The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 436
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama ' at - e -A hmadiyya Hudur also rejected the thinking that the decisions taken by previous Khulafa were more realistic and enduring, and the Khalifa should not even think making any changes in them. Hudur explained the consequences of such thinking, and said that no distinction is to be made between the representatives o f God as far as obedience is concerned. The circumstances, due to which Hadrat Musleh-e-Mau‘udra imposed restrictions on receptions given by the bride’s parents, have changed with the pas sage of time. The living standards of the members of the Jama'at has improved considerably, by the grace o f God, and members of the Jama'at are now so well off that they vie with one another in making greater financial contributions for the Jama'at. These increased financial sacrifices are an indication o f their improving financial condition. In keeping with the altered circumstances and the modem requirements, some form o f hospitality by the parents of the bride should not be deemed as viola tion o f the restrictions, and should not be seen as something meriting punitive action. N eed for U nity and U niformity in the J ama ‘ at Hudur said that the proposal was neither meant to permit such hospitality, nor to encourage it. Its aim was to deal with the issues that had come up with changing circum stances, to create uniformity and unity in the Jama'at, to stop the Jama'at from following undesirable traditions, and not to compel them into disobedience. In these times, when people are stopped from certain things, they 43 6