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
For this insult to the Religion of Peace ... OFF with their HEADS.
Maybe they’re bowing toward Obamanation.
“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.
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.
Maybe this has to do with Zer0’s NASA outreach to mooselimbs......teach ‘em how to read a map and compass.
What TOTAL asshats!
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.
Is learning how to read a map one of the Muslim accomplishments in Math and Science that NASA is going to be celebrating?
Sharia Geography: yet another way the Mohammadians are working tirelessly to advance civilization.
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.
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.
Is one supposed to face Mecca on a rhumb line or on a great circle?
“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?
I've heard of controversy over the proper direction, like here in North America where the two methods diverge by a bit.
I think their prayers actually ricochet off the ceiling and then go nowhere.
Fum Ducks
“There’s no need to knock down mosques,”
Yeah there is.
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