but didnt Tabun already provide a rebuttal to what you just said in what you quoted?
Either you didnt read it or you missed it what you quoted -
I thought what I replied to was his answer? :S
so in the quran it says turn ur face to the kaaba .... why would u assume that the shortest distance should be taken ... do prayers get teird walking or are they delayed?? or is this rationality of urs simply to give ur aching brain a seemingly logical answer??
Minus your indirect insults, it is the shortest distance because that is what the prophet peace be upon him did.
When he peace be upon him was commanded to pray, the prayer was done along the surface of the earth, facing the kaba. He did not pray in the opposite direction, but the shortest direction.
If it was not along the surface, then he peace be upon him would have been commanded to dig into the earth a bit to pray straight through it, or pray in the opposite unseen direction. But that did not happen. From my perspective the man is being guided by the Creator so I just copy him, by your perspective he's just another man so you look for short-term logic.
TruthSeeker, if you would please explain something to me.
What is the purpose of facing the Kaaba during prayer?
This whole thread seems an absurd arguement to me.
1) Do Muslims believe that thier prayers actually need to travel to the Kaaba?
2) Do or do not Muslims believe that Allah hears prayers? Or does the Kaaba hear prayers?
3) Would Allah be able to hear prayers if the Kaaba was destroyed?
RIBS started this thread on the premise that facing the Kaaba for prayer proves that Islam supports the idea that the earth is flat. So it can be concluded that a divine creator did not reveal the true nature of the earth through Islam.
1) I'm not sure what travel has anything to do with this. Why is a prayer traveling?
2) The Creator hears prayers, but I'm not sure what that has to do with this.
3) Huh? All three of these questions do not make sense to me.
Are you looking for logic in acts of worship? So for example, another question would be why do muslims put their head on the floor when they pray is that right?
Facing the ka'ba has nothing to do with the earth being flat. I've already explained above how islam looks at it.
Sound isn't effected by gravity.
How loud does a prayer need to be to travel to Kaaba from Hawaii?
By any chance did you read the article about the Malaysian astronaut? I found it interesting. Actually much more reasonable then, "Distance is an issue actually." Perhaps you could read the article (if you haven't already). A scholar quoted in that article Dr. Kamal Abdali, says "Prayer is not supposed to be a gymnastic exercise. One is supposed to concentrate on the prayer rather the exact orientation." Same scholar points, "out that in a train or plane, it's customary to start in the qibla direction but then continue the prayer without worrying about possible changes in position." Do you think that Dr Kamal Abdali point of view might highlight motive for prayer over ritualistic appearence of the one praying?
I suppose it might be because directional praying is not part of my believes that this seems like an easy issue to put to rest.
There is a difference between dua (supplication) and prayer. They are both purely acts of worship, unlike other actions like transactions (mu'amalaat), and manners (akhlaaq). The Creator defines how these purely acts of worship are to be done since they are done solely for him and do not involve anyone else. If you are looking for logic or purpose in it, then it is to please the Creator in the manner He wishes for Himself. Islam means submission, meaning we realize there is a Creator and it is only rational to submit to Him.
Topic: Prayer direction and flat earth!