The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 388
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama ‘ at - e - ahmadiyya there are no restrictions, the discussion would continue endlessly. Therefore, the best procedure is to ask a ques tion, and if something has been left out (in the reply) it can be asked again. Seeking Clarifications from the Departments: The offices are open, you can seek clarifications from them as well. And if they fail to answer you, you have the right to in form me that such and such an office did not answer your query. Then I w ill look into the matter and decide whether or not it is in the interest o f the Jama'at for the question to be answered. If it is, I w ill instruct the office to furnish the reply, but if the reply is likely to lead to m ischief, or putting it in writing might cause us some problems, I w ill write to the person who has raised the question and tell him that I have satisfied m yself upon the matter, and it is only proper for that question not to be answered. What Questions can be Asked: I want to make it clear that only such important questions should be asked which help the interests o f the Jama'at, or give us some new in formation, or bring us some benefit, or remove some mischief. Asking aimless questions w ill only increase the burden upon the already overworked staff o f our offices. They w ill have to look into the records and a lot o f time w ill be wasted. ” (Report Majlis-e-Shura 1928, pp. 30-32] R estriction on A sking Q uestions : O nly P roposals may be P resented Asking questions in the Shura was a useful exercise, but it took a lot o f patience and forbearance to continue with this process. In practice, neither the questioners nor 3 8 8