If he is in the lowest of his degrees regarding what is obligatory upon him of the Outward (Zahir)—establishing prayer, fasting, zakat, pilgrimage, jihad, and other religious laws—then he is a 'slave owned' (abd mamluk). He must establish these laws at the limit of slavery, willingly and not reluctantly, until he reaches the 'Degree of the Free' (Darajat al-Ahrar)."

I said: "My Master and Liege... and what is the Degree of the Free?"

He said: "It is when he knows Allah and reaches the end of Gnosis (Ma'rifa) sincerely and without doubt; [knowing] that his Lord is the Most High, the Most Exalted, and acknowledging His Lordship and Oneness, and that He is Self-Sufficient (Ghani) and Mighty."

I said: "My Liege, what is the meaning of Self-Sufficient (Ghani)?"

He said: "Self-Sufficient in Himself, apart from others; satisfied, having no need for any of His creation, while all creation is in need of Him and impoverished for His mercy. If he [the believer] follows this example and knows Allah by this attribute, he has reached the end. He has exited the Wilderness (Al-Tayh) and the limit of kingdom and slavery, and has become Free—obeyed wherever he turns in earth and sky... etc."

Meaning that it is obligatory for the believer to persist in establishing the Outward Boundaries (Al-Hudud al-Zahira) until he