Muslim religious authorities in the United Arab Emirates have issued a fatwa-a ruling that is binding on Muslims-forbidding them from participating in the Mars One manned journey planned for 2022.
Since the one-way mission was announced, 200,000 would-be astronauts from around the world have applied to be trained for the initial four-person Mars One crew. The mission will be financed and supervised by a nonprofit organization, not NASA. An estimated 500 Muslims applied for inclusion on the mission, even though there will be no means of return.
Because a crew must agree to be marooned on the planet for the rest of their lives, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment considers it a suicide mission, despite its noble goal of making Mars more habitable for future generations of explorers. The fatwa creates a quandary for potential Muslim astronauts. Centuries ago, Muslim scientists and explorers broadened humanity’s understanding of the world. Retreating from a risky space mission because death in an alien world is a possible consequence would be a repudiation of the tradition exemplified by the 14th Century Muslim explorer Ibn Battuta, one of the great travelers of all time.
Editorial, Pages 14 on 03/25/2014