| 520 |
|
|
|b The missionary who is desirous of achieving success will exert his utmost efforts for this sacred mission. He must work on improving his character and his competences in order to prepare himself commensurately for this noble task. This is not a task to be undertaken without a plan or in a haphazard fashion. An essential element of this preparation for success is for the missionary to organize himself and develop a strategic plan on how to nurture his relationships with his fellowmen. Indeed, the implementation of such a strategic plan of preparation should be given first priority. Understanding the personality of his listener and how he thinks is the most important aspect that the missionary should focus on. God’s servants come is many different kinds, with various personalities, and manifold natures. For this reason, it is important that the missionary know the mannerisms and idiosyncrasies of the people he is addressing so that he may deal with each individual in a way which is suited to the personality of that individual. This is the most important factor that determines whether the message of the presenter will be well received, or whether the listener will remain unconvinced. The wise missionary, before he begins this noble task, will meticulously study the conditions of his audience, and familiarize himself with the habitats, characters and moods of all the members of the society, great or small, wealthy or poor, male or female, educated or illiterate. Indeed, there are many varieties of people and no doubt they are not all equal. Each one is a special case and each must be approached in their own way. There are many instances in the Sunna of the Prophet and the sayings of the Companions that address this question of understanding the soul of the listener. These confirm for us the importance of this understanding. They guide us by giving us the example of the Prophet on how to achieve success in this endeavor. When the missionary of God’s call possesses this kind of wisdom and insight in his dealings with his audience, then he will have the ability to deliver his message. He will have the power to manage the exigencies and realities of any situation he may face. His organizational preparation will allow him to make his presentation to large groups as well as to individuals. This is the subject we will attempt to elucidate in this study. The missionary who is desirous of achieving success will exert his utmost efforts for this sacred mission. He must work on improving his character and his competences in order to prepare himself commensurately for this noble task. This is not a task to be undertaken without a plan or in a haphazard fashion. An essential element of this preparation for success is for the missionary to organize himself and develop a strategic plan on how to nurture his relationships with his fellowmen. Indeed, the implementation of such a strategic plan of preparation should be given first priority. Understanding the personality of his listener and how he thinks is the most important aspect that the missionary should focus on. God’s servants come is many different kinds, with various personalities, and manifold natures. For this reason, it is important that the missionary know the mannerisms and idiosyncrasies of the people he is addressing so that he may deal with each individual in a way which is suited to the personality of that individual. This is the most important factor that determines whether the message of the presenter will be well received, or whether the listener will remain unconvinced. The wise missionary, before he begins this noble task, will meticulously study the conditions of his audience, and familiarize himself with the habitats, characters and moods of all the members of the society, great or small, wealthy or poor, male or female, educated or illiterate. Indeed, there are many varieties of people and no doubt they are not all equal. Each one is a special case and each must be approached in their own way. There are many instances in the Sunna of the Prophet and the sayings of the Companions that address this question of understanding the soul of the listener. These confirm for us the importance of this understanding. They guide us by giving us the example of the Prophet on how to achieve success in this endeavor. When the missionary of God’s call possesses this kind of wisdom and insight in his dealings with his audience, then he will have the ability to deliver his message. He will have the power to manage the exigencies and realities of any situation he may face. His organizational preparation will allow him to make his presentation to large groups as well as to individuals. This is the subject we will attempt to elucidate in this study.
|
