The next morning.
Mumin came to the library again. Mahim and his family were already sitting there. Zakia ran up to him. "Uncle! You came! Will you tell a story?"
Mumin smiled. "Yes, I will. The rest of yesterday's story."
Everyone sat down. Rokeya Begum brought tea. Mumin began—
"Yesterday I told you about Pharaoh's oppression. Today I will tell you how Allah destroyed Pharaoh through Musa (peace be upon him)."
Mahim listened attentively. Zakia was playing with a doll, but her ears were alert as she listened.
Mumin said—
"When Musa (peace be upon him) went to Pharaoh, Pharaoh arrogantly said, 'Am I not your lord? Do you have any lord besides me?' But Musa showed the signs of Allah. His staff turned into a snake. His hand began to shine."
Mumin recited a verse from the Qur'an—
"Then he went to them with our signs and clear proofs along with his brother Harun. But they were arrogant, and they were a criminal people." (Surah As-Saffat, verses 114–115)
Mahim said, "But Pharaoh still didn't accept?"
Mumin said, "No. He became even more arrogant. He began to oppress Musa and his people even more. Then Allah sent seven signs to Pharaoh—flood, locusts, lice, frogs, blood—punishments one after another. But every time Pharaoh made a promise and then broke it."
Mumin recited another verse—
"So We sent upon them the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, and the blood—distinct signs. But they were arrogant and were a criminal people." (Surah Al-A'raf, verse 133)
Rokeya Begum said, "Then what happened?"
Mumin said, "In the end, Allah drowned Pharaoh. When Pharaoh was drowning in the sea, he said, 'I believe that there is no true god except the One in whom the Children of Israel believe.' But at that time, faith is no longer accepted."
Mumin recited the verse—
"Today We will preserve your body so that you may be a sign for those who come after you. And indeed, many people are heedless of Our signs." (Surah Yunus, verse 92)
Mahim said, "So Pharaoh's body still exists?"
Mumin said, "Yes. It is in a museum in Egypt. So that people can see what happens to the arrogant."
Zakia suddenly said, "Uncle, then if people are bad, Allah catches them?"
Mumin smiled. "Yes, Zakia. Allah may delay, but He does not let go. Just as He caught Pharaoh, one day He will catch this Imolodia too."
Everyone fell silent. In Mumin's words, a light of hope appeared in Mahim's heart.
Just then the door opened and General Crane entered. Several soldiers followed him.
The general said, "Mumin, it's time for you to start your work. Come with me."
Mumin looked at Mahim. Mahim nodded and said, "Go. Trust in Allah."
Mumin stood up. Zakia held his hand and said, "Uncle, you'll come again, right?"
Mumin placed his hand on her head. "InshaAllah, Zakia. I will come again."
The general took Mumin to the research laboratory. A huge room. Countless scientists all around. This was Mahim's workplace. But today there was a separate arrangement for Mumin.
The general said, "Mumin, you know why you are here. We need solutions to some complex problems in creating anti-matter. Can you do it?"
Mumin looked around. All the scientists were staring at him. Some of them were smiling with disbelief. What could this crazy boy possibly do?
Mumin said, "First I need to know the problems."
The general gave a signal. A scientist stepped forward. Long hair, glasses. An annoyed expression on his face. He showed a tablet and said, "Look at this. We're facing a problem in the anti-matter trapping system. The magnetic field is becoming unstable. What's the solution?"
Mumin looked at the tablet. He stayed silent for a few seconds. Then he said—
"The trapping system you're using now is quintic field-based. But anti-matter particles are extremely unstable. They need a toroidal magnetic field. If you use a toroidal field generator, the stability of the field will increase by 67%. And to build that generator, you'll need high-temperature superconductors. You have those here."
The scientist froze. The irritation disappeared from his face. "You… how do you know that?"
Mumin said, "I know more. You should use phase change materials in your cooling system. The liquid helium you're using now is inefficient. If you use phase change materials, temperature control will become easier."
Another scientist stepped forward. "What can you say about the particle accelerator? Our energy consumption is too high."
Mumin said, "To reduce energy consumption, you should use plasma wakefield acceleration techniques. It's a thousand times more efficient than conventional accelerators. And to implement that, you'll need a laser–plasma interaction chamber. You have space for that here."
All the scientists were stunned. An elderly scientist said, "Boy, where did you learn all this? You don't even have a university degree?"
Mumin said, "I don't learn. I understand. Everything comes into my head. Musa… I mean, from inside me, I know everything."
The general was satisfied. "Excellent! You will start working from today. A separate team will be assigned for you."
Mumin said, "Okay. But I will work alone. If someone stays with me, I have problems."
The general nodded. "As you wish."
From that day, Mumin began working. Going to the lab every morning. Returning in the evening. And sometimes meeting Zakia in between.
On the first day he fixed the anti-matter trapping system. On the second day he changed the cooling system. On the third day he improved the efficiency of the particle accelerator. On the fourth day he reduced energy consumption by half. On the fifth day he created a new safety system. On the sixth day he tested the entire system.
On the morning of the seventh day, the general came to the lab. Mumin was sitting at his desk. All the scientists were standing around. Some had disbelief on their faces, some had astonishment.
Mumin said, "Your project is almost complete. The entire anti-matter production process is now automated. Now only regular maintenance is needed. Anyone can do it."
The general was surprised. "So quickly?"
Mumin said, "Seven days. You asked for it, I did it. Now can I meet the president?"
The general stayed silent for a moment. Then he said, "The president is waiting for you. You will meet him tomorrow morning."
Mumin nodded. "Alright."
He came out of the lab. Evening had fallen. Stars were appearing in the sky. Mumin looked up at the sky and whispered, "Ya Allah, You gave me this opportunity. The opportunity to go to that president. Give me strength so that I can make their plan fail. And may Zakia's grandparents be in Jannah. Ameen."
Someone called from behind. Zakia came running. "Uncle! I heard about you! Are you going to the president tomorrow?"
Mumin placed his hand on her head. "Yes, Zakia. I will."
Zakia said, "I will pray for you, Uncle. May Allah help you."
Mumin's eyes became wet. This little girl, who doesn't know that her grandparents are gone, is praying for Mumin.
Mumin said, "You pray for me too, Zakia. And I will pray for you."
The girl smiled. In her smile, it felt like the light of dawn.
Night fell over Imolodia. But today there was no darkness in Mumin's heart. Because he knows—Allah is there. And when Allah is with someone, nothing can defeat them.
Tomorrow he will meet the president. And that meeting may change the fate of Imolodia. InshaAllah.