The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 145
T he S ystem of M ush A warat in J ama ‘ at - e -A hmadiyya dispelled. People have now begun to realize that' Majlis- e-Shura has its own importance, regardless o f the fact that the Khalifa takes the final decision. Some other faults are also being corrected gradually. Though people still at times make unnecessary speeches during Shura, those who attend it regularly can feel that a change has gradually come about. People now tend to speak only when they consider it truly necessary. It has also been observed that the system has matured consid erably, and suggestions are sent to Shura after full thought and deliberation; and people who wish to speak do so at the proper time and occasion. In short, I see great improvement in the working o f Majlis- e-Shura. Our members now have a greater realization o f its importance and are better conversant with the workings o f the Jama'at. Mistakes are still made, but they are far. fewer, and result mostly from individual dispositions. ” [Report Majlis-e-Shura 1941, pp. 3-4] A nother I mportant P rinciple for S electing R epresentatives Hadrat Musleh-e-Mau‘udra instructed members o f the Jama'at to improve and reform their own selves, because the whole Jama'at has to be established on Taqwa before it can come up with the best representatives. He stressed this point in his Friday Sermon prior to the first session o f Majlis-e-Mushawarat 1952: “Unless people truly reform themselves, and become God fearing, and adopt the spirit o f moderation and reflection, and utilize their minds and their wisdom, their representa tives w ill remain devoid o f truth and righteousness, and they w ill be at par with those who have no one to represent 145