Water Instead of Blood

and brought another, continuing this process until the man’s foot was thoroughly clean. This incident happened outside the railway station. During the conversation, Afzal told the man, “Brother, if you were a M (Muslim), or even if you were a NM (Non-Muslim), I would have to do the same because Islam commands us to do so.” Hearing this, the man embraced Afzal and said, “Brother, I am a nonMuslim, and this is the first time in my life I have met a Muslim like you. If other Muslims were like you, all quarrels would end.” Now the man was completely changed. Earlier, he had been burning with anger and a thirst for revenge, but now, feeling ashamed, he said to Afzal, “Brother, please forgive me. I caused you great trouble. Because of me, you had to bring water, and you even missed your three-wheeler.” Afzal replied, “Please don’t embarrass me. The real fault in this matter was mine, and bringing the water was my duty, which I have fulfilled.” The man who, at the beginning of the incident, had been blaming the other, in the end admitted his own fault, felt ashamed, and began asking for forgiveness. At the time this occurred, there was severe communal tension in the Jogeshwari area of Bombay, about fifteen kilometers from Kurla. Under those circumstances, if Afzal had responded to provocation with more provocation, the outcome could have been what has happened in many similar situations elsewhere: communal unrest, with loss of life and property. It could have been that instead of