The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 131
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama * at - e -A hmadiyya limited. Jama'ats are no longer free to nominate as many delegates as they wish. And as our Jama'at continues to increase further, even more restrictions may have to be imposed in the future. N o, indeed, it is not a matter o f may, this w ill surely happen. The time w ill come when we w ill have to invite delegates only from districts or provinces, rather than from individual Jama'ats, because it w ill not be possible for Shura to accommodate thou sands o f people. When Allah causes our Jama'at to spread throughout the world, representatives w ill not be invited from various districts or provinces but from countries. The Jama'ats should not mind these restric tions for they are necessary,. and the necessity is only going to increase. But as long as the small Jama'ats enjoy the privilege o f sending their delegates, they must exer cise their right and should elect the most suitable people to represent them. ” [Report Majlis-e~Shiira 1941, pp. 2-3] W asiyyat N ot A P recondition for M embership of S hura It was proposed in Majlis-e-Mushawarat 1948 that only Musis should be allowed membership o f the Shura. Though a large majority voted in favour o f this proposal, Hadrat Musleh-e-Mau‘udra rejected the majority opinion and decided that Wasiyyat cannot be made a condition for membership o f Shura. He said: “The majority has recommended that Wasiyyat should be made a condition for membership o f Shura. But today I w ill make the decision, contrary to my usual practice. I do feel that there should be more restrictions concerning the membership o f Shura. The present rules are not enough. But the condition o f W asiyyat w ill serve no pur 131