# Finding Mecca from Deep Space

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-mecca-from-deep-space/169324>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 17, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-mecca-from-deep-space/169324 "2003-04-17T15:13:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Marvel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marvel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvel)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-mecca-from-deep-space/169324/1 "2003-04-17T15:13:04Z")

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Just a weird, random thought I had while reading today’s column (April 17th). Let’s say you’re a Muslim serving on the Enterprise. Being a devout person, you have to worship facing Mecca, but you’ve gotta figure out which way to point your prayer rug from deep in the Gamma Quadrant. What instrument – existing in real life – would you use to figure that out? And wouldn’t you have to keep changing the rug’s position as you flew from system to system? And wouldn’t that get confusing or frustrating after a while?

And are the food and beverages that comes from the replicaters kosher? I’d think they would be since they weren’t touched while preped.

Okay, enough of the mental spewage.

Patty

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-mecca-from-deep-space/169324/2 "2003-04-17T15:38:32Z")

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This question came up a few weeks ago. Check the archives. There _have_ been Muslims in space, and one apparently tries to avoid ridiculous solutions. I’m sure that a simple practical rule (i.e. – always face the front) would be adopted.

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-mecca-from-deep-space/169324/3 "2003-04-17T16:12:39Z")

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From Cecil’s column regarding the [_qibla_](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/001013.html) , came [this GQ.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=87921)

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**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-mecca-from-deep-space/169324/4 "2003-04-17T18:44:58Z")

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One uses a [Mecca meter](http://marinecomputing.com/products/nav/astro/mecca/info.htm), seriously! 😃