The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 30
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J am A‘ at - e -A hmadiyya question that remained was how to apply it. Even when the Khalifa rejected the opinion o f the major ity, he would not force his decision upon them, but would put forward his arguments and try to convince the sceptics. For instance, when the question about the con quered lands o f Iraq came up, a grand Shura was called which included, apart from Muhajirin and Ansar, ten prominent leaders from the tribes o f Aus and Khazraj. The majority differed with Hadrat ‘Umar1 3 and suggested that the control o f the conquered lands should be given to the army. Hadrat Imam Abu Yusuf has referred to this event as follows: Hadrat ‘Abdur Rahman bin ‘Auf” said that those who conquered the land with their swords were more entitled to it than anyone else. Hadrat Bilal” also advocated this idea so forcefully that Hadrat ‘Umar” was displeased and had to say: j [O God, help me over Bi lal and his friends. '] Hadrat ‘Umar”, however, was o f the view that since the land was the property o f the Govern ment, it should be allowed to stay in the possession o f its inhabitants. Hadrat ‘A ll” , Hadrat ‘Uthman” and Hadrat Talha” were also o f the same opinion. . . . The matter was taken up in Majlis-e-Shura and the debate went on for several days. People expressed their opinions boldly and confidently, but as they could not come to a definite conclusion, Hadrat ‘Umar” postponed the meeting pending further deliberations. He later recalled the Shura and opened the meeting with these remarks: “I have bothered you to come forward and help me to discharge the responsibility which has been placed on 30