tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post5520887575944280954..comments2024-03-19T09:06:21.507-04:00Comments on Irtiqa: The Lunacy around Islamic Lunar CalendarSalman Hameedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327330113822656571noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-85084452213283905822008-09-23T21:32:00.000-04:002008-09-23T21:32:00.000-04:00This does seem a curiously backwards tradition con...This does seem a curiously backwards tradition considering all the advances in science and mathematics pioneered by ancient muslims.<BR/>I believe I heard something about how Muslim astronomers even accurately predicted the circumference of the earth... and that was over a thousand years before a multimillion-dollar satellite was possible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-30618791492056931222008-09-14T22:27:00.000-04:002008-09-14T22:27:00.000-04:00depending on the time of the day Mecca will be in ...<I>depending on the time of the day Mecca will be in 5 different directions at each prayer-time because of the Earth spinning on it's axis.</I><BR/><BR/>Ah..good point. But over all the Earth would still appear quite small from the Moon - and so the direction will be towards the Earth - irrespective whether one can see Mecca at a particular time or not (think on the scale of the size of the Moon from the Earth - though Earth would appear slightly bigger). For some perspective, check out <A HREF="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap951225.html" REL="nofollow">this picture of Earth</A> from Apollo 8, when it was orbiting the Moon.<BR/><BR/>All said, I find this an interesting way to think about space settlements (and I'm assuming the same for you), but I don't want to sound as if I'm defending a religious perspective. It will be quite silly if people on the Moon start quibbling about prayer directions. (also see this post about <A HREF="http://sciencereligionnews.blogspot.com/2007/10/finding-mecca-from-space-praying-at.html" REL="nofollow">praying in space</A>).Salman Hameedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04327330113822656571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-44853600940418578622008-09-14T21:24:00.000-04:002008-09-14T21:24:00.000-04:00While I understand what you are saying about the s...While I understand what you are saying about the same side of the moon facing Earth, depending on the time of the day Mecca will be in 5 different directions at each prayer-time because of the Earth spinning on it's axis. I don't know enough about it but wouldn't Mecca be directly overhead sometimes?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-30186523736802820352008-09-14T16:28:00.000-04:002008-09-14T16:28:00.000-04:00The Moon is tidally locked with the Earth - i.e. w...The Moon is tidally locked with the Earth - i.e. we always see the same side of the Moon. So if you are there then Earth will be clearly visible in the sky (as in some Apollo pictures). However, if you are on the side that does not face the Earth (dubbed as the dark side of the Moon - even though its not dark from sunlight. A better name is <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_side_of_the_Moon" REL="nofollow">Far-side of the Moon,</A>), then one may have to come up with some other prayer orientation. This is the reason why Muslims need to adapt to modern age rather than quibble about out-dated technicalities.Salman Hameedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04327330113822656571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-27902011096852772442008-09-13T20:21:00.000-04:002008-09-13T20:21:00.000-04:00I imagine it would be an even greater nightmare to...I imagine it would be an even greater nightmare to pray towards Mecca from the surface of the Moon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com