Social Media — Page 71
~67~ photographs of the Promised Messiah (as); although, no color photograph of him exists. This is completely wrong and should also be avoided. Also, incorrect use of photographs of Khulafa should be avoided. Once a debate on cinema and bioscope (movie camera) started at a Shura in front of Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra). He said it is incorrect to say that cinema, bioscope and phonograph in themselves were something bad. Indeed, the Promised Messiah (as) listened to a phonograph and even wrote a poem for it which he asked to be read and then invited the Hindus so that they could listen to it. This is the couplet from the poem: This voice is coming from the phonograph Seek God from the heart, not through boasting and bragging Thus, cinema in itself is not bad (people constantly ask whether it is a sin to go there. It is not bad in itself) but these days what is projected through it, is immoral. There is nothing wrong with a film which has tabligh and educational aspects and has no element of ‘show’ (there should be no dramatization). He said ‘putting on a show” etc. is wrong even when used for tabligh purposes. (from report of Majlise-mushawarat 1939, page 86) This should clarify matters to those who suggest that it is alright if some music is used in MTA programs or it is acceptable if there is some music on Voice of Islam radio, a program that has recently launched. The Promised Messiah (as) had come to stop these harmful innovations and we have to mold our thoughts in accordance. It is neither forbidden, nor is it an innovation to take advantage of new inventions, but their wrong use makes them an innovation. Some people are of the view that tabligh and tarbiyyat matters would be more impactful if there are presented in the form of a drama. It should always be remembered if you go down a wrong path or if you introduce something wrong in our program, then later a hundred harmful innovations will find their