A Guideline Ibadah At Iss

1|Page

A Guideline of Performing Ibadah at the International Space Station (ISS)*

2|Page Table of Contents

3|Page DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION a. Ibadah Ibadah in this guideline include the way of istinja’ (washing-up or cleansing oneself from all the najas-filth (dirt/waste) from the private parts, i.e. after urination or defecation), determining the prayer time and the direction of Qibla (the direction faced when praying), praying, fasting, caring of the deceased and others. b. Space Refers to space beyond the atmosphere of the earth. c. Al-Maqasid Al-Syariah Prioritization in Islam in safeguarding the purity of the religion, mental, life, property and offspring of mankind. d. Tayammum Refers to the dry ablution in Islam using clean sand or dust, which may be performed in place of ablution, only if water is not readily available. e. Halal Refers to anything permissible under Islamic law, in contrast to haraam, which is forbidden. f.

Aurat

Refers to the part of the body that must be covered for the sake of basic decency under the Islamic law.

4|Page 1. OBJECTIVES A Guideline of Performing Ibadah at International Space Station (ISS) is prepared by Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) as a reference for Muslim astronaut in performing ibadah at the ISS. With this guideline, Muslim astronaut is aspired to be focusing on their research at space and at the same time performing their obligations as a Muslim. Other than that, it also guide on how to fulfill the ‘al-maqasid al-syariah’ in any situation.

2. INTRODUCTION 2.1

Issues on ‘Performing Ibadah in Space’ were being arisen in conjunction

with the announcement from the government on Jun 2003, to send the first Malaysia’s astronaut to the ISS. 2.2

Since the possibility of sending a Muslim astronaut to the ISS was

apparent, lots of opinions and suggestions have been proposed by academicians and others regarding the issue of performing ibadah in space (at the ISS). 2.3

Issues on how to do istinja’ (washing-up), determining prayer time and

the direction of Qibla, performing solat (prayer), defining time of fasting, caring for the deceased, and others, have brought concern within the Muslim community. 2.4

In conjunction with that, ‘Seminar on Islam and Living in Space’ had been

organized by the National Space Agency (ANGKASA) in collaboration with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) on 25- 26 April 2006 for the purpose of identifying related issues in performing ibadah in space (in particular at ISS) based on Islamic perspective, and more importantly proposing solution on them.

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PERFORMING IBADAH AT ISS Performing ibadah at ISS includes:

3.1

Istinja’ (washing-up) Istinja’ means cleaning of the private parts after relieving onself. Istinja’ is by using wipes/tissues which are available at the ISS. Rules of making istinja’:

i.

Using pure, not sacred material

ii.

Using a solid material

iii.

Using a dry, non-slippery material

iv.

Using not less than 3 pieces wipes/tissues

v.

Before the najas (filth) dries

vi. 3.2

Before the najas (filth) spreads

Cleansing Oneself

i.

Cleansing from minor impurity (ablution) Cleansing from minor impurity is by tayammum or dry ablution. This could be done by striking both palms of hands on a clean surface auch as wall or mirror of the ISS (even without dust).

ii.

Cleansing from major impurity Cleansing from major impurity is the same way as in 3.2 (i).

3.3

Determining the Direction of Qibla Qibla direction is based on what is possible, prioritizing as below:

3.4

i.

The Ka’aba

ii.

The projection of Ka’aba

iii.

The Earth

iv.

Wherever

Determining the Prayer Time The daily five prayer times is defined in a 24 hour duration (equals to 1 Earth day) following the time zone at which port the astronaut is launched (in this case, Baikonur, Kazakhstan).

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Praying

i.

Daily prayers could be performed in Jamak (combined) and Qasar (shortened), without the need to Qadha’ (compensate) the prayer.

ii.

The performance of the physical postures (such as standing, bowing and prostrating) is to suit the conditions in ISS, prioritizing as follows: a. If upright standing is not possible, then any standing posture, b. Sitting. Bowing is by bringing down the chin closer to the knee or the prostrating place, c. Lying down on the right side with body facing the direction of Qibla, d. Lying flat e. Using the eye lid as an indicator of the changing of postures in prayer,

f. Imagining the sequence of prayer. 3.6

Fasting

i.

Fasting can be performed at the ISS or Qada’ (compensate) on the Earth (in the month of Ramadhan)

ii.

The time of fasting according to the time zone of the location at which the astronaut is launched.

3.7

Caring of the Deceased i.

The deceased need to be brought back to Earth for normal funeral process.

ii.

In the case the former is not possible; the deceased should be buried in space with a simple funeral process.

4

OTHER RELATED ISSUES

4.1

Food If there is doubt on whether the food served on ISS it is halal or not, it is then permissible to eat the food on the basis of not to starve.

4.2

Dress code

7|Page A Muslim astronaut need to cover his aurat where: a. Aurat for male is from the navel to the knee. b. Aurat for female is the entire body except for her face and hands below the wrist. 4.3

Musafir (Traveling) ethic i. According to Islam, traveling to space is encouraged. ii. A Muslim astronaut needs to observe traveling ethics which are: a. To maintain the relationship with Allah SWT b. To observe peace with other beings

c. To maintain sustainability of the space environment. 5.

CONCLUSION It is the hoped that this guideline could assist the Muslim Astronaut to ensure the success of the mission and at the same time attaining the redha (pleasure) of Allah SWT.

______________________

*The International Space Station (ISS) is a research facility currently being assembled in space. The station is in a low Earth orbit and can be seen from Earth with the naked eye: its altitude varies from 319.6 km to 346.9 km above the surface of the Earth (approximately 199 miles to 215 miles). It travels at an average speed of 27,744 km (17,240 miles) per hour, completing 15.7 orbits per day. The ISS is a joint project between the space agencies of the United States (NASA), Russia (RKA), Japan (JAXA), Canada (CSA) and several European countries (ESA). The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB, Brazil) participates through a separate contract with NASA. The Italian Space Agency similarly has separate contracts for various activities not done in the framework of ESA's ISS works (where Italy also fully participates). China has reportedly expressed interest in the project, especially if it is able to work with the RKA. The Chinese are not currently involved, however. The ISS is a continuation of what began as the U.S. Space Station Freedom, the funding for which was cut back severely. It represents a merger of Freedom with several other previously planned space stations: Russia's Mir 2, the planned European Columbus and Kibo, the Japanese Experiment Module. The projected completion date is 2010, with the station remaining in operation until around 2016. As of 2007, the ISS is already larger than any previous space station. The ISS has been continuously inhabited since the first resident crew entered the station on November 2, 2000, thereby providing a permanent human presence in space. The crew of Expedition 15 are currently aboard. The station is serviced primarily by Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft and by U.S. Space Shuttle orbiters. At present the station has a capacity for a crew of three. Early crewmembers all came from the Russian and U.S.

8|Page space programs. German ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter joined the Expedition 13 crew in July 2006, becoming the first crewmember from another space agency. The station has, however, been visited by astronauts from 14 countries. The ISS was also the destination of the first five space tourists.