Grand Ayatollah Shirazi: Prayer and Fasting in Space and Polar Regions Must Follow Standard Times

Another daily scholarly session led by Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadeq Hosseini Shirazi took place in his honourable residence on Thursday, Shaban 21, during which the Supreme Marja addressed various theological questions posed by attendees, continuing the tradition of previous meetings.

In response to inquiries regarding the obligation of prayer for individuals traveling to space, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi stated that as long as a person is alive and possesses the necessary consciousness, they are required to perform their prayers, even if they travel to space or beyond the Earth.

Regarding the practice of prayer and fasting in space and polar regions, his Eminence explained that if an individual finds themselves in areas where sunrise and sunset are not observable, such as in space or the North and South Poles, they should conduct their five daily prayers and fast according to the standard times observed in other regions.

He emphasized that this ruling aligns with the views of prominent Islamic jurists and noted that the topic is clearly addressed in the book “Urwa al-Wuthqa,” which many scholars have accepted.