The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 404
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama * at - e -A hmadiyya aspects o f the matter under discussion, and I expect mem bers to offer their own considered opinion when asked for it. It is not right to change one’s own opinion just because a Prophet or a Khalifa has expressed his. But if a person’s opinion is truly changed after he has heard the arguments, then no one can compel him to stick to his previous opin ion, for his opinion has been changed by the force o f argument. Thus, if a person honestly changes his opinion, there can be no objection against him. But if he sticks to his previous opinion, he should present it honestly, even though the Khalifa differs with him. Since the matter under discussion was a vital one, I chose to express my opinion about it, but it does not mean that you, too, should express the same opinion. When you are asked for your opinion, you should say what you truly believe. However, if you have changed your opinion, then you have the right to pre sent your altered opinion and discard the previous one. ” [Report Majlis-e-Shura 1943, pp, 20-29] E lecting O ffice -B earers through the E lectoral C ollege (3) The second question raised in this context was that, if the office-bearers are elected through an electoral col lege, people will be deprived o f their right to vote, and this will not be fair. Hadrat Musleh-e-Mau‘udra clarified the question and then mentioned the advantages o f the proposed regulation. He said: “I believe that this question is very important, but it be comes irrelevant if the Jama’at abides by the instructions which I have been giving them from time to time. There is no doubt that if only a few people are given the right to select office-bearers, the rest o f the members w ill become like useless limbs and their power o f reflection 4 0 4