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Indonesian Muslims Told to Change Prayer Direction (They Faced Toward Africa Instead of Mecca)
The Malaysian Insider ^ | July 16, 2010 | Reuters

Posted on 07/17/2010 6:46:16 PM PDT by DogByte6RER

Indonesian Muslims told to change prayer direction

JAKARTA, July 16 — Indonesia’s Muslims learned today they have been praying in the wrong direction, after the country’s highest Islamic authority said its directive on the direction of Mecca actually had people facing Africa.

Muslims are supposed to face the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia during prayer and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued an edict in March stipulating westward was the correct direction from the world’s most populous Muslim country.

“But it has been decided that actually the mosques are facing Somalia or Kenya, so we are now suggesting people shift the direction slightly to the north-west,” the head of the MUI, Cholil Ridwan, told Reuters. “There’s no need to knock down mosques, just shift your direction slightly during prayer.”

Ridwan said Muslims need not fear that their prayers have been wasted because they were facing the wrong way.

“Their prayers will still be heard by Allah,” he said.

Said Agil Siradj, head of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organisation Nahdlatul Ulama, told English language newspaper the Jakarta Globe that the confusion showed the MUI issued edicts too fast and that this was a lesson for them.

The MUI has, in the past, issued controversial edicts banning Muslims from chanting during yoga, and from smoking.

Indonesia is a majority Muslim but officially secular country. — Reuters


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2nukemecca; 4thecommongood; africa; assclowns; change; council; direction; doh; dumbass; epigraphyandlanguage; indonesia; indonesian; islam; mecca; middleages; muhammadsminions; mui; muslims; petra; prayer; qibla; rop; told; ulema
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"Indonesia’s Muslims learned today they have been praying in the wrong direction, after the country’s highest Islamic authority said its directive on the direction of Mecca actually had people facing Africa."

For this insult to the Religion of Peace ... OFF with their HEADS.

1 posted on 07/17/2010 6:46:19 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
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To: DogByte6RER; STARWISE; onyx; maggief; penelopesire

Maybe they’re bowing toward Obamanation.


2 posted on 07/17/2010 6:48:58 PM PDT by hoosiermama (ONLY DEAD FISH GO WITH THE FLOW.......I am swimming with Sarahcudah! Sarah has read the tealeaves.)
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To: DogByte6RER

“Indonesia’s Muslims learned today they have been praying in the wrong direction, after the country’s highest Islamic authority said its directive on the direction of Mecca actually had people facing Africa.”

Maybe that’s why China gets so peeved at them when their bombs keep going off up there. The Indonesians think it’s Israel.


3 posted on 07/17/2010 6:49:05 PM PDT by BobL (The whole point of being human is knowing when the party's over.)
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To: DogByte6RER

Does it really make a differnce. After all, they are pounding their heads into stone floors five times a day. No wonder they don’t have a lick of sense.


4 posted on 07/17/2010 6:49:38 PM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel (Obama makes me miss Jimmah Cahtah!)
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To: DogByte6RER

Maybe this has to do with Zer0’s NASA outreach to mooselimbs......teach ‘em how to read a map and compass.

What TOTAL asshats!


5 posted on 07/17/2010 6:49:56 PM PDT by Roccus (......and then there were none.)
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To: DogByte6RER

6 posted on 07/17/2010 6:50:40 PM PDT by BenLurkin (Will must be the harder, courage the bolder, spirit must be the more, as our might lessens.)
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To: DogByte6RER
Obie wants to “Hype” the Muslim contributions to Space Exploration and there is nary a one who can operate a compass in Indonesia? Good God, Man!
7 posted on 07/17/2010 6:50:51 PM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature (3(0|\|0/\/\1($ 101: (4P174L1$/\/\ R3QU1r3$ (4P174L. Could it be any more simple?)
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To: DogByte6RER; kabar

From what I can tell, the government there prefers pragmatism over extremism. Imagine trying to keep thousands of islands united: not easy, no matter what.


8 posted on 07/17/2010 6:55:56 PM PDT by aposiopetic
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To: Roccus

9 posted on 07/17/2010 6:56:34 PM PDT by BenLurkin (Will must be the harder, courage the bolder, spirit must be the more, as our might lessens.)
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To: DogByte6RER

Is learning how to read a map one of the Muslim accomplishments in Math and Science that NASA is going to be celebrating?


10 posted on 07/17/2010 6:58:08 PM PDT by eclecticEel (Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: 7/4/1776 - 3/21/2010)
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To: DogByte6RER

Sharia Geography: yet another way the Mohammadians are working tirelessly to advance civilization.


11 posted on 07/17/2010 6:59:50 PM PDT by bornred
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To: BenLurkin

mecca shouldda been turned to glass almost 9 years ago! Sooner or later we will get a leader in the West who will do what has to be done. I just hope I live to see it.


12 posted on 07/17/2010 7:00:41 PM PDT by Roccus (......and then there were none.)
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To: BobL

Just think of the Muslims that are going (and have gone) to hell because they prayed in the wrong direction. Glad I serve a GOD that is forgiving and understanding.


13 posted on 07/17/2010 7:04:16 PM PDT by doc1019 (Martyrdom is a great thing, until it is your turn.)
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To: DogByte6RER

Is one supposed to face Mecca on a rhumb line or on a great circle?


14 posted on 07/17/2010 7:06:25 PM PDT by Mad Dawg (O Maria, sine labe concepta, ora pro nobis qui ad te confugimus.)
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To: DogByte6RER

“There’s no need to knock down mosques, just shift your direction slightly during prayer.”
“Their prayers will still be heard by Allah,”

So Allah only hears from one ear or what?


15 posted on 07/17/2010 7:08:33 PM PDT by mainsail that ("A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights" - Napoleon Bonaparte)
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To: Mad Dawg
Is one supposed to face Mecca on a rhumb line or on a great circle?

I've heard of controversy over the proper direction, like here in North America where the two methods diverge by a bit.

16 posted on 07/17/2010 7:10:36 PM PDT by Lonely Bull
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To: DogByte6RER

I think their prayers actually ricochet off the ceiling and then go nowhere.


17 posted on 07/17/2010 7:12:42 PM PDT by Migraine (Diversity is great... ...until it happens to YOU.)
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Fum Ducks


18 posted on 07/17/2010 7:13:12 PM PDT by Dedbone
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To: BenLurkin
Hey, you owe me a bottle of Mic Ultra and a new keyboard, buddy!!
LMAO!
19 posted on 07/17/2010 7:14:23 PM PDT by Impala64ssa
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To: mainsail that

“There’s no need to knock down mosques,”

Yeah there is.


20 posted on 07/17/2010 7:16:48 PM PDT by BenLurkin (Will must be the harder, courage the bolder, spirit must be the more, as our might lessens.)
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