First Grain of Sand — Page 72
56 FIRST GRAIN OF SAND belief system-it would have created a great deal of trouble. The Soviets would interpret the spread of a unified belief system as a conspiracy. When Abdul Qadir first entered our cell, Abdullah Khan lov- ingly took me aside and advised me in confidence to be careful of this person and not to preach too much to him. But since I was especially zealous at that time to convey the message of the Promised Messiahas and dispel the myths and misconceptions of the people, I did not want to be segregated from this newcomer. Instead, I continually answered his questions and objections. Little did I know that this person would later deliver a shocking and painful grief to me. Once, as soon as Abdul Qadir entered the room, he started speaking to Abdullah Khan, asking him when I would be released from prison. He asked this question because on the first day when he arrived into our cell, all the inmates in the cell introduced him to me in a very favourable manner. As soon as he asked this ques- tion, I asked my brother Abdullah to explain to him that God Almighty tells the Prophet Muhammadsas in the Holy Quran to say the following: لَوْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لَاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ [Say,] 'If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have secured abundance of good. (Sūrah al-A'raf, 7:189) If the Prophet of Godsas did not have knowledge of the unseen, who am I to know when in the future I will be released? The next day, he asked me a religious question through Abdullah Khan, saying to inform me that since he does not speak