The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 174
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama * at - e -A hmadiyya nouncement to this effect, and those who wish to con tribute should do so. I hope that this project w ill be completed soon. ” [Report Majlis-e-Shura 1928, p. 61] Hadrat Musleh-e-Mau‘udra was o f the view that the women should be given representation in Majlis-e- Shura. The discussion regarding the women’s hostel worked as a spur and at the end o f the same Majlis-e- Shura, Hudur said: “I had wanted to make a long speech, but now I shall confine m yself to just one point which I want you to think about. It w ill be placed on the Agenda o f M ajlis-e- Mushawarat next year. It did not come to my mind merely as a result o f yesterday’s discussion, but I had al ready made a note o f it, and it has to do with the representation o f women. Before taking any decision, however, I would like to hear your opinions. I want to ask you, and particularly the scholars among you, whether or not the women should be given representation in the Majlis-e-Mushawarat. And if so, to what extent? The question about representation o f women is being raised everywhere and it should be taken up in our Jama'at also. When Islam has given men and women equal rights in certain matters, why should they not be consulted on important issues as well? The Holy Prophetsa him self would consult the people in his household, why then should our women not be given this right? This discus sion should be held on the basis o f arguments as to whether women should be given the right o f representa tion or not. This is something which has to be deliberated upon and it shall be put before Majlis-e-Mushawarat next 174