Sorry for the late reply and long text. Had to type up bits and pieces whenever I had time and this rambling is the result of my "ruminations"
I have read the same things you have most likely on this issue saxib. Limitations on fuel technology and detriments to human health are the main factors for which the trip seems impossible now. There are many unknowns when it comes to health in outer space and danger lurks around as soon as people leave Earth's orbit.
It reminds me how Allah told mankind and the demons they can travel and ascend to the heavens if they wanted to but wouldn't reach beyond certain limits without extra ordinary power.
"O company of jinn and mankind, if you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass. You will not pass except by authority [from Allah]." (55:33)
Love the above verse that you mentioned and find inspiration in it, because if we interpret it that way, it can be seen as the first time that something like space travel is even deemed to be possible with the limitation that we need the permission, authority or power given by Allah (SWT).
To put it into context, the first somewhat successful attempt at "aviation" we know of was by the Andalusian scholar Ibn Firnas in the 9th century. Whether the account of his attempt to fly is substantiated or not, it still shows the admirable spirit our predecessors were guided by.
Hopefully the Muslim ethos of optimism in science and knowledge coupled with the beauty and ethics of our faith will return across the Muslim world, in sha Allah.
The more science progresses, the more we learn earth and its protective space are meant to support life without troubles. The sheer amount of energy, supplies and effort required to go to the closest planet explains all.
"We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness?" (41:53)
In the end it should be sufficient for us believers that Allah (SWT) is a witness over all things but it is in our nature that human curiosity will always get the best of our attention and encourage us to focus on a growth in knowledge.
More so than necessity, curiosity is the essence of what is driving an endeavour like the exploration of space, interestingly enough the Mars rover collecting the samples is also called Curiosity.
We have to see science in the light of studying the
signs that Allah (SWT) has placed in his creation for us to observe, benefit from and be humble.
btw, Wiilyam Ina Sheekh Zubeer,
Germany is at the top in engineering designs. If education is free unlike the US, you should try to study something worth while. Americans have respect for german engineering.
Anyway, we as the diaspora can help Somalia by catalysing a shift in mindset towards education and not only through what exactly our professions are.
Virtually any skill, degree, apprenticeship or vocational training, really any expertise is desperately needed.
In order to achieve progress, the best course of action is to acquire an applicable skillset and tangible know-how and teach our brothers and sisters back home the beneficial knowledge we acquired, instead of them relying on foreign workers and experts.
A lot is already happening to that end but we could multiply or even exponentiate the rate at which things are moving forward.
Think of SYL in the 60s, some of the members were educated in Europe and elsewhere, but apart from that and more importantly they developed a new political culture after the colonial era and generated momentum at the grassroots and look how Somalia became Africa's first democracy.
Compare that to how many young Somalis are trained and educated in the diaspora. The potential is infinte!
Today it seems we have too many politicians, when we need more apolitical pioneers, who are willing to sacrifice on behalf of the next generation and teach them what will enable them to become our future leaders.
That is the plan, in sha Allah and it is the reason why the initiative behind this thread is laudable.
