The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 194
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J am A‘ at - e -A hmadiyya even a paisa is special, and it has nothing to do with sin cerity o f the person. The word “special” only distinguishes between the affluent and the not so affluent. The affluent are very few. The implication o f the words Chanda ‘Am (common subscription) is not that the common people are inferior, but it only means that the condition o f affluence is removed and the Chanda is col lected from the entire Jama'at. Therefore, I agree with those who say that these fifty thousand rupees should be collected from the affluent. The rest o f the Jama'at, who cannot pay a substantial sum, may be kept in reserve. The logic offered by one member that Chandas are mostly paid by the rich and poor people do not pay, is an impu tation against the Jama'at. Actually, the major part o f our contributions comes from the poor, but this time we want to keep them in reserve so that when we are in need o f more contributions we w ill accept from them as w ell. Their contributions are small, not because they do not want to pay more, but because they cannot pay more. But when w e make an assessment, w e find that the total con tribution made by the poorer members o f our Jama'at is greater than that o f the affluent. ” [Report Majlis-e-Shura 1923, pp. 49-50] A n E x h o r t a t i o n t o S p e a k w i t h C o u r a g e a n d C o n v i c t i o n While explaining the rules and etiquette o f Shura to the delegates, Hadrat Musleh-e-Mau‘udra also instructed them that whenever they participate in Shura, they should ex press their views with courage and confidence. But, at the same time, it is important that their intentions and desires should remain subordinate to the will o f Allah. In the Fri day Sermon before the inauguration of Shura 1927, 194