The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 186
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J am A‘ at - e -A hmadiyya i. e. , have faith in God, Who w ill bless what ever decision is taken and He shall be with you. This is the Islamic concept o f Majlis-e-Shura. Therefore, all discussions as to whether women have this right or not, are absurd. Neither men nor women have any right, it is solely the prerequisite o f the Khalifa to hold consultations. As to how he should hold them, we know that during the time o f the Holy Prophet5 3 various methods o f consultation were adopted in various circum stances. An objection is at times put forward that the Holy Prophetsa never consulted men and women together. The fact is that this kind o f Majlis-e-Shura had not been established in his time, nor was there any occasion for such consultations. On the other hand, there were occa sions when cases related to men and women were presented separately, and the H oly Prophetsa held consul tations about them. During the Treaty o f Hudaybiyyah, a situation arose whereby the men lost control over them selves and adopted an attitude which greatly perturbed the Holy Prophetsa. On that occasion, he consulted Hadrat Umm-e-Salamahra, and it was her advice which turned out to be correct. Therefore, there can be no question o f ignoring the advice o f women. In the same context, the point discussed was whether men should hear the voice o f women or not. It is proven from Islamic histoiy that women would come to the Holy Prophetsa and present their problems, even personal prob lems, before him in the presence o f men, who narrated these incidents. They had not been invited as witnesses, but were already present on these occasions. Women would come to the Holy Prophetsa and say whatever they wanted to say. The fact that Hadrat ‘Ayeshara would ad 186