The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 25
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama ‘ at - e -A hmadiyya go to war, when the Holy Prophet5 1 3 has clearly said, “I am responsible for the life and property o f anyone who proclaims *i5\ JjJ/j XLAJXiH [There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger ], and I shall give them their rights; as for the rest, they w ill be answerable before God. ” Hearing this, Hadrat Abu Bakr” said, “I shall certainly go to war against anyone who tries to separate Zakat from Salat. ” [Tarflch-uI-KhuIafa, pp. 74-75] The following extract by Hadrat Khallfatul Masih IVrh further clarifies this point: “Khilafat does not only submit to God, but also submits to the authority o f its predecessors, so much so, that it loses itself in submission to them. This also shows— and this is what the Khulafa have also understood— that the verse (Al-e-Tmran, 160) equally applies to anyone who * becomes the leader o f the Muslim umma after the Holy Prophetsa, whether he is appointed directly by God— as the Promised Messiah (as) was— or is otherwise elected. Whenever he makes a decision, he shall do so through consultation. But only he shall make the final decision, and he shall be helped by God in whatever he decides. He has to put his trust in God, only then shall he be able to make his decisions. ” [Friday Sermon, 31 March 1995, Al~Fadl International 18-22 May 1995, p. 8) Hence, during the Khilafat of Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddiqra the opinions of eminent Companions were sought in all matters of importance, but it was the Khalifa who always made the final decision, and even the Companions who differed with him would submit to it. Hadrat Abu Bakr 25