Here is a story about a great Sufi Master who lived in Arabia. During a certain war, one day an enemy was fought. Now in those days battles were hand to hand fights. This man's enemy was in his hand, and he was about to kill him. But before he did so, the enemy spat in his face. The teacher immediately withheld his hand, and did not kill him. The enemy was greatly surprised at this and said: "you were about to kill me. Why did you not do so?" He replied: "one reason is that you have done such an action that it would rouse my anger, and if I had killed you while under the influence of anger I would have been acting against my principle. Therefore, as soon as I caught myself in this fault, I became unable to carry through my first intention."