4. TWO DAYS IN NIZAMUDDIN

4. TWO DAYS IN NIZAMUDDIN ~ 114 ~ them seriously, then followed them to the mosque, tied the monkeys outside it, and himself entered the mosque to say his prayers. Similarly, a preacher who resorts to oral methods has another advantage, that is, if his congregation finds it difficult to understand his message, he can illustrate it by means of practical examples which bring the point home. The third benefit of the personal approach is that through contacts and exchanges of views, the missionary himself gains a great deal: new ideas, new ways of expression—and an access to the minds of the people, all of which helps him greatly to frame the message in a manner that others can understand. In the process, the style of expression becomes simpler and more real. It becomes lucid and spontaneous, and this certainly has a greater appeal for the listeners than the written word. During my stay at the centre, I heard the prayers of the chief of the Tabligh: one sentence of which ran like this: “May God bless our religious activities and activate us in every sphere connected with religion.” This shows that they are not merely