Fatwa: # 17415
Category: Misc. Fiqh
Country: United States
Date: 15th January 2009

Title

If and when space travel does become a possibility for mankind and Muslims may travel into space as part of research or for travel, what is the correct way to pray?

Question

If and when space travel does become a possibility for mankind and Muslims may travel into space as part of research or for travel, what is the correct way to pray? Should it be toward the most general direction to the kaba anywhere in the Universe? Or say they are on the surface of the moon and it is fajr time, but they are not on the right side of the moon and they are in the opposite side, what is the prescribed method to pray?

Answer

Your curiosity and interest in the Shariah is praiseworthy. However, it would be an exercise of futility on our behalf to answer an irrelative and hypothetical question. If and when the time comes when Muslims travel into space, we will delve into the possible answers.  

 

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Ml. Yusuf bin Yaqub,
Student Darul Iftaa

Darul Iftaa

DISCLAIMER - AskImam.org questions
AskImam.org answers issues pertaining to Shar'ah. Thereafter, these questions and answers are placed for public view on www.askimam.org for educational purposes. However, many of these answers are unique to a particular scenario and cannot be taken as a basis to establish a ruling in another situation or another environment. Askimam.org bears no responsibility with regards to these questions being used out of their intended context.
  • The Shar's ruling herein given is based specifically on the question posed and should be read in conjunction with the question.
  • AskImam.org bears no responsibility to any party who may or may not act on this answer and is being hereby exempted from loss or damage howsoever caused.
  • This answer may not be used as evidence in any Court of Law without prior written consent of AskImam.org.
  • Any or all links provided in our emails, answers and articles are restricted to the specific material being cited. Such referencing should not be taken as an endorsement of other contents of that website.
The Messenger of Allah said, "When Allah wishes good for someone, He bestows upon him the understanding of Deen."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]