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First Islamic satellite will go into orbit in 15 months

DUBAI — The first Islamic satellite, expected to be used in the crescent sighting, will go into orbit in 15 months’ time, with the launch planed for 2006, according to Dr Omar Al Khateeb, Head of Research and Fatwa Section, who represented the UAE at the Satellite committee meeting held in Cairo on December 21.

by

Afkar Ali Ahmed

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Published: Mon 27 Dec 2004, 10:44 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 1:36 PM

In an interview with Khaleej Times, Dr Al Khateeb said that the project was proposed by Dar Al Ifta in Egypt in 1997.

“The satellite is expected to present a solution to the problem resulted from the differences over the lunar months — a fact which prompted Arab and Muslim countries to support the project,” Al Khateeb, pointed out.

He added that the committee, which comprises Arab Islamic scholars, representatives of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Muslim World League, reached an agreement to put to tender the manufacturing of the satellite in January 2005. The tendering would take place in cooperation with the Cairo University’s Space Studies Centre (CUSSC).

Al Khateeb explained that moon sighting has always been a controversial issue among Muslim countries, and scholars have different views over the issue. “Many scholars believe that Muslims in different countries should follow one sighting as long as the sightings are made on the same night in these countries. While others believe that Muslims worldwide should abide by the lunar calendar of Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Al Khateeb explained that the launch of the Islamic satellite project would present a solution to this controversial problem.

“During the committee meetings, scholars agreed that the satellite, to be manufactured on the basis of specifications and descriptions determined by CUSSC, would be operated by a main station located in Cairo and a sub-station in the holy city of Makkah. These two stations would control the operations of the satellite and be responsible of maintaining it on regular basis,” he pointed out.

More than $8 million would be generated by some Islamic countries to fund the project, he noted, adding that the satellite is expected to fly at a low altitude for monitoring the sighting

Al Khateeb said the satellite would be forwarding images of the crescent to the ground stations in Egypt and Makkah. He stressed on the importance of the services that would be provided by the satellite. “In the first phase, the satellite’s mission will be sighting the crescent. Later on, the satellite will be developed so as to be linked with Islamic media channels to play a great role in correcting the misconception about Islam in western countries,” he said.

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