What Has Gone Before

In a dark alleyway an agile pickpocket tried to snatch Mulla Nasrudin's purse. Nasrudin was too quick for him, and there was a violent struggle. Eventually Nasrudin got this man down on the ground.

At this moment a charitable woman passing by called out:

You bully! Let that little man get up, and give him a chance.

Madam, panted Nasrudin, you ignore the trouble which I have had getting him down.

This spiritual story is from the book The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin by Idries Shah.