...

I have never known a Christian or Catholic in the United Stated who has fasted. There...that is more accurate.

another question, if thanksgiving they is not something religious whats it for? and whom why you thank for at that day?

It isn't a Christian holiday. It is an American made up holiday more about giving thanks for what you have in life, you don't have to be any certain religion for that. You don't even have to believe in God to celebrate what is good in your life. The Native Americans involved in the first Thanksgiving were not Christian, maybe they thanked the Great Spirit.

It is my experience that tolerance of others is not about what religion but has to do with the human beings practicing the religion I was harrassed as a child by so-called Christians in Oklahoma. Anyone who isn't like them is "going to hell", they are pretty adamant about that in the South. Baptists and "Assembly of God" churches are well knows for this. Then again, I have met individuals from these types of churches that are very tolerant.

I have definitely had the same experience. My father was raised Baptist and converted to Catholicism before my parents got married. His family didn't agree with this decision, and even though we are all considered "Christians", my mother (and my sister and I)met with non-Christian attitudes from his family. They would always say we weren't going to heaven, and that we worshiped idols. My cousins would even say, "These are my Catholic cousins", How Christian of them!!!

I also encounter it at my job. My boss is "Christian", but judges others and their beliefs if they aren't the same as his. One day at lunch, he was talking about religion, and I stupidly joined the conversation and mentioned that I do not attend church regularly anymore. But I added that I didn't feel that it made me a bad person, or that because he goes to his church regularly that it made him a better Christian. He actually said he felt that he was a better Christian because he attended church regularly. With that statement alone, I think he proved himself wrong. I believe that not being judgemental of others is something that good Christians do. Only God has the final say. He (my boss)does not know what is in my heart or mind. So, unfortunately my experience with self proclaimed Christians has been with narrow minded, close minded, and judgemental individuals, who feel if you don't follow their way, you are wrong.


I mean after all, we are all children of God, no matter what name you call him by.

Yes there is a fasting tradition in Christianity as well. It got a bit lost and forgotten, but lately is being discovered again. Some fast 40 days before Easter, only drinking water and not eating in evenings neither. Some fast for 2 weeks, or one week. So I used to do. Some renounce to sweets, or coffee, or cigarettes in this period, that is their fasting.

I think the reasons for the Christian fasting not being so well known are two:
One there is not a Christian Society which agrees on practising this.
Secondly it is said in the Bible (I am not quoting now, just writin from my memory): You should not put on a sour face while you are fasting and by this way want to show off to everybody. The fasting belongs to God and not to people.

So if you don't see it, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

In greek-catholicism, for eg., there are customs of fasting only on consecrated bread and water also when there is a personal aim, such as self-purification, or healing of a sick person.

Yes, my mother would fast for several days. Not eating or drinking, just praying and giving thanks to God. She will still do this on occasion to give thanks or if she has a special intention she is praying for.

I must say this is one of the more interesting forum topics I have seen!

Thanks elham, I think she is a pretty neat person too.