batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l16026-l16159
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l16026-l16159
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
passage_locator:
label: PUBLIC SERVICES, / AND EMINENT LITERARY ATTAINMENTS, / THE TRANSLATOR. /
PREFACE; lines 16026-16159
start: '16026'
end: '16159'
translation: The Koran (Al-Qur'an), Rodwell
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The passage exhorts the addressed recipient to follow revelation until
God judges. Editorial notes compare some prior Quranic details with biblical,
rabbinic, midrashic, and Talmudic traditions. Sura Saba opens by praising God
as owner and knower of heaven and earth, affirms the coming Hour, promises reward
and punishment, recounts gifts given to David and Solomon, describes Solomon's
death being disclosed when a reptile gnaws his staff, and narrates Saba's gardens,
ingratitude, flood, altered vegetation, scattering, and Eblis' influence over
most of them.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The addressed recipient is told to follow what is revealed and to persevere
until God judges.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The passage states that God possesses what is in the heavens and on the earth
and knows what enters and leaves the earth and what descends from and ascends
to heaven.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:3
text: Unbelievers deny that the Hour will come, while the speaker affirms that it
will come and that nothing escapes God's knowledge.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:4
text: Believers who do right are promised pardon and noble provision, while those
who oppose the signs are threatened with painful torment.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The passage says God could sink people into the earth or cause part of heaven
to fall upon them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: 'David receives a special boon: mountains and birds are commanded to answer
his songs of praise, and iron is made soft for him to make coats of mail.'
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Solomon is given command of the wind, a fountain of molten brass, and Djinn
who work before him by God's permission.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: The Djinn make for Solomon lofty halls, images, large dishes, and firmly standing
cooking pots.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: Solomon's death is not perceived until a reptile of the earth gnaws the staff
supporting his corpse; when the staff falls, the Djinn recognize their lack of
unseen knowledge.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: Saba has two gardens, one on the right and one on the left, and is instructed
to eat from God's provision and give thanks.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:11
text: After Saba turns aside, a flood is sent, and the gardens are changed into
gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisk, and a few jujube trees.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:12
text: Saba is scattered after asking for longer distances between journeys, and
the passage says Eblis was followed by all except a remnant of the faithful.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: God
description: Divine owner of heaven and earth, knower of the unseen, judge, giver
of reward and punishment, and giver or withholder of blessings.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: addressed recipient of revelation
description: The figure addressed as 'thee' and told to follow revelation; the unbelievers
describe him as a man who foretells restoration after bodily destruction.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: unbelievers
description: Those who deny the Hour, accuse the addressed man of lying or being
possessed by a djinn, and are associated with chastisement and estrangement from
God.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: believers who do right
description: Those promised pardon and a noble provision.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: those to whom knowledge has been given
description: Those who see that what has been sent down is truth and guidance.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: David
description: Recipient of a divine boon involving responsive mountains and birds
and softened iron for making coats of mail.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Solomon
description: Recipient of command over the wind, molten brass, and Djinn laborers;
his death is hidden until his supporting staff is gnawed.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Djinn
description: Supernatural workers serving Solomon by God's permission; their ignorance
of the unseen is disclosed after Solomon's death.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: reptile of the earth
description: A creature that gnaws the staff supporting Solomon's corpse, causing
his death to be revealed.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Saba
description: A people or place with two gardens, later punished for ingratitude
and scattered.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Eblis
description: A being whose judgment about the people proves true and whom most follow,
except a remnant of the faithful.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: mountains and birds
description: Natural beings commanded to answer David's songs of praise.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: divine judge and omniscient lord
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: God is called the best of judges, possessor and knower of heaven and earth,
and the one who rewards, punishes, and gives boons.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: recipient of revelation
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The figure is commanded to follow what is revealed and is described in relation
to what has been sent down from his Lord.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: deniers of the Hour
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: They say the Hour will never come and challenge the message of restoration
after bodily destruction.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: rewarded righteous
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Those who believe and do right are promised pardon and noble provision.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: recognizers of revealed truth
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: They see that what has been sent down is truth and guidance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: divinely gifted king or servant
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: David receives divine gifts connected with praise and working iron.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: divinely empowered ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Solomon is given command over wind, molten brass, and Djinn laborers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: supernatural laborers lacking unseen knowledge
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The Djinn work for Solomon and later learn they did not know the unseen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:9
label: unwitting revealer of death
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The reptile's gnawing causes Solomon's staff to fall and reveals his death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: ungrateful recipients of provision
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Saba receives gardens and provision, turns aside, and is punished and scattered.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:11
label: adversarial influencer
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Eblis is followed by all except a faithful remnant.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: role:12
label: responsive natural chorus
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Mountains and birds are commanded to answer David's praise.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: the Hour
literal_form: The eschatological Hour denied by unbelievers and affirmed as coming.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: clear Book
literal_form: A clear Book in which nothing greater or less than a mote is absent.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: heaven and earth
literal_form: The heavens and the earth, described as God's possession and as domains
from which things descend, ascend, enter, and proceed.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: softened iron and coats of mail
literal_form: Iron made soft for David so that coats of mail with arranged plates
can be made.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: wind under Solomon
literal_form: Wind subjected to Solomon, traveling a month's journey in morning
and evening.
