Muslims in Space: Observing Religious Rites in a New Environment

Abstract

The first men to fly into space precipitated comments about religion and God, but for most of the history of human spaceflight these comments related to Christianity. As International Space Station partners recruit spacefarers from Islamic countries, they face new religious challenges. Islam is distinct from other large monotheistic religions by virtue of the fact that Muslim worship practices require routine attention to Earth geography and astronomy. It is a vantage point that changes in low Earth orbit. Recent Muslim astronauts and cosmonauts have led the way in adapting religious practices to their position above the Earth.

Notes

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Ibid., 800.

Ibid., 803.

Ibid., 795.

Religious observances in space include those practiced by American astronauts, including reading from the Old Testament book of Genesis from the Apollo 8 spacecraft and Buzz Aldrin's decision to take communion while on the surface of the Moon. These observances are discussed in other articles in this special issue of Astropolitics.

“Guidelines for Performing Islamic Rites (Ibadah) at the International Space Station,” Islamic Workplace blog, http://makkah.wordpress.com (accessed November 2012).

“NASA Official Backed after Saying Outreach to Muslims is a Priority,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 7 July 2010, http://search.proquest.com/docview/613789213?accountid=46638 (accessed January 2013).

See The Shanghai Cooperative Organisation, http://www.sectsco.org/EN123 (accessed January 2013).