Rules of Shura or Maswara in Tabligh

 Collected from the speech of Maulana Saad Kandhlawi (Collection date: 2023)

1. As Salah is important for Deen, Shura is also important for Dawah efforts. The one has no Salah, has no deen. The Muballig/Daee who has no shura, has no Dawah.
2. Weakness of effort is the weakness of Shura. The effort of Dawah becomes weak because Shura becomes weak.
3. The goal of Shura is not to fulfill the tasks(takaja). But the goal of Shura is to unify the brothers of Dawah. Tasks or duties will be accomplished by responsible brothers who have the intention of sacrifice.
4. Those Shura are not weak and can’t fulfill the tasks. But weak Shura are those where members are absent.
5. Someone prepares for effort and prepares from Shura. Someone plans to quit the effort, quit through the Shura.
6. There is no Faisal (Leader/Decision Maker) without Shura and there is no Shura without any Faisal. For as there is no Jamah (Team) without Ameer (leader).
7. Any member doing Shura with any individual is the weakness of Shura.
8. Doing Shura avoiding any responsible member/shathi is the weakness of Shura. Shathi/member will not do shura individually with another shathi/brother avoiding jamat is not acceptable.
9. When there is no responsible/jimmadar-shathi is not available then it is better to keep pending the Shura. Jamat should not make any important decisions without Jimmadar/responsible members.
10. He who has no importance of Shura, decisions made by his Shura will not get importance to others.
11. The decision in Shura will not be based on a number of votes but based on wisdom.
12. In the Shura, the opinion must come from elders first, then from the active and sacrificial shathi/members.
13. One who wants to pass his opinion will decorate his opinion.
14. One who wants to pass his opinion will make an environment before Shura. (From Hadith: He who wants to pass the opinion failing others will ensure a part of Jahannam/Fire.)
15. Opinion has two kinds:
• Place an opinion in a way that it should be granted.
• Place an opinion but be ready to follow any decision made by Shura.

16. Don’t accept emotional (hostile) opinions as emotional opinions damage the effort.
17. Assemble opinions so and so that, it does not require any explanation.
18. More and more opinions are not contradictory but cause accuracy.
19. Every idea has some lack but when it is placed on Shura for opinions then the idea becomes perfect.
20. When a Jimmadar (responsible) gives a task to an irresponsible person only because of tribalism/clanism (Assabiyya) then he is under the curse/damn (Lanat) of Allah.
21. After completion of the Shura if any member says who did the Shura or who was the decision maker then it is a great FITNA.
22. If any loss comes after Shura and someone says it happened because of avoiding my opinion then this kind of attitude is the nature of Munafik. A believer must say whatever happened is the will of Allah subhanuwatala.
23. During the Shura take the opinion from those who used to keep quiet. Else after Shura they will complain by saying the decisions were made without my acknowledgement.
24. After Shura, if anyone asked what was your opinion (rai)? Then reply to him ‘Whatever decide is my opinion’. If asked again then reply to him ‘I have already given my opinion (not interested in discussing it now).’
25. If Shura decides any umar/issue without any Jimmadar (responsible sathi), then Jimmadar will assemble a group against the Shura members. Brothers will backbite each other’s. So, the takaja/tasks will be disrupted.
26. If any Sathi discharges (escapes) his responsibilities to others without any proper reason then he is refuser of effort.
27. He who discharges his responsibilities to others Allah will replace him with another. 
28. There is no shame where effort goes with Shura.
29. Don’t cut the opinion of others and do not consider anyone incapable.
30. Ameer (Leader/Decision Maker) will not consider majority or minority.
31. Shura is sunnah but heartbreaking is Haram. Opinions might be different in Shura but after a decision taken by Ameer (Leader), everyone must unify with Ameer and his Decision. Consider the decision as their personal opinion.
32. In the path of Allah there are three subjects of Shura
• Following our Jamat how to arrange a group for Khuruj/come out to learn Deen.
• How to live up the Imaan and Amal among the Muslims of the area.
• Organize the 24-hour schedule of Jamat.

33. Attend the Shura to follow(obey) not to be convincer.
34. While giving an opinion don’t act like a judge.
35. If anyone says the loss occurred for not following my opinion then these are acts of a hypocrite (munafiq).
36. The decision of a Shura can be changed through another Shura. A responsibility might be changed by a Shura.
37. Shura will cover both Deen and Dunia (Religious and worldly matters).
38. Shura is a loving deed (act) of Allah, Sunnah of Prophets, manner of Sahaba, and necessity of ours.
39. Give an opinion for the benefit of Deen.
40. Doing discussion before Shura is a Plot. Doing discussion after Shura is rebellion.
41. Ameer of the Shura needs to have three qualities:
1. Old workers/Experience of Khuruj or Safar
2. Participants in Five Amal.
3. Attitude of unify.

42. Ameer of moving Jamat needs to have three qualities:
1. Love of Mother
2. The look of Father
3.  Guide of Teacher 

 

*) Variance of Opinion is a blessing (Rahmat) and Variance of Hearts are Punishment.

*) Shura for personal/individual affair is Sunnah and Shura for public affairs (Jamat/Istemaie) is mandatory (Wajib).

Here,
Daee=Muballig/Preacher/Sathi/Members of Dawah, Opinion=Rai, Takaja=Tasks/issues, Shura=Discussions/Decision making meeting, Jimmadar=Responsible/Active dawah workers, Ameer=Leader of a team.