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: fountain of molten brass
literal_form: A flowing fountain of molten brass made for Solomon.
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: monumental works for Solomon
literal_form: Lofty halls, images, dishes large as camel-watering tanks, and firmly
standing cooking pots.
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:8
label: gnawed staff
literal_form: The staff supporting Solomon's corpse, gnawed by a reptile until it
falls.
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:9
label: two gardens of Saba
literal_form: Two gardens, one on the right hand and one on the left, associated
with divine provision.
associated_figures:
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:10
label: flood of Irem
literal_form: A flood sent after Saba turns aside.
associated_figures:
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs:
- water
- flood_and_renewal
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:11
label: bitter fruit, tamarisk, and jujube trees
literal_form: Vegetation replacing Saba's former gardens after the flood.
associated_figures:
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:12
label: flame
literal_form: The torment of the flame threatened for Djinn who swerve from God's
bidding.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Command to follow revelation until judgment
summary: The addressed recipient is instructed to follow revelation and persevere
until God judges.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Editorial cross-references to earlier traditions
summary: Notes cite biblical, rabbinic, midrashic, and Talmudic materials as comparisons
for details discussed in the surrounding text.
figure_refs: []
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Opening praise and divine knowledge
summary: God is praised as owner of heaven and earth and described as knowing all
movement into and out of earth and heaven.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Denial of the Hour and answer of resurrection and judgment
summary: Unbelievers deny the coming Hour and mock bodily restoration, while the
response affirms the Hour, divine knowledge, reward, punishment, and the truth
of revelation.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Threat of cosmic punishment
summary: The passage warns that God could sink people into the earth or make part
of heaven fall on them.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: David's divine boon
summary: David receives responsive mountains and birds and softened iron for making
armor, with an instruction to act righteously.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:7
label: Solomon's dominion and Djinn labor
summary: Solomon is given the wind, molten brass, and Djinn workers who construct
large and elevated objects for him by divine permission.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
- sym:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:8
label: Solomon's death revealed by the staff
summary: Solomon's corpse remains supported by a staff until a reptile gnaws it;
the fall reveals his death and the Djinn's ignorance of the unseen.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:9
label: Saba's gardens, ingratitude, flood, and scattering
summary: Saba is given two gardens and secure travel, but turns aside, receives
a flood that changes the gardens, asks for longer journeys, and is scattered.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
- sym:10
- sym:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: scene:10
label: Eblis followed except by a remnant
summary: Eblis is said to have judged truly about the people, and most follow him
except a faithful remnant.
figure_refs:
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Divine judgment with measured reward and punishment
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The passage repeatedly frames God as judge, affirms the Hour, promises reward
to believers, threatens painful torment, and describes retribution for Saba's
ingratitude.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The extraction treats judgment broadly across several contiguous units
rather than a single narrative episode.
- id: motif:2
label: Resurrection after bodily destruction
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
basis: Unbelievers mock the claim that people torn to pieces will be restored in
a new form, and the reply affirms the coming Hour.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage reports denial and affirmation of resurrection but does not
narrate an individual resurrection event.
- id: motif:3
label: Divine knowledge recorded beyond ordinary perception
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: God knows the unseen, nothing small or great escapes him, and all is in the
clear Book; those given knowledge recognize the revelation as truth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference 'wisdom' is broader than the explicit wording of
omniscience and recognized truth.
- id: motif:4
label: Divinely empowered royal mastery over nature and craft
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: David receives responsive mountains and birds and softened iron, while Solomon
receives the wind, molten brass, and Djinn laborers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents divine boons to rulers or prophetic figures; the
exact category 'royal_legitimacy' is interpretive and should be reviewed.
