The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 24
T he S ystem of M ushawarat m J am A‘ at - e -A hmadiyya found Medina in turmoil. Some of the tribes had rebelled and others were refusing to pay Zakat. In addition to these hazards, Hadrat Abu Bakrra also had to dispatch an expedition under the command of Hadrat Usama bin Zaidra, which the Holy Prophetsa had ordered to be sent during his lifetime. In these circumstances, Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddiq1 3 sought the advice o f the Companions, including Hadrat ‘Umar13. They were o f the view that, owing to the great danger faced by the Muslims in Medina, it would be better to postpone the expedition. Hadrat Abu Bakr1 3 , however, refused to accept this. He said: “I swear by Him in Whose hand is my life, that even if I am in danger o f being carried away by the beasts o f the jungle, I shall not stop Usama’s expedition, which the Holy Prophet1 3 had him self ordered. I shall send this ex pedition even if I am the only living soul left in Medina. ” [Sirat Hadrat ‘Abu Bakr Siddlq-e-Akbar by Muhammad Hussain Haikal (translated), p. 137] When some Muslim tribes refused to pay Zakat, Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddlqra called a meeting o f Shura and invited the eminent Companions for consultation. Their unani mous opinion was that, under the circumstances, these people should be dealt with leniently. Hadrat Imam Suyutlrh has related this incident as follows: Hadrat ‘Umar” advised the Khalifa not to go to war, but Hadrat Abu Bakr” said: “If people refuse to pay even a small sum, or decline to offer lambs, as they did in the days o f the Holy Prophetsa, by God I shall go to war to collect these dues. ” Hadrat ‘Umar1 3 asked: How can you 24