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A Guideline of
Performing Ibadah at the International Space
Station (ISS)*
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Table of Contents
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DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

a. Ibadah
Ibadah in this guideline include the way of istinja’ (washing-up or cleansing
oneself from all the najas-filth (dirt/waste) from the private parts, i.e. after
urination or defecation), determining the prayer time and the direction of
Qibla (the direction faced when praying), praying, fasting, caring of the
deceased and others.

b. Space
Refers to space beyond the atmosphere of the earth.

c. Al-Maqasid Al-Syariah
Prioritization in Islam in safeguarding the purity of the religion, mental, life,
property and offspring of mankind.

d. Tayammum
Refers to the dry ablution in Islam using clean sand or dust, which may be
performed in place of ablution, only if water is not readily available.

e. Halal
Refers to anything permissible under Islamic law, in contrast to haraam,
which is forbidden.

f. Aurat
Refers to the part of the body that must be covered for the sake of basic
decency under the Islamic law.
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1. OBJECTIVES

A Guideline of Performing Ibadah at International Space Station (ISS) is prepared

by Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) as a reference for
Muslim astronaut in performing ibadah at the ISS. With this guideline, Muslim
astronaut is aspired to be focusing on their research at space and at the same
time performing their obligations as a Muslim. Other than that, it also guide on
how to fulfill the ‘al-maqasid al-syariah’ in any situation.

2. INTRODUCTION

2.1 Issues on ‘Performing Ibadah in Space’ were being arisen in conjunction

with the announcement from the government on Jun 2003, to send the first
Malaysia’s astronaut to the ISS.

2.2 Since the possibility of sending a Muslim astronaut to the ISS was
apparent, lots of opinions and suggestions have been proposed by academicians
and others regarding the issue of performing ibadah in space (at the ISS).

2.3 Issues on how to do istinja’ (washing-up), determining prayer time and

the direction of Qibla, performing solat (prayer), defining time of fasting, caring
for the deceased, and others, have brought concern within the Muslim
community.

2.4 In conjunction with that, ‘Seminar on Islam and Living in Space’ had been
organized by the National Space Agency (ANGKASA) in collaboration with the
Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) on 25- 26 April 2006 for
the purpose of identifying related issues in performing ibadah in space (in
particular at ISS) based on Islamic perspective, and more importantly proposing
solution on them.
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3. PERFORMING IBADAH AT ISS

Performing ibadah at ISS includes:

3.1 Istinja’ (washing-up)

Istinja’ means cleaning of the private parts after relieving onself. Istinja’
is by using wipes/tissues which are available at the ISS.

Rules of making istinja’:

i. Using pure, not sacred material
ii. Using a solid material
iii. Using a dry, non-slippery material
iv. Using not less than 3 pieces wipes/tissues
v. Before the najas (filth) dries

vi. Before the najas (filth) spreads

3.2 Cleansing Oneself

i. Cleansing from minor impurity (ablution)
Cleansing from minor impurity is by tayammum or dry ablution.
This could be done by striking both palms of hands on a clean surface
auch as wall or mirror of the ISS (even without dust).

ii. Cleansing from major impurity

Cleansing from major impurity is the same way as in 3.2 (i).

3.3 Determining the Direction of Qibla

Qibla direction is based on what is possible, prioritizing as below:
i. The Ka’aba
ii. The projection of Ka’aba
iii. The Earth
iv. Wherever

3.4 Determining the Prayer Time

The daily five prayer times is defined in a 24 hour duration (equals to 1
Earth day) following the time zone at which port the astronaut is launched
(in this case, Baikonur, Kazakhstan).
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3.5 Praying
i. Daily prayers could be performed in Jamak (combined) and Qasar
(shortened), without the need to Qadha’ (compensate) the prayer.

ii. The performance of the physical postures (such as standing,

bowing and prostrating) is to suit the conditions in ISS, prioritizing
as follows:

a. If upright standing is not possible, then any standing posture,

b. Sitting. Bowing is by bringing down the chin closer to the knee
or the prostrating place,
c. Lying down on the right side with body facing the direction of
Qibla,
d. Lying flat
e. Using the eye lid as an indicator of the changing of postures in
prayer,
f. Imagining the sequence of prayer.

3.6 Fasting
i. Fasting can be performed at the ISS or Qada’ (compensate) on
the Earth (in the month of Ramadhan)
ii. The time of fasting according to the time zone of the location at
which the astronaut is launched.

3.7 Caring of the Deceased

i. The deceased need to be brought back to Earth for normal funeral
process.
ii. In the case the former is not possible; the deceased should be
buried in space with a simple funeral process.

4 OTHER RELATED ISSUES

4.1 Food
If there is doubt on whether the food served on ISS it is halal or not, it is
then permissible to eat the food on the basis of not to starve.

4.2 Dress code

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A Muslim astronaut need to cover his aurat where:

a. Aurat for male is from the navel to the knee.
b. Aurat for female is the entire body except for her face and
hands below the wrist.

4.3 Musafir (Traveling) ethic

i. According to Islam, traveling to space is encouraged.
ii. A Muslim astronaut needs to observe traveling ethics which are:
a. To maintain the relationship with Allah SWT
b. To observe peace with other beings
c. To maintain sustainability of the space environment.

5. CONCLUSION
It is the hoped that this guideline could assist the Muslim Astronaut to
ensure the success of the mission and at the same time attaining the
redha (pleasure) of Allah SWT.

______________________
*The International Space Station (ISS) is a research facility currently being
assembled in space. The station is in a low Earth orbit and can be seen
from Earth with the naked eye: its altitude varies from 319.6 km to 346.9
km above the surface of the Earth (approximately 199 miles to 215 miles).
It travels at an average speed of 27,744 km (17,240 miles) per hour,
completing 15.7 orbits per day. The ISS is a joint project between the
space agencies of the United States (NASA), Russia (RKA), Japan (JAXA),
Canada (CSA) and several European countries (ESA).
The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB, Brazil) participates through a separate
contract with NASA. The Italian Space Agency similarly has separate
contracts for various activities not done in the framework of ESA's ISS
works (where Italy also fully participates). China has reportedly expressed
interest in the project, especially if it is able to work with the RKA. The
Chinese are not currently involved, however.
The ISS is a continuation of what began as the U.S. Space Station
Freedom, the funding for which was cut back severely. It represents a
merger of Freedom with several other previously planned space stations:
Russia's Mir 2, the planned European Columbus and Kibo, the Japanese
Experiment Module. The projected completion date is 2010, with the
station remaining in operation until around 2016. As of 2007, the ISS is
already larger than any previous space station.
The ISS has been continuously inhabited since the first resident crew
entered the station on November 2, 2000, thereby providing a permanent
human presence in space. The crew of Expedition 15 are currently aboard.
The station is serviced primarily by Russian Soyuz and Progress spacecraft
and by U.S. Space Shuttle orbiters. At present the station has a capacity
for a crew of three. Early crewmembers all came from the Russian and U.S.
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space programs. German ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter joined the

Expedition 13 crew in July 2006, becoming the first crewmember from
another space agency. The station has, however, been visited by
astronauts from 14 countries. The ISS was also the destination of the first
five space tourists.