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| Southeast Asia | |
| Indonesian Muslims told to change prayer direction | |
| 2010-07-17 | |
| Indonesia's Muslims learned on Friday they have been praying in the wrong direction, after the country's highest Islamic authority said its directive on the direction of Makkah actually had people facing Africa. That's why they have all those earthquakes and tsunamis, I'll betcha... They probably moved stuff around... The Chinese have had compasses for 3000 years now, and we Americans have GPS ...
"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. How do you know? You're the one who was telling them to pray towards Africa. Maybe Allah's saying "Hmmmmm. I haven't heard from my Indonesian followers. Maybe this will bring them around." Before you know it, you're under 10 feet of water. Again. Insh'allah... Said Agil Siradj, head of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization 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. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 In breaking news the Earth aint flat. In order to pray in the direction of Mecca they would have to face the ground at a 40 degree angle. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2010-07-17 17:04 |
| #3 Because Kenya is actually more holy than the Magic Kingdom? |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2010-07-17 11:19 |
| #2 Can I get a face-palm to go please? |
| Posted by: miscellaneous 2010-07-17 10:29 |
| #1 Morons |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2010-07-17 09:10 |