MTA1 WORLD or just MTA1 is the first television channel of the

MTA International Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International (MTA), a globally-broadcasting, nonprofit satellite television network and a division of Al-Shirkatul Islamiyyah, was established in 1994 and launched the world's first Islamic TV channel to broadcast gl ...

satellite network. It was launched on 1 January 1994 and was a continuation of AMP or 'Ahmadiyya Muslim Presentation'. After the launch of sister channels, the channel was renamed as MTA1. However, it is still loosely referred to as MTA or MTA International.

History

Background

The channel was established by

Mirza Tahir Ahmad Mirza Tahir Ahmad (; 18 December 1928 – 19 April 2003) was the fourth caliph (, ''khalīfatul masīh al-rābi'') and the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He was elected as the fourth successor of the founder of the commun ...

and became the first Muslim channel to specifically broadcast a variety of Islamic programmes. Its programmes are broadcast on the

Sky UK Sky UK Limited (formerly British Sky Broadcasting Limited (BSkyB)), Trade name, trading as Sky, is a British broadcasting, broadcaster and telecommunications company that provides television, broadband internet, fixed line and mobile telephone ...

platform, through Astra 2. Initially, its EPG number was 787, but in 2019, the number was moved to 731. The purpose of the channel was initially to primarily broadcast the sermons of the

Khalifa ''Khalifa'' or ''Khalifah'' (; commonly "caliph" in English) 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 ...

Electronic program guide

In September 2001, MTA began its

electronic program guide Electronic programming guides (EPGs) and interactive programming guides (IPGs) are menu-based systems that provide users of television, radio, and other media applications with continuously updated menus that display scheduling information fo ...

when the channel launched on the

platform on Channel 675 as a

free-to-air Free-to-air (FTA) services are television (TV) and radio services broadcast in unencrypted form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscri ...

channel.

HD Broadcast

MTA1 began its HD broadcast on the Astra 2 in May 2022.

Programs

The channel broadcasts a variety of programs in various global languages for the benefit of its international community. Programs are broadcast mainly in

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

, but several programs are also simultaneously translated and broadcast in other languages such as English, German, Bengali, French, Urdu and others. An example of this is the program

Friday Sermon Friday prayer, or congregational prayer (), is the meeting together of Muslims for communal prayer and service at midday every Friday. In Islam, the day itself is called ''Yawm al-Jum'ah'' (shortened to ''Jum'ah''), which translated from Arabic me ...

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.

Friday Sermon

The Friday Sermon was the first program aired on

in 1992 and is MTA's longest-running programme. The caliph, currently

Mirza Masroor Ahmad Mirza Masroor Ahmad (; born 15 September 1950) is the current and fifth leader of the Ahmadiyya, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. His official title within the movement is Ahmadiyya Caliphate, Fifth Caliph of the Messiah (, ''khalīfatul masīh al- ...

, delivers the Friday Sermon, from the Mubarak Mosque in Tilford. 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.

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 written ...

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

hamd Hamd () 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: "praise be to God"). The ...

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

Naʽat Naat ( and ) 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 Hindustani. People who recite Naat are known as ''Naat Khawan'' or ''sa ...

praising the

Prophet Muhammad In Islam, Muhammad () is venerated as the Seal of the Prophets who transmitted the Quran, eternal word of God () from the Angels in Islam, angel Gabriel () to humans and jinn. Muslims believe that the Quran, the central religious text of Isl ...

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

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Mirza Ghulam 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 '' Mahdī'', in fulfillment of th ...

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 (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

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 MTA International British Pakistani mass media Television channels and stations established in 1994 Urdu-language television channels in the United Kingdom Commercial-free television networks