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I recently heard on NPR that Clerics issued an fatwa that forbids going to Mars.

If it is taboo why?

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That is an Ijma and is for safety, because At the moment, there is no technology available that would allow for a return trip from Mars (source)

In this link you can find:

The committee of in the UAE that issued the fatwa against such a journey doesn't have anything against space exploration, Elon Musk's Mars visions, or anything like that. Rather, the religious leaders argue that making the trip would be tantamount to committing suicide, which all religions tend to frown upon.

Perhaps, when there is enough advancement to make a round trip or if Mars is declared suitable for habitation, the consensus will be lifted.

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  • I don't think the clerics have credibility to make statements about technology. They hardly know the current state and advancements, and future directions.
    – winawer
    Commented Feb 25, 2014 at 4:21
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    @ramanujan_dirac read the very first statement: At the moment, there is no technology available that would allow for a return trip from Mars . Now look at the argument of the clerics: making the trip would be tantamount to committing suicide . Even a third grade student will understand the risk.
    – user2724
    Commented Feb 25, 2014 at 4:40
  • I think parallels can be drawn with countries which advice their citizens NOT to visit certain countries because it may be harmful.
    – user13107
    Commented Feb 25, 2014 at 6:33
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    There's a logical fallacy in this argument (at least in this shortness). Not being able to make a return trip from Mars back to Earth is by itself not tantamount to suicide: The fact that it is (currently) not possible to carry enough fuel for a return trip (or equipment to produce fresh fuel and rocket engines on Mars), does not necessarily mean that the transport of oxygen, water, food (or more likely equipment to produce them sustainably) is impossible.
    – Hagen von Eitzen
    Commented Feb 25, 2014 at 7:21
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    @HagenvonEitzen +1, ya, that's true. With advancement in technology such as terraforming, hydroponics, mars can sustain life, even eliminating the need of a return trip. However, the current status of mars one mission is suicidal. The astronauts will try to colonize mars, if they fail, they suffer unnatural death. Note that fox news already declared it suicidal.
    – user2724
    Commented Feb 25, 2014 at 9:46

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