The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 20
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama ‘ at - e -A hmadiyya elected, he should not adopt unilateral and tyrannical methods. He should always remember that the govern ment has been given to him as a trust, and he should keep in touch with public opinion and run the affairs o f state with consultation. Even to the H oly Prophetsa, God Almighty said, (Al-e-‘ImrSn, 3:160) This means, consult them in matters o f importance; and when thou art determined, then put thy trust in Allah. This instruction was not directed towards the Holy Prophetsa alone but was meant for all his Successors and follow ers. . . . In exceptional cases, however, Islam acknowledges the right o f the Amir to overrule the opinion o f the majority if he deems it necessary to do so. But, at the same time, the Shariah makes it binding upon the Amir not to resolve any important matter without consultation. Hadrat ‘Umar”1 , the second Khalifa o f the Holy Prophetsa, who is considered an authority in Islamic socio-politics, went so far as to say: [There is no Khilafat without consultation. ] This means that no Islamic government can be considered legal unless it establishes the institution o f Mushawarat. ” [Sirat Khatam-un-Nabiyyin, pp. 633-634] T he S tatus of M ushawarat in the S hariah The verses o f the Holy Quran and the Hadith quoted above throw light on the importance of Mushawarat in all important matters, whether they are related to governance or otherwise. The practice of the Holy Prophetsa bears out that he always consulted his 20