The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 235
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama ‘ at - e ~A hmadiyya In the beginning, anybody who wanted to ^express his views about a proposal would stand up and would be al lowed to speak. But Hadrat Musleh-e-Mau‘udra did not approve of this practice. He decided that a list should first be prepared o f all those who wish to speak on the pro posal, and then the Assistant to the Chair will call them to speak in turn. Anyone who stands up during the discus sion and wants to speak will not be allowed to do so. [Report Majlis-e-Shnra 1927, p. 140] A very interesting point was raised during the same Shura. One o f the delegates suggested that the gentleman assisting the Chair should not sit on the right hand o f Hudur. At this Hadrat Musleh-e-Mau‘udra remarked: “As already explained, the previous procedure that any one who wished to speak could stand up and do so, has been changed. The new procedure is that after a proposal has been read out, the names o f those who wish to speak upon it w ill be written down by Chaudhry Zafrullah Khan Sahib, who w ill then call each o f them to speak in turn. Since Chaudhry Sahib does not know the names o f everyone, therefore, those who stand up w ill first call out their names. The delegates should also note that if they have to say anything they must give their names immedi ately after a proposal has been read out. Those who stand up later w ill not be permitted to speak. One gentleman has suggested that Chaudhry Sahib should not sit on my right. I do not understand what he means, but I know the saying o f the Holy Prophet5 1 1 , that when only two people are praying together the second person should stand on the right side o f the Imam. So, 23 5