Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 267
267 Islam requires Muslims to elect as their ruler a man whom they regard as best fitted to discharge the responsibilities of that office. Such a man, when elected, holds office, not for a period of years like the presidents of the Western Republics but for life, and God alone can remove him from office, i. e. , by death. All the power and authority of government vests in him, and it is his duty to devote the whole of his life to the promotion of the welfare of his people and not to seek his own ag- grandisement. His control over the treasury is limited; he may spend national funds only on national needs and requirements, and cannot fix his own allowances. This must be done by his Advisory Council. It is the duty of the sovereign to ascertain the views of the people through this Council. On special occasions and with reference to special matters the opinion of the people may be ascertained by him through a general referen- dum, so that any differences between the views of the people and those of their representatives may come to his knowledge. He is expected to respect the opinion of a majority of the representatives, but as he is above all political partisanship and has no personal interests to serve, his own opinion is believed to be entirely impar- tial and influenced only by considerations relating to the welfare of his country and his people. Besides being the true representative of his people, Islam promises special Divine grace and help to the Khalifah. He is, therefore, authorized in special circumstances and in matters of special importance, to overrule the opinion of the major- ity of his advisers.