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Islamic view of space exploration

28-04-1998

Question 1887

As-salam-alaikum
With all this talk of space exploration and "whether there is life" outside our beautiful planet, what does the Quran have to say about alien beings? Furthermore, should we discover life on another planet, how should we react to this new discovery? This may sound as a strange question, but the thought is in my belief an interesting one, which brings into question science that does not always work side by side with any religion.
Salams.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.



Islam does not prevent man from attempting to explore space and the wonders it contains, or from looking at the dominion of Allaah and what He has created in heaven and earth, as He has commanded us to do in His Book. But we should pay attention to two things:
  1. We should weigh the time, effort and money spent on this purpose against the benefits which we expect to gain from it.
  2. Man should first learn how to walk and behave on earth before he tries to go into space.

May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

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