KUALA
LUMPUR, April 19, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – As it
prepares to send its first astronaut to space next October, Muslim
heavyweight Malaysia is seeking answers to important questions on
determining prayer times and the qiblah (direction Muslims take during
prayers).
Some
150 astronauts, scholars, academicians and professionals will come
together on Tuesday, April 25, to find answers to these and other
questions, the official Bernama news agency reported on Wednesday,
April 19.
The
two-day conference will be organized by Malaysia's National Space
Agency (Angkasa).
Sheikh
Muszaphar Shukor, 34, Dr Faiz Khaleed, 26, Eng. S. Vanajah, 35, and
pilot Mohammed Faiz Kamaluddin, 34, have been short-listed to select
the Malaysia's first astronaut.
Two
of the four, who include three Muslims, will be trained by Russia
before one is chosen to participate in the expedition of its spaceship
to the International Space Station (ISS) next October.
Angkasa
Director-General Mazlan Othman said the ISS would circle the earth 16
times in 24 hours (which means there will be 16 daylights and 16
nights a day).
"And
under the circumstances, it would affect Muslim astronauts in
performing their prayers and so on."
Muslims
must face the Ka`bah in the holy city of Makkah while praying and
determining which direction that will be while hovering above the
earth is challenging.
Preparations
Malaysian
Astronomy and Islamic Law Association vice-president Syed Kamarulzaman
Syed Kabeer, also chairman of the coordinating committee, said the
seminar would be the first-ever in the Muslim world to discuss the
question of living in space for Muslim astronauts.
The
two-day meeting will also mull how Muslim astronauts perform ablutions
with water rationing in space and prepare food according to Islamic
standards.
"So
far, Angkasa has not discussed these matters with Russia because the
candidates have not been decided and the needs of Malaysian astronauts
have not been determined," Mazlan said.
"We
have to make preparations to discuss with Russia when the time
comes," she added.
Muslim
Malays comprise about 60 percent of Malaysia’s 26 million people,
while ethnic Chinese and Indians - most of them Buddhists, Hindus and
Christians - make up about 35 percent. The rest are indigenous people
and Eurasians.
The
agreement to send a Malaysian aboard Russian spacecraft was part of a
billion-dollar deal to buy 18 Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets.
Malaysia
has said it was planning to send its first astronaut to the Moon by
2020.
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