The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 319
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama ‘ at - b -A hmadiyya equal rights. And if someone is given greater authority for the sake o f management, it is only for the purpose o f facilitating things. It is not given to him as a birthright nor for any other reason. He represents the people and speaks on their behalf. He does not possess the rights which God has conferred upon mankind as a birthright or as personal privilege. Otherwise God would not give the injunction regarding consultations. The Holy Prophet* laid so much emphasis on consulta tion that he said, “Where there is no consultation, there is no blessing. ” He said, “Neither God nor His Prophetsa needs your advice, and it is only out o f compassion that He has given you this right. ” This is obvious, for consul tation means conveying something good and useful, and who would be capable o f doing such a service to God? As for the Prophet, he may be in need o f consultation as a person, but when God has provided him with every thing, he stands in no need o f consultation. But God says that consultation is a mercy for you. If the Holy Prophet* had not consulted his Companions, people who came af terwards, especially those with authoritarian tendencies, would have found an excuse for not consulting others be cause the Holy Prophet1 * did not do so. When the Holy Prophet* offered sunna prayers, it became a tradition; when he ordered the cutting o f a small part o f human flesh, it became a tradition; when he ordered the growing o f a beard, it became a tradition; so when he con sulted others, why should this not be appropriately deemed as a tradition? The Holy Prophet* used to consult others so that people would not be deprived o f the advantages with which God has imbued this process. There is a Punjabi saying: “A hundred w ise men, but the 319