First Grain of Sand — Page 84
68 FIRST GRAIN OF SAND ask what type of things I talked about. So he explored multiple ways to inquire about me. As high ranking of an officer he was, I can say that Allah gave him a great level of understanding as well. His name was Бельский [pronounced Belsky]. Abdul Qadir remained in my cell for at least a month, and he would feverishly ask various questions every single day. His big- gest curiosity was on the topic of why the condition of Muslims in those days was so poor and what could be done to improve their condition. He asked me if Muslims would one day rule again. He asked when the Dajjaal [Antichrist] would appear, when Muslims would finally be able to rule, when would disbelief be eradicated from this world, when would Muslims finally gain freedom from the cruel Soviet government, etc. While asking me such suspicious questions, he would also offer me exquisite food-which I would often refuse because of my nature. Of course, I would not refuse food offered with love and sincerity. By the wisdom of God, on the day he was put into my prison cell, about fifteen influential businessmen of the Muslim city of Tashkent were also brought in who were victims of Abdul Qadir and imprisoned due to him. It was God's will that they should partake in the blessings that God Almighty had sent in this age. Thus, everything he asked me, those around me would share with others, and they would compliment me a lot. Sometimes I would give some of the food I received to other Russian pris- oners in adjacent prison cells. I had taken a Lipton tea box with me, which was given to me during the month of Ramadan while at Tashkent. I put half of that tea in paper and distributed it among the prisoners in my cell, as well as those in adjacent cells, including some Muslim inmates and some Russian inmates who