UAE Islamic affairs authority reaffirms fatwa on Muslims travelling to Mars

“Based on the texts, it is not permissible to travel to Mars and never to return if life is not possible there," said the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments following calls by Mars One to cancel an earlier fatwa.

The Fatwa Committee of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments on Monday reaffirmed its fatwa against humans travelling to the Red Planet. Courtesy Mars One
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The Fatwa Committee of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments on Monday reaffirmed its fatwa against humans travelling to the Red Planet.

According to state news agency, Wam, the authority said it received a question “about the rule of humans travelling to Mars and never to return”.

“Based on the texts, it is not permissible to travel to Mars and never to return if life is not possible there and the expectation of death is more than the possibility of life, due to this action exposing one to self-destruction,” the committee answered.

The Mars One space foundation has asked UAE Islamic authorities to cancel a fatwa warning Muslims not to travel to the planet.

More than 200,000 people applied for the chance to be part of Earth's first colony on another planet.

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