First Grain of Sand — Page 95
SOVIET PRESSURE INTENSIFIES 79 secular matters as well such as math, geometry, and other English sciences. This would somehow prove to him that I am not a mere religious missionary but, instead, a political character. I became very cautious of his approach and answered each of his questions by saying, 'I am a religious teacher. What concern do I have with these worldly sciences?' Thus, one day they informed me that the questions for that day would all be general knowledge in nature. He said we would have a friendly discussion on different topics of knowledge. Each time, I would turn his mind and attention to the fact that since I am a missionary, he should ask me about issues of prayer, fasting, the translation of the Holy Quran, etc. , and that I can comforta- bly answer any question regarding Arabic knowledge according to my abilities. One day they brought me in, and I saw there was a second presiding officer in the room for the first time, who was busy writ- ing things down. They asked me if I knew how to speak English, to which I replied in the negative. To that, the new second officer spoke up with a loud and enthusiastic voice, asking in English, 'Don't you know English?' Perhaps he was hoping I would instinc- tively answer yes or no, thereby indicating that I understood the English question he just asked. I responded by addressing the translator very respectfully, saying 'Brother, tell them that I don't speak Russian. While I spoke, the State Prosecutor looked very carefully at my face. The translator told him in Russian that I said I do not speak Russian, which was true. The State Prosecutor asked the second officer in the room his opinion, and the second officer conceded that he did not think I understood English. Then they once called me and asked if I was familiar with