The System of Mushawarat In Jamā at-e-ahmadiyya Presentation by: Mabroor Jattala Mu avin Sadr Lajna Ima illah USA LMC 2012 1
Shūrā Lifeline of the Islamic Order In a Friday Sermon, Hadhrat Khalīfatul Masīh IV (rh) said: After Khilāfat, Majlis-e-Shūrā is the most important institution in the Jamā at, for the two have been mentioned in the Holy Qur ān and in them lies the life of Islamic order. That is why I am stressing the importance of Majlis-e-Shūrā all over the world and I am also endeavouring to keep an eye on them, so that if and when some fault is observed, it is immediately rectified, so that no wrong tradition is passed on from us to the next generation [Friday Sermon, 30 April 1993, London, p.12] 3
Process in brief Local Level: Delegate selection Proposal submission Etiquettes of Shura Tradition of Shura The Agenda Rules for all Delegates to follow while Shura is in session Appointment of sub-committees At least ¼ Delegates below age 30 4
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Votes Must be Cast With a Clear Show of Hands 8
Shura Proposal Submission and Selection Process No individual proposal should be submitted to National on behalf of an individual member or any individual Āmila member. Only fresh proposal should be made for each year. There should be a 3 year gap to reconsider an old proposal. New proposal should be of non-admin nature, discussed openly at the local level, and then voted upon by eligible members. 9 The National Āmila members can also submit proposals as a body. No proposal are made under individual names / dept. Any proposal already being implemented in any way should not be considered. National Āmila to remove any proposal submitted in last 3 years and any items of Admin nature. Discussions takes place at the National level to select the final proposals. 2/3 of the quorum is required for the discussion and vote The selected proposals are submitted for Khalifatul Masīh s approval for inclusion in Shura discussion. Khalifatul Masih can permit the discussion of a proposal as is, amend it, or reject it all together. He can also add proposals, if he so wishes.
Proposal Categories 10
On the Shūrā Agenda Date, year, and chronological number of occurrence of the Shura must be on the Agenda for historical reference. Selected proposals 11
Traditions of Shūrā - Shura Hall Entry into the hall where Shura is being held is by an entry pass. Secretary Mushawarat issues different passes to Delegates and observers. Attendance of observers in Shūrā: Many members from the outside majalis who come to benefit from the Shura as visitors are given separate passes. In the Shura hall observers sit behind the Delegates and listen to the Shura quietly and attentively. They are never allowed to speak during Shura proceedings. Photography not allowed Volunteers must wear distinctive badges 12
Seating Arrangements For The Delegates With regards to the seating arrangements Hadhrat Musleh-Maud (rz) said: that the representative from each district should sit together so that they can consult one another when giving their opinion [report Majils-e-Shūrā, 1950, page 45 (242)] It has become a tradition of Shūrā that the Chairs of Shūrā representatives are set district [region]- wise and the arrangements are altered every year so different regions / representatives get chance to sit near stage in rotation. 13
Tilawat Pledge On Shūrā Program OPENING SESSION Message from Khalifatul Masih should be read. Opening address by Sadr Majlis-e-Shūrā SubCommittee formation Session concludes with Silent Prayer Non-Committee member are free until the next session 14
General Etiquettes of Shura Seeking permission for going out It has been established as a rule that the Delegates will not go out without permission during the proceedings of Shura. It is in fact the injunction of the Holy Qur an that when a meeting is being held to discuss important matters no one should leave without the permission of the Chair. 15
General Etiquettes of Shura Punctuality is a must Attendance of the Delegates When in doubt, ask about the procedure When speaking, the Chairperson alone should be addressed Whenever the Chair asks you to stop talking, you must stop immediately Cannot speak against one another Cannot speak referring to each other 16
Selection of Chair s Assistant To assist the Chair during sub-committee nomination process an Assistant [Muavin] is appointed from among the participants who is fully conversant with the procedures of Mushawarat and sits to the right of the Chairperson, and prepares the lists of the members of all sub- Committees. Hadhrat Khalifatul-Masīh IV (rh) instructed that the three copies of the list of these nominees should be prepared to avoid any confusion: 1) For Chairperson; 2) For the assistant; 3) For Secretary Majlis-e-Mushawarat 17
