Khawla Ali (Abu Dhabi) with the development of science and the expansion of human horizons beyond the Earth's orbit, the space has become a new station for scientific experiments and exploring the unknown. As humans step into this new world, the teachings of Islam remain present and directed towards the lives of Muslim space travelers. Among the acts of worship that raise questions in space is fasting, which requires adhering to specific times and conditions. The ability of a space traveler to fast in a healthy and safe manner is a major concern. Timim al-Timimi, a member of the Arab Union for Space and Astronomy, says that on the International Space Station, space travelers see the sunrise and sunset 16 times a day, making it difficult to rely on that to determine fasting times. Therefore, they use Mecca as a reference point for fasting, and if necessary, they can choose the time of departure as a reference. Timimi explains that the effort and conditions in space, including the lack of gravity, can affect a space traveler's ability to fast, and it is permissible for a Muslim to break their fast if they experience great hardship or a health risk, citing the Sharia principle that relieves hardship and prioritizes the preservation of life. In cases where the space mission requires high energy, they refer to Islamic scholars to determine the appropriate ruling. The lack of gravity also affects food intake, and Timimi notes that meals and snacks are prepared using special equipment that prevents food and liquids from floating away in microgravity, and are organized according to the fasting and breaking of fast times based on the chosen time reference. Islamic scholars have issued fatwas that clarify how to perform acts of worship in space, such as following Mecca's fasting and prayer times, reflecting the flexibility of Islamic law in dealing with changing conditions. Imran al-Shamsi, an expert in space and astronomy, believes that fasting in space requires precise planning of meal and rest times, as the space environment is completely different from Earth, and cannot rely on sunrise and sunset as on Earth due to the speed of rotation around the Earth. Therefore, most space travelers rely on Earth time to determine fasting and breaking of fast times, such as Mecca time, and this planning ensures their compliance with fasting during space travel, despite the challenges they face. Physiologist and health expert Imran al-Shamsi notes that the microgravity environment affects the distribution of fluids in the body, which can cause changes in blood pressure and metabolic rate, and that space travel can cause a decrease in bone density and muscle weakness, requiring precise monitoring of the effects of fasting on the health of space travelers. The space environment can also affect appetite, making it harder to get the necessary amounts of food during fasting, and can cause some health problems such as dehydration due to fluid loss due to microgravity. Fasting can also affect metabolic rate, requiring precise planning of meal and drink times, and can cause physical and mental fatigue, affecting the ability of space travelers to perform their tasks accurately and effectively. Additional needs Imran al-Shamsi emphasizes that despite the limited research on fasting in space, the effects of fasting on physical and mental performance may be similar to those on Earth, as fasting can improve mental clarity due to the regulation of blood sugar levels, but it can also cause physical and mental fatigue, leading to decreased performance in some cases. The body requires less energy in space compared to Earth due to reduced physical activity and microgravity, and despite this, the space environment may require additional nutritional needs, such as antioxidants due to space radiation, requiring precise planning of caloric intake. Space traveler's experience Imran al-Shamsi refers to the experience of Malaysian space traveler Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, who fasted in space during his stay on the International Space Station in 2007, and was consulted with Islamic scholars to prepare guidelines for fasting and prayer in space, while adhering to Mecca time, and despite the challenges he faced due to time constraints and microgravity, he was able to successfully perform his fasting. Dehydrated meals To maintain the health of space travelers during fasting, Imran al-Shamsi, an expert in space and astronomy, explains that some solutions include providing the necessary nutrients for space travelers in the design of dehydrated meals, which contain all the essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins, and it is necessary to make these meals easy to prepare and suitable for the microgravity environment, and to focus on providing sufficient fluids to compensate for potential dehydration.
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