The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 3
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama ‘ at - e -A hmadiyya for, under the Covenant o f ‘Uqba, they were only obliged to defend Medina if it was attacked. Despite all the im passioned speeches, the Holy Prophetsa kept asking for more advice. Sa‘d bin Mu‘adhra, the Chief o f Aus Tribe, realized what the H oly Prophetsa sought, so he stood up to speak on behalf o f the Ansar, and said: “O Prophet o f Allah, I suppose it is our opinion that you await. God is our witness that, having accepted you as truthful and taken you for our guide, we shall go with you wherever you may lead us. We call Allah to witness, Who has sent you with the truth, that if you order us to jump into the sea, not a single one o f us w ill hesitate to do so. You shall, God w illing, find us steadfast in battle, and you shall see in us that which shall please you. ” ISirat Khatam-un-Nabiyyin, pp. 354-355] This, in short, was the first meeting which the Holy Prophetsa called to consult his Companions. The devo tion and spirit of sacrifice with which the Companions gave their advice, remains unparalleled in the history of the world. M ushawarat about the C aptives of B adr After his successful return from the Battle o f Badr, it was again through consultation that the Holy Prophetsa reached a decision about the prisoners o f war. It was the Arab custom to slay their prisoners o f war or to en slave them for life, but the Holy Prophetsa was strongly averse to either practice. Since he had not yet received any Divine revelation in this connection, he decided to put the matter before his Companions. Hadrat Abu Bakr™ was the first to respond: 3