Appointment of Sub-Committee In an inaugural session of the Shūrā, sub- Committees are appointed to consider the points of Agenda in detail, and to formulate concrete recommendations after addressing all the relevant issues. The letter from secretary Shūrā, wherein she forwards the item of Agenda, also contains the instruction that the Shura representatives should consult among themselves and propose which of them should serve in any sub-committees. 18
Formation of Sub-Committees The Agenda generally comprised matters related finance, educations, tarbiyaat, tabligh, and issues of general nature. To consider these issues 3 or 4 sub-committees are considered sufficient, but not more than the number of proposals. Each sub-committee is comprised of about 30 members Nominees are competent and experienced and preferably, expert in the relevant field An expert of the related field is nominated as the Chair of the sub-committee It is improper to ask someone to propose your name for the sub-committee. There is no harm if you propose your own name or that of someone else. [address to Maljis-e-Shura Brussels 9 September 1992] Cont d. 19
Formation of Sub-Committees Do not propose name of people who are not present. Anyone who proposes the name of a person not present in Shūrā hall will be penalized Sub-Committee should consist of people from all walks of life It is not necessary for all Delegates to be made part of a Committee Any Delegate who, after having been informed of her inclusion in a sub-committee, is missing from the sub- Committee meeting will not be a Shūrā Delegate for the next 3 years Anyone who proposes the name of a non-delegate to a sub-committee will be suspended for the rest of the day s session Shūrā Chairperson will appoint Chairs and secretaries for each sub-committee. 20
General Provisions: Shūrā sub-committee meetings start with silent prayers, and roll call. A Sura Delegate must be present for the Majlis whose proposal has been accepted for Shura discussion and their Delegate should be on the sub-committee discussing the proposal. A sub-committee may leave the proposal of the Agenda unchanged, modify it, and / or make some new recommendation within the general scope of the proposal with a vote. 21
Shura Committee Discussion Process After formation of the Committee, the Committee Chair and the secretary announced the time and the place to meet with the Committee members Shura Committee should start and end with silent prayer, and roll call should be taken. Committee should discuss only the matter in front of them, and thoroughly. No one is allowed to leave the discussion without a solid reason and permission. If the Committee purposes an amendment to the original proposal vote must be taken and if the majority goes for the amendment, then only the amended proposal should be discussed. Vote should be taken and recorded for the favor of the proposals. Committee member in disagreement must reserve the right for descent from the proposal. Committee Chair and the secretary should compile the report as is. It should have a date, starting time and ending time. Committee Chair and the secretary should sign the report Before the next session the Committee report should be shared with the Committee members and there should be an agreement that the report is ready to be presented for discussion 22
Shūrā 2 nd Day Morning Session Opening formalities Presentation of Annual Report Previous Shūrā implementations report Secretary Shūrā presents each rejected proposal and explains detailed reason for rejection (from the following categories). Matter not related to Lajna Imā illah Matter administrative in nature Matter related to Khalīfa-tul Masīh Chair selects assistant (Mua vin) to help in Sub-Committee discussions. Sub-Committee reports discussions start. 23
Shūrā Discussion Etiquettes A member of the sub-committee can NOT speak against the recommendation of the sub- Committee, unless she has already handed in a notice of dissent Offer your name when names are invited for speaking about a proposal Committee members offering dissent are first called to express their concern. People from general Delegates body are next invited to speak 24
Shūrā Discussions and Report Sub-Committee reports are read, as is, in full (not bullets points or PPT.) All recommendations should be voted upon. Shūrā report for submission to Markaz is prepared strictly representing the discussions that took place and approved by sub- Committee members. 25
We Will Give due care for submitting the Shura proposals and selecting the Shura Delegates Follow the Shura etiquettes strictly Ensure that Shura Committee formation and the discussion will abide by the rules
Conclusion We must never allow ourselves to forget that the Institution of Shura is a blessing upon the Ummah which is today being championed by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. It is the solution to many difficulties faced by the Muslim Ummah and we must sincerely pray to Almighty Allah that He continues to shower upon us the blessings of mutual consultation, Insha- Allah. Ameen
Sources: The System of Mushawarat in Jama at-e- Ahmadiyya Shura Mutual Consultation by Adam Hani Walker, UK