The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 207
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama ' at - e -A hmadiyya being done by the Nazirs o f Sadr Anjuman, who are holding important posts. They indulged in prolonged dis cussions while the Khalifa was talking and they were sitting close to him. It seemed as if they were settling their family problems right here. I have felt this before and I want to draw your attention to it again. Let me make it clear that if there is a complaint against any Na zir in future, I w ill issue instructions for him to be expelled from Majlis-e-Shura. If there is something im portant, it can be conveyed in writing, or even a brief conversation w ill not interfere with the speech, but this is not what happens and a long conversation takes place. In these consultations, you should remember that you do not know who will say the right thing. Speak your mind, and then listen to what others have to say. I have occasion ally had the experience that the advice given by some educated person was not correct, while that o f an illiterate villager, who could not even speak w ell, proved to be right. Therefore it is important to bear in mind when listening to someone that God may possibly guide us through him. A question arose during the time o f the Holy Prophet5 3 as to how people should be called for prayers. An ordinary man suggested a method to the Holy Prophetsa, on hearing which Hadrat ‘Umar1 3 said that he too had thought o f the same method, and it was Adhan. So guidance in religious matters can come even from an ordinary person. We should listen to others attentively. It is a common practice nowadays that when a ‘lesser’ person is speaking, we do not pay attention to him, rather we turn away from him, whereas the Holy Prophef3 would listen attentively to any one who spoke to him. What is the use o f Shura if we do not listen attentively to everyone?” [Report Majlis~e~Shura 1934, pp. 11-15) 207