Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan bin Salman, who went aboard the shuttle Discovery in 1985, was the first Muslim in space said on Sunday Sept.30, 2007, the Islamic world would be proud of a budding Malaysian astronaut and spoke of his religious observance while in orbit.
Malaysian physician Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor heads to Russia's International Space Station (ISS) on Oct. 10, 2007 in a trip he hopes will spur his countrymen to build careers in the sciences.
Malaysia's move into the space field has raised its prestige in the Islamic world, especially in Saudi Arabia which houses Islam's holiest sites, applies strict Islamic law and tends to see global developments through the prism of religion.
Saudi commentators often cite Malaysia as their shining example of a modern, successful Islamic country on good terms with the West that can compete in science and technology.
An Iranian-born Muslim woman from the United States paid $20 million to go into orbit last year as a space tourist.
Malaysia's space experience is one we will all be proud of as Muslims," the prince, a nephew of King Abdullah, told Reuters. "Malaysia had a vision and a leadership that believed in the vision and rallied people behind it."
Mazlan Othman, director general of Malaysia's National Space agency, voiced hopes that Muslim nations could consider technical cooperation to send more people on similar expeditions.
"Muslim countries so far are not able to send an astronaut to space on their own, because we still need to partner with countries such as the U.S., China and Russia," Mazlan said.
Malaysia, which chairs the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference, is among Southeast Asia's wealthiest and most industrialized countries
Angkasawan Malaysia jadi kebanggaan dunia Islam
RIYADH 1 Okt. – Kerabat diraja Arab Saudi, Putera Sultan bin Salman yang menjadi orang Islam pertama ke angkasa lepas berkata, dunia Islam berbangga dengan angkasawan Malaysia yang dijadual berlepas ke Stesen Angkasa Lepas Antarabangsa (ISS) pada 10 Oktober ini.
Sultan terbang ke angkasa lepas pada 1985 selaku seorang pakar peralatan di dalam kapal angkasa Amerika Syarikat (AS), Discovery.
"Pengalaman Malaysia meneroka angkasa lepas membanggakan kami semua sebagai umat Islam. Malaysia mempunyai wawasan dan pucuk pimpinan yang yakin dengan wawasan itu dan menggerakkan rakyat untuk menyokongnya,” kata Sultan yang merupakan anak saudara kepada Raja Abdullah, dalam wawancara dengan Reuters semalam.
Penerbangan Sultan pada 1985 mencipta sejarah bagi umat Islam tetapi sejak itu tidak banyak kemajuan dicapai oleh Arab Saudi dalam membina sektor penyelidikan dan pembangunan di luar industri minyak dan petrokimia.
Angkasawan Malaysia, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor dijadual berlepas ke ISS pada 10 Oktober ini dalam misi yang diharap dapat membangkitkan minat rakyat Malaysia untuk membina kerjaya dalam bidang sains dan teknologi.
Langkah Malaysia meneroka angkasa lepas telah menaikkan imejnya di dunia Islam terutamanya di negara ini.
Pengulas Saudi sering menyebut Malaysia sebagai contoh unggul sebuah negara Islam moden yang berjaya, menjalin hubungan baik dengan Barat di samping mampu bersaing dalam bidang sains dan teknologi. –Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Okt (Bernama) — Rakyat Malaysia yang pertama di angkasa lepas akan tetap mendapat pengiktirafan sebagai seorang angkasawan atau Cosmonaut, nama khas yang diberikan oleh Rusia kepada mereka yang menjalani latihan angkasa dengannya.
Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Datuk Seri Jamaludin Jarjis berkata pihak Rusia akan mengadakan majlis pengtauliahan angkasawan pertama Malaysia itu di Moscow, Rusia, pada 11 Nov ini sekembalinya daripada ekspedisi angkasa 21 Okt nanti.
"Memang ada negara tertentu mempersoalkannya, itu pada saya tak penting, yang penting, yang memilih dan menghantarnya adalah pihak Rusia dan dia mengiktiraf kita sebagai angkasawan yang sebenarnya,” katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian semasa mengulas paparan laman web Agensi Angkasa Lepas Nasional Amerika (NASA) yang merujuk salah seorang angkasawan Malaysia, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha sebagai peserta penerbangan angkasa lepas bagi ekspedisi 10 Okt ini.
Terma yang diberikan oleh NASA kepada angkasawan Malaysia itu membuatkan ramai kalangan rakyat Malaysia tidak berpuas hati memandangkan Malaysia berusaha keras untuk menghantar rakyat pertama negara ke angkasa lepas.
"Pihak Rusia sendiri memberitahu bahawa rakyat kita itu (angkasawan) adalah seorang cosmonaut, habis cerita,” katanya.
Jamaludin berkata pihak Rusia sendiri memilih dan akan menghantar angkasawan Malaysia ke angkasa lepas, oleh itu adalah sesuai bagi mereka sendiri memberikan pengiktirafan itu, dan bukanya Amerika Syarikat.
Ankasawan Malaysia ke Marikh?
Ada lapuran yang mengatakan Malaysia bersedia menghantar angkawasan ke Marikh (Planet Mars) jika dipersetujui oleh pihak Russia didalam Program Misi Mars 2008/9 mereka.
