The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 57
T he S ystem of M ush A warat in J ama ‘ at - e -A hmadiyya his last breath and left behind a highly organized and or dered institution of Mushawarat, which is doubtless a model for all consultative institutions o f the world. Whenever, due to lack o f understanding or proper train ing, some members spoke unnecessarily during the Shura, Hadrat Khallfatul Masih IIra would advise them in words such as these: “Yesterday I said that you should not speak just because you want to speak. You should speak only when it is really necessary. People tend to speak in haste because they lack wisdom , or perhaps they are so lost in their own thoughts that they do not hear what others are say ing and go on repeating the same things. ” [Report Majlis~e-Shura 1922, p. 32] There were times when Hadrat Khallfatul Masih IIra had to admonish the members in a considerate manner. Dur ing Majlis-e-Mushawarat 1923, in response to a question that was asked in an objectionable tone, Hudur™ said: “This is not a Parliament where people are incited against one another; this is Majlis-e-Mushawarat. If you do not understand something you should ask. Such problems are at times caused by a person’s tone. His intention may not be what his tone implies, and it may be his habit to speak in that tone. When the Quranic verse was revealed ad monishing the faithful not to raise their voices in the presence o f the Holy Prophet5 *, one o f his Companions, who had a loud voice, adopted complete silence and even avoided the company o f the Holy Prophetsa, for he be lieved him self to be a hypocrite on account o f his loud voice. He then had to be told the true connotation o f the 57