# Muslims in space **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [October 13, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844 "2000-10-13T21:47:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chance_the_Gardener)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844/1 "2000-10-13T21:47:21Z")
I’ve long wondered about the direction where Muslims in a spot east of Mecca would pray. With Indonesia having so many Muslims for so long, I was sure someone would have worked that out by now. I’m impressed that the solution is so precise. This answers most of what I’ve wondered about vis-à-vis Muslims’ prayer on Earth. But this still makes me wonder: when the first devout Muslim heads into space, how will the issue of facing Mecca be addressed then? Or has someone already figured that one out, too? ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2000, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844/2 "2000-10-14T01:48:24Z")
There is an active thread about the direction to Mecca in General Questions: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=41385](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=41385) The issue of a Muslim in space is mentioned. Someone claimed that a Mulsim has already been in space, and was told he could face any direction. Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![Loren\_Pechtel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@Loren\_Pechtel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loren_Pechtel)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2000, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844/3 "2000-10-15T01:46:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chance the Gardener \* > \*\*This answers most of what I’ve wondered about vis-à-vis Muslims’ prayer on Earth. But this still makes me wonder: when the first devout Muslim heads into space, how will the issue of facing Mecca be addressed then? Or has someone already figured that one out, too? \*\* ``` Oh, boy, *BIG* problem. Even if you had a computer to tell you what direction (certainly possible), it wouldn't do you any good--by the time you finished your prayers, it would be the wrong direction. I guess no good moslem can go to space. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2000, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844/4 "2000-10-15T02:18:38Z")
That one’s easy. How about a hard one, like a Muslim on a Tilt-A-Whirl? ---
**Author:** ![Bareedy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bareedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bareedy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2000, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844/5 "2000-10-15T17:16:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by slythe \* > \*\*That one’s easy. How about a hard one, like a Muslim on a Tilt-A-Whirl? \*\* Oh my god! I laughed so hard I almost fell of the chair! ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2000, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844/6 "2000-10-16T16:00:44Z")
Thank you for posting your comment. Please include a link to Cecil’s column if it’s on the straight dope web site. To include a link, it can be as simple as including the web page location in your post (make sure there is a space **before** and **after** the text of the URL). Cecil’s column can be found on-line at this link: [How do Muslims know which way to face when praying? (13-Oct-2000)](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/001013.html) * * * moderator, «[**Comments on Cecil’s Columns**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1)» ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844/7 "2000-10-17T21:07:43Z")
I suspect that a Muslim in space would face nadir (down). As long as he/she’s facing Earth, that would be close enough. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844/8 "2000-10-17T21:09:08Z")
The more important question is how does the Muslim kneel and bow in free fall orbit? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844/9 "2000-10-17T23:42:17Z")
At what time would said Muslim pray would also be an object of consideration. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844/10 "2000-10-18T00:12:47Z")
**Olentzero** : Spacecraft have traditionally been on UTC (Universal Coordinated Time), so the time of prayer isn’t all that big a deal. The direction is, though, and I have no idea about that. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844/11 "2000-10-18T00:25:11Z")
Damn conservatives, sure, all us commies look alike to you. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-space/36844/12 "2000-10-19T20:43:37Z")
[What time do the astronauts use in space?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/muniversaltime.html) and the [ensuing discussion](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=36125) [dangit, I’m not supposed to mess up links anymore!]