MTA1 WORLD or just MTA1 is the first

television channel A television channel is a terrestrial frequency or virtual number over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refers to the terrestrial or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with ...

of the MTA International satellite network. It was launched on 1 January 1994 and was initially named as AMP or Ahmadiyya Muslim Presentation. The name was later changed to Muslim Television Ahmadiyya or MTA International.

Background

The channel was established by

Mirza Tahir Ahmad Mirza Tahir Ahmad ( ur, ) (18 December 1928 – 19 April 2003) was the fourth caliph ( ar, خليفة المسيح الرابع, ''khalīfatul masīh al-rābi'') and the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Community. He was elected as the fourt ...

and became the First International Muslim channel to specifically broadcast a variety of Islamic programmes. After the launch of sister channels, the channel was renamed as MTA1. However, it is still loosely referred to as MTA or MTA International. Its programmes are broadcast throughout

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

, North America,

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...

and

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

. It is also available for live streaming via the Internet. MTA International is run and voluntarily funded by Ahmadis. The purpose of the channel was primarily to broadcast the sermons of the

Khalifa Khalifa or Khalifah (Arabic: خليفة) is a name or title which means "successor", "ruler" or "leader". It most commonly refers to the leader of a Caliphate, but is also used as a title among various Islamic religious groups and others. Khalif ...

. It now broadcasts a variety of programs in various global languages for the benefit of the international Muslim Community. Programs include news, sermons, documentaries and even

Arabic language Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walte ...

learning for children. Programs are broadcast mainly in

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
'' Ahmadiyya Caliphate The Ahmadiyya Caliphate is a non-political caliphate established on May 27, 1908 following the death of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who claimed to be the promised Messiah and Mahdi, the expected redeemer aw ...

, educational and cultural programs, world news, and a various Talk Shows. These can be watched on TV as well as through smartphone apps for Android, iOS and Nokia. Due to the worldwide audience, a number of programs are simultaneously translated into different languages such as English, German, Bengali, French, Urdu and others. An example of this is the program

Friday Sermon In Islam, Friday prayer or Congregational prayer ( ar, صَلَاة ٱلْجُمُعَة, ') is a prayer ('' ṣalāt'') that Muslims hold every Friday, after noon instead of the Zuhr prayer. Muslims ordinarily pray five times each day accordin ...

which is translated live simultaneously in at least 8 languages including Arabic, Swahili and Indonesian. This is later translated into more languages like Russian and Spanish etc. All together there can be 16 translations (more or less) per sermon.

Friday Sermon

Mirza Masroor Ahmad Mirza Masroor Ahmad ( ur, ; born 15 September 1950) is the current and fifth leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. His official title within the movement is Fifth Caliph of the Messiah ( ar, خليفة المسيح الخامس, ''khal� ...

, the Caliph and worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, delivers the Friday Sermon each Friday, usually from the

Baitul Futuh The Baitul Futuh (English: ''House of Victories'') is a mosque complex of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, situated in Morden, London. It is purported as one of the largest mosques in Europe however this claim has been debunked by surveyors t ...

Mosuqe in London. MTA broadcasts the Friday Sermon Live with up to 8 simultaneous translations, and also provides an online stream. Through MTA therefore, the Imam is able to address not just the congregation, but also the entire world. It gives the Imam a chance to advise all Muslims at the same time on urgent matters that face them. The Friday Sermon was the first program aired on MTA International in 1992 and is MTA's longest-running programme.

Question and Answer Session

, the late Fourth Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community answers questions from guests in sessions held around the world. Questions included, why do only women in Islam have to cover themselves? How can there be a prophet after the Prophet Muhammad? What is the future of western society? Are natural disasters a punishment from God? The Caliph’s style blended knowledge with humour allows for providing thought-provoking answers to common questions.

Bustan-e-Waqfe Nau and Gulshan-e-Waqfe Nau

, accompanies Waqfe Nau children in the class in a learning but welcoming environment. There are three types of classes with reference to Gulshan-e-Waqfe Nau. * Bustan-e-Waqfe Nau: This is with boys and girls under the age of 12 * Gulshan-e-Waqfe Nau Atfal: This is with boys between the ages of 12 and 15 * Gulshan-e-Waqfe Nau Khuddam: This is with boys above the age of 15 * Gulshan-e-Waqfe Nau Nasirat: This is with girls above the age of 12

Intekhab-e-Sukhan

Intikhab-e-Sukhan is hosted by Mubarak Suiddique that features popular videos and

nazm ''Nazm'' () is a major part of Urdu and Sindhi poetry that is normally written in rhymed verse and also in modern prose-style poems. is a significant genre of Urdu and Sindhi poetry; the other one is known as ''ghazal'' (). is significantly ...

, or poetry. Viewers can send messages to be read live on air and request particular nazms. The programme begins with a

hamd Hamd ( ar, حمد, ḥamd, praise) is a word that exclusively praises God - whether written or spoken. Thus, The word "Hamd" is always followed by the name of God (Allah) - a phrase known as the Tahmid - "al-ḥamdu li-llāh" (Arabic: ) (English ...

, a poem expressing love and devotion to God, followed by a

Naʽat Naat ( bn, নাত; Punjabi and ur, ) is poetry in praise of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. The practice is popular in South Asia (Bangladesh, Pakistan and India), commonly in Bengali, Punjabi or Urdu. People who recite Naat are known as ' ...

praising the

Prophet Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monoth ...

. Intikhab-e-Sukhan includes poetry from some of the most exceptional poets of past and present. Couplets composed by

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Mirzā Ghulām Ahmad (13 February 1835 – 26 May 1908) was an Indian religious leader and the founder of the Ahmadiyya movement in Islam. He claimed to have been divinely appointed as the promised Messiah and Mahdi—which is the metaphori ...

are regularly featured.

Faith Matters

An Interactive program in English which allows viewers the opportunity to ask questions relating to faith in general. Questions asked vary widely in nature.

Rah-e-Huda

An Interactive program in Urdu which allows viewers the opportunity to ask questions relating to specifically Ahmadiyyat. Some of the questions asked include, concerning the second coming of the Messiah in the latter days, the prophecies, the death of

Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label= Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religiou ...

and the Finality of Prophethood. The questions can be asked live via phone, fax, text or email.

Shotter Shondane

An Interactive program in Bengali which allows viewers the opportunity to ask questions mainly relating to Ahmadiyyat. The questions can be asked via phone or fax.

References

{{Reflist, 2 Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International British Pakistani mass media Television channels and stations established in 1994 Urdu-language television channels in the United Kingdom Commercial-free television networks