Part 5/10:
Dabasir’s story takes a profound turn when he reflects on the nature of freedom. The Syrian master’s wife questions whether Dabasir’s external circumstances define whether he is a free man or a slave. She argues that true slavery is internal—that a man’s weakness and lack of will are what truly imprison him. Her insightful words resonate deeply in Dabasir’s heart, prompting reflection on whether his own internal state—his debts, his failures, his despair—kept him a slave even after physical freedom.
Through this introspection, Dabasir realizes that the perception of oneself—whether as a free man or a slave—depends on one’s inner resolve. If he harbored within him the spirit of a free man, he could rise above his circumstances.