Performing Salah on the Moon or Mars: Qiblah Direction and Related Concerns
Written by: Muhammad Saleem
The Question of Salah and Qiblah in Space
A frequently raised question in modern times is:
If humans were to establish residence on the Moon or Mars in the future, how would they determine the direction of the Kaʿbah for prayer (Qiblah)?
While this may sound like a futuristic or even fantastical issue, it provides an opportunity to understand how Islam remains relevant and adaptable—even to circumstances as extreme as outer space.
Assessing the Validity of the Question
While curiosity is natural, the manner in which such questions are sometimes raised can be problematic. Often, they reflect a tendency toward unnecessary hypotheticals rather than focusing on practical or pressing religious matters.
One might counter such a question with a more grounded rhetorical one:
“What direction will a person face in their grave for prayer?”
Clearly, such queries, though imaginative, can detract from meaningful discourse.
Nonetheless, for the sake of clarity and benefit, this topic will be addressed based on Islamic principles and reasoning.
Guidance from the Qur’an and Sunnah
❖ The Qur’an on the Significance of Directions:
"سَيَقُولُ السُّفَهَاءُ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَا وَلَّاهُمْ عَنْ قِبْلَتِهِمُ الَّتِي كَانُوا عَلَيْهَا..."
(Al-Baqarah: 142)
Translation:
The foolish among the people will say: What has turned them from their Qiblah which they used to face? Say: To Allah belong the East and the West; He guides whom He wills to a straight path.
This verse teaches that direction is a means, not an end. The real significance lies in obedience, not in the compass point itself.
❖ The Changing of the Qiblah:
"قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا..."
(Al-Baqarah: 144)
Translation:
We have certainly seen the turning of your face toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a Qiblah with which you will be pleased.
Initially, Muslims faced Bayt al-Maqdis, and yet those prayers were accepted. Later, they were commanded to face the Kaʿbah in Makkah. This illustrates that divine command, not geographical direction, is the true foundation of worship.
Determining Qiblah in Difficult Circumstances
✔ Prayer on a Moving Mount or Vehicle:
The Prophet ﷺ used to pray on his camel during travel. While he began the prayer facing the Qiblah, if the camel turned during the prayer, he continued without adjusting. This shows flexibility in practice when circumstances demand it.
✔ Principle of Ijtihād and Ijmāʿ:
If Qiblah direction is unknown, collective reasoning (ijtihād) by a group of Muslims can suffice. This would also apply in space settlements. Consensus (ijmāʿ) on a reasonable direction is valid when certainty is unattainable.
✔ Comparable Modern Scenarios:
In airplanes, trains, or submarines, exact alignment with Qiblah may be difficult. Islam allows praying in the direction that is reasonably determined or accessible in such situations.
Is Living on Mars a Realistic Possibility?
Rather than dwell excessively on theoretical spiritual concerns, one must first assess whether life on Mars is even viable:
◈ Extreme Climate:
Mars has average temperatures of –100°C, with ice rather than liquid water.
◈ Lack of Oxygen:
Mars’ atmosphere is unbreathable, and artificial environments would be required.
◈ Water and Agriculture:
No liquid water or fertile soil makes sustainable agriculture nearly impossible.
Given these realities, living on Mars remains a distant dream, if not pure fiction.
Implications for Worship on Mars or the Moon
If, hypothetically, humans were to inhabit these celestial bodies:
- The Qiblah would be determined using astronomical data and calculations that point toward the Kaʿbah on Earth.
- Inability to face Qiblah would not invalidate the prayer if genuine effort has been made to identify its direction.
- What matters most is intention, submission, and obedience, not physical precision in direction when conditions make it impossible.
Final Thought
The focus of believers should not be hypothetical or imaginative dilemmas but real, applicable religious obligations. Still, if one insists on such questions, the best response is this:
If atheists are sent to Mars, and they survive its harshness, perhaps they will come to realize the greatness of the Creator. Then maybe, facing Earth, they too will begin to pray.
وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
And Allah knows best what is correct.
