How does the direction of Islamic prayer vary?

Question

I have read that Muslims are to face in the direction of the Kaaba shrine at Mecca when praying.

If a Muslim is standing on the surface of another planet, I assume he would coordinate his prayers to the times of local solar exposures. Would he prostrate himself on the planetary surface, or would he look to the planet's sky in an attempt to focus on the planet Earth, where the Kaaba is located?

Answer 1

Allah changes his mind...first Jerusalem then Mecca...Allah is not all knowing but he does have better ideas sometimes. Not at all sure why a god would need the option to change his mind but Allah does this often.

Answer 2

Lol, I agree with vinslave, it is a neat question!

Well, although everyone is urged to face the Kaaba during prayer, sometimes that is not always possible. An example of this would be someone travelling, perhaps on a plane or ship where it may frequently change direction. In these cases, it does not matter which direction you pray, just as long as you keep your prayers.

If we were able to colonize another planet, I would assume that the scholars would get together to determine a point of prayer. Probably similar in location to where the Kaaba is located on earth. For example determine the polar locations and find where Mecca would be if it were earth.

Interesting question!

~~~~~~~~
OH! Remember Chronicles of Riddick? New Mecca! Hehe!

Answer 3

Muslims are supposed to face in the direction of Ka'aba (which is in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia), not because they worship the Ka'aba (if this were so it is the single most grave sin a Muslim can commit) but as a way to unite all Muslims five times a day.

I'm not sure about your question if a Muslim was standing on another planet. I think he would just point himself in the direction of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

As an ending note, if you are unaware of which direction is the Ka'aba, you should still perform the prayers. Having the intent to pray is the most important part.

Hope you find your answer.

Answer 4

After that particular landmark is gone forever, will they face the supposed direction of where it once stood?
If on the North Pole, any direction at all someone faces is Direct South. Guess they'd best stay close to town.
Maybe Moe Hamhead believed that the earth was flat, or very, very small. Lots of them did, back then.

Answer 5

just face the earth with the intention to pray to god. as u do when ur travelling and dont know about direction. its all to do with intentions, the directions towards the kaaba has a reason, not becuase we worship the kaaba, but because it unites us all that way and has loads of scientific reasons, and other reasons god only knows.

but i assume, u just face any direction and intend to pray to god, like u do on a plane.

Answer 6

Where ever hes at he has to face Mecca

Answer 7

Hey that's actually kind of a neat question... looking forward to kind, honest answers to it myself... after all NASA's looking to go colonize the moon and Mars, I suspect there might be some Muslims interested, why not?

_()_

Answer 8

well muslims are supposed to be facing east for prayer and the kabah has a wall which has the black stone on it and that stone is in the east side of the kabah and we're supposed to be facing that stone. thats what i heard from some pple

Answer 9

Depends on the time you live in. If you lived in Muhummad's time, before the Jews rejected him, you would pray towards Jerusalem. Afterwards, you're supposed to pray towards Mecca. You can crap towards Jerusalem, but not towards Mecca.

Answer 10

Which other planet my dear sir...