Malaysia sets flexible religious rules for Muslims in space
The Associated Press Published: October 11, 2007 KUALA <http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/11/asia/AS-GEN-Malaysia-Space-Ru\ les.php#> <http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/11/asia/AS-GEN-Malaysia-Space-Ru\ les.php#> LUMPUR, Malaysia <http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/11/asia/AS-GEN-Malaysia-Space-Ru\ les.php#> : The Malaysian government's Department of Islamic Development has prepared religious guidelines for the country's first astronaut, who is spending about 10 days at the international space station this month. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor is the first Muslim to be in space during Ramadan, the Islamic holy fasting month. Here are some of the key guidelines: TRAVELING ETHICS: A Muslim astronaut should "maintain the relationship with Allah ... observe peace with other beings and maintain sustainability of the space environment." PRAYER: Ritual cleansing before prayer can be performed through "dry ablution" striking both palms of one's hands on a clean surface such as a wall or mirror, with or without clean sand or dust. Facing Mecca to pray is encouraged, but facing the Earth or any direction will still do. Praying five times a day can be calculated in a 24-hour duration according to the time zone from where the astronaut was launched in this case, Baikonur, Kazakhstan. For physical postures during prayer, any standing posture will suffice if upright standing is impossible. If not, the astronaut can sit, lie flat or simply imagine the prayer sequence. FASTING: The astronaut can choose to postpone fasting until after returning to Earth. The time of fasting, usually performed from dawn to dusk on Earth, is according to the time zone of the location from where the astronaut was launched. If there is any doubt whether food served is halal, or permissible under Islamic dietary laws, the astronaut can still eat it in order not to starve. IN CASE OF DEATH: The deceased should be brought back to Earth for a Muslim funeral. If that is impossible, the deceased should be buried in space with "a simple funeral process." DRESS CODE: A male Muslim astronaut should be clothed from the navel to the knee, while a female should cover her entire body except for her face and hands below the wrist. <http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/11/asia/AS-GEN-Malaysia-Space-Ru\ les.php <http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/11/asia/AS-GEN-Malaysia-Space-Ru\ les.php> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