ISLAM IN SPACE
Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor ,the 34-year-old Malaysian who will become the 3rd muslim in space has said he will try to observe as much of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in orbit as possible. Islamic law says Muslims are not obliged to fast if travelling, and can make up for lost days later.
The lunar month, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, is due to end around Oct. 13, 2007.
SPACE TRAVEL IS NOTHING NEW TO ISLAM..read more
Meraj (Night Ascension)
On 27th Rajab, all the Muslim believers celebrate a grand day of Meraj as "Grand Eid" . From the Ahadith and books of history, it is mentioned that on the night of Meraj, Allah (swt) gave the order of the five daily Salat as being mandatory upon the Islamic Nation.
Archangel Jibreel (pbuh) who said to Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny :
"This night you have to perform a very unique journey and I have been ordered to remain with you. You will have to traverse different parts of the world mounted on an animal named Buraq."
The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny began his historical night journey, along with the trusted protector of the revelation, the Angel Jibreel (pbuh) from the house of "Umm-e-Hani", with the aide of his steed al-Buraq.
"After some time, Jibreel (pbuh) stopped Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny and said to perform the Salat. Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny dismounted from Buraq and performed Salat.
Jibreel (pbuh) said, 'Do you know where you just prayed?' Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny replied to him in negative.
Jibreel (pbuh) said, 'In Tayyibah (Madinah), that place where your travelers will go.' After this, Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny got back onto Buraq and continued the journey."
"Once again, Jibreel (pbuh) stopped Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny and said, 'Perform the Salat.' Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny once again dismounted Buraq, and performed Salat there.
Jibreel (pbuh) asked Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny, 'Do you know where you just prayed?' It is the Mountain of Sinai - the place where Prophet Musa (pbuh) spoke to Allah (swt)."
"Once again, Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny ascended Buraq and continued. Shortly afterwards, Jibreel (pbuh) said, 'Get down and recite a Salat.'
Then again Jibreel (pbuh) questioned, 'Do you know where you just prayed?' Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny replied in negative, to which he answered, 'In Bait al-Laham (Bethlehem) - the place which is near to Baitul Maqdis and this is the place where Prophet 'Isa al-Masih (pbuh) was born.'"
Then they reached Baitul Maqdis, which is located in today's Zionist occupied Jerusalem and is also known as Masjid al-Aqsa (the Furthest Mosque) and Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny, proceeded to tie the reins of Buraq to the same ring that the great Prophets (before him) used to tie their animal to.
After this Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny entered the Masjid and it was here that he met Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and the rest of the Prophets (pbut). They all gathered around him and they all proceeded to get ready for Salat.
Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny had no doubt that the Salat would be lead by Jibreel (pbuh), however when the lines for the Salat were being formed, Jibreel (pbuh) placed his hand on the shoulder of Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny and pushed forward. Jibreel (pbuh) also took part in the Salat behind him along with the various Prophets (pbut).
On the second part of his journey, he proceeded from this spot to the skies (heavens). Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny, then observed the stars and the systems of the world and conversed with the souls of the previous prophets, and also with the angels of the heavens, peace and blessing be upon them all.
Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny saw the centre of the tortures and the blessings (hell and heaven) and became fully aware of the secrets of creation, the extent of the universe and the signs of the Omnipotent Allah (swt).
Then Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny, continued his journey and reached Sidrat ul Muntaha (Beyond this point nobody has access including Jibreel (pbuh)).
There he found it fully covered with splendor, magnificence and grandeur, and then he returned back by the way he had traveled. Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny, first came to Baitul Maqdis and then to Makkah. It was daybreak when he dismounted at the house of Umm-e-Hani from the Buraq which had taken him into space..
Meraj (Night Ascension) and Modern Science:
It has been an on going discussion and debate for hundreds of years concerning the method of travel of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny during the Meraj. Many things have been said regarding this journey and its being physical or only spiritual even though from the Glorious Qur'an and the Ahadith there is no doubt that it was a physical ascension.
However, one problem from the point of view of science prevented some people in believing the reality and thus, the Meraj of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny was recorded as being simply spiritual. Another group went a step further and believed that this complete event was simply a dream and that the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny experienced the Meraj during his sleep!
The heavenly journey went against the scientific and natural laws of today such as: the law of gravity of the earth; its speed of travel of 25,000 miles per hour; the weightlessness of an object that is outside of the airspace of earth; the fact that it is not possible to breathe the air that is outside our atmosphere; the various cosmic rays; meteorites and air pressure; and the speed of light that goes at the speed of approximately 300,000 kilometers a second; and other such examples.
Fortunately however, it must be known that through scientific research and investigation, the space scientists of the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a basketball, weighed only 183 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path, on October 4, 1957. They were able to demonstrate to mankind with ease, that they could overcome such problems as the gravitational pull, cosmic rays, problems with breathing in space, and others, through various technologically designed and built equipment and instruments.
Even today, the space science research is ever increasing and the scientists and researchers are confident that in a matter of time, they will be able to place life on one of the planets in our solar system; just as today, they have opened up the exploration to the moon and the planet Mars.
These scientific progresses and advancements in technology and industry are a clear proof that such a celestial travel (that of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him and his progeny on the night of Meraj) is possible and can not be classified as something that was impossible.
