That believer had accompanied him in the hope of attaining some favor or good from him, but the second believer [the current owner] fell short in fulfilling the rights due to him. He began to find fault with him and delayed him through 'long-hope' (tul al-amal). The [first] believer continued to obey him in hopes of attaining good, until his days went to waste and he attained no praise or good from what he had hoped for, until he died in that state.

When he was returned in the Second Cycle (Al-Karra al-Thaniya), Allah—the Mighty and Majestic—gave the turn (adāla) to the aggrieved believer over the believer who did not fulfill his right, nor establish the duty of brotherhood and faith toward him until his hope was cut off. Thus, Allah granted him ownership over his believing brother’s neck in exchange for his labor, like for like and measure for measure. Allah—the Mighty and Majestic—is Justice and does not wrong; so the path of kingdom and slavery from this perspective is as I have informed you."

I said: "Master, describe to me the other aspect?"

He said: "That concerns freedom and slavery between [the believer] and his Lord. Indeed, for the believer there are many degrees, and for each degree there is a sign.