The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 389
T he S ystem of M ush A warat in J ama ‘ at - e -A hmadiyya those who answered them took the process seriously, nor did they try to benefit from it. For many years Hadrat Musleh-e-Mau‘udra continued to guide those who asked the questions and those who answered them, and ex plained to them the aim and purpose o f this exercise, but at last when he felt that it was adversely affecting the gravity and solemnity o f the Shura, he decided that ques tions would no longer be allowed. On the other hand he said that there would be no restriction in presenting any thing as a proposal. Hudur said: Two Decisions about the Shura: “I want to inform M ajlis-e- Shura that I have made two "decisions in the light o f our past practice. When I established the institution o f Shura, I said that it would not be advisable to formulate the rules at the very beginning, for they might create problems at * a later stage. Let the process go on as it is and let us keep suggesting rules and regulations as and when required. Experience has shown that this was the right decision. There is one aspect o f the Shura which is adversely af fecting the solemnity and decorum o f Majlis-e-Shura, and it is the aspect o f the questions. Despite my repeated exhortations, many o f the questions that are asked look very much like the questions that are raised in govern ment institutions. The words convey one thing, while the underlying intent is quite different. The purpose o f such questions is not to correct or to rectify something, they are meant to ensnare those to whom the questions are put, and the latter consequently respond in a manner that is intended to ward off the criticism. This causes a rust in the heart o f the questioner and also disheartens the work ers. It also strikes at the root o f honesty and righteousness. 389