The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 182
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J am A‘ at - e -A hmadi yya have to consider at the moment is that if the women are to be given representation, to what degree should it be. A Memorable Warning: Hadrat Musleh-e-Mau‘ud’sra as sessment was very interesting. He said that the conviction expressed by each side that its opinion is categorically established by Shariah, is meaningless and irrelevant. What is categorically established is that the Holy Quran neither permits nor forbids us in this matter. It is in fact a theoretical issue. And if we were to deprive the women o f a certain right, while Islam does not de prive them o f it, this may result in very dangerous tendencies, and it is possible that at one time women may refuse to accept these rules which have been made by men and not by God. In such a case, the responsibility shall rest wholly and solely with Majlis-e-Shura. Thus Hadrat Musleh-e-M au‘udra gave a grand warning. On the other hand, however, he declared with great resolve that, as far as the Quranic injunctions are concerned, there is no fear in my heart regarding their implementation. If the women defy the implementation o f Quranic injunc tions, we w ill not be bothered in the least. This is what God desires and we shall honestly decide accordingly and we shall definitely implement God’s will. And if, as a re sult o f this, liberal women are offended or turn away, we shall not be responsible for it. These are the command ments o f God; He is responsible for their implementation and has the power to implement them. The First Ahmad! Woman to Offer her Opinion in Shura: Thus it was established that since this was an intellectual mat ter, it would not be proper to deprive the women in the name o f the Shariah. As far as the personal opinion o f Hadrat Khallfatul Masih IIra was concerned, it becomes 182