- id: motif:5
label: Hidden death disclosed by a small creature
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Solomon's death remains unknown until a reptile gnaws the staff supporting
his corpse, revealing his death to the Djinn.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family precisely matches this motif.
- id: motif:6
label: Flood as punishment for ingratitude
taxonomy_refs:
- flood_and_renewal
basis: Saba's turning aside is followed by the flood of Irem, the transformation
of its gardens, and explicit retribution for ingratitude.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage emphasizes punishment and ecological loss; renewal is not
explicit, so the supplied taxonomy label only partially fits.
- id: motif:7
label: Prosperity, ingratitude, and scattering
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Saba receives provision, is told to give thanks, turns aside, acts unjustly,
and is scattered as a sign for the patient and grateful.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The motif is inferred from the reciprocal pattern of provision, thanksgiving,
ingratitude, and retribution.
- id: motif:8
label: Adversarial being followed by the unfaithful majority
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Eblis is followed by all except a remnant of the faithful.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives only a brief statement, not a full temptation scene.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The editorial notes explicitly compare details in the surrounding Quranic
material with rabbinic, midrashic, Talmudic, and biblical traditions, including
Noah's preaching and a Pharaoh repentance/rescue legend.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Rabbinic, Midrashic, Talmudic, and biblical traditions cited in the notes
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This is an editor's note in the supplied passage, not an independent
historical-contact claim; some cited notes refer to material immediately preceding
Sura Saba rather than to the Saba narrative itself.
- id: claim:2
claim: The Saba episode fits a broad flood-as-divine-retribution pattern within
the supplied motif-family list.
claim_level: same_function
target: flood_and_renewal motif family
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage describes flood punishment and transformed gardens, but
it does not describe post-flood renewal.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: lines 16026-16027
quote_or_summary: The addressed recipient is told to follow what is revealed and
persevere until God judges, because God is the best of judges.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief quotation or summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: editorial notes within lines 16030-16073
quote_or_summary: Notes cite Genesis, rabbinic and midrashic sources, Sanhedrin,
2 Peter, and Pirke R. Eliezer in comparison with details such as Noah's preaching
and Pharaoh's repentance or deliverance.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: Sura XXXIV.SABA opening, vv. 1-2
quote_or_summary: God is praised as possessor of all in heaven and earth and as
knowing what enters and leaves the earth and what descends from and ascends to
heaven.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: Sura XXXIV.SABA, vv. 3-8
quote_or_summary: Unbelievers deny the Hour and mock restoration after bodily destruction;
the answer affirms the Hour, God's complete knowledge, reward for believers, punishment
for opponents, and the truth of revelation.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: Sura XXXIV.SABA, v. 9
quote_or_summary: The passage asks whether the deniers have contemplated heaven
and earth and says God could sink them into earth or cause part of heaven to fall
on them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: Sura XXXIV.SABA, v. 10
quote_or_summary: 'David receives a divine boon: mountains and birds answer his
praise, iron is softened for him, and he is instructed to make coats of mail and
work righteousness.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: Sura XXXIV.SABA, vv. 11-12
quote_or_summary: Solomon is given the wind, a fountain of molten brass, and Djinn
who work for him, making halls, images, large dishes, and cooking pots; disobedient
Djinn are threatened with flame.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: Sura XXXIV.SABA, v. 13
quote_or_summary: Solomon's death is shown only when a reptile of the earth gnaws
the staff supporting his corpse; when it falls, the Djinn realize they did not
know the unseen.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: Sura XXXIV.SABA, v. 14
quote_or_summary: Saba has two gardens, one on the right and one on the left, and
is told to eat from the Lord's supplies and give thanks.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: Sura XXXIV.SABA, vv. 15-16
quote_or_summary: After Saba turns aside, the flood of Irem is sent and the gardens
are changed into gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisk, and a few jujube trees; this
is described as retribution for ingratitude.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: Sura XXXIV.SABA, vv. 17-18
quote_or_summary: Cities and easy stages are set between Saba and blessed cities
for secure travel, but the people ask for longer distances, act unjustly, and
are scattered.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: Sura XXXIV.SABA, final line in supplied passage
quote_or_summary: Eblis finds his judgment about them true, and all except a faithful
remnant follow him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Literal extraction is strong for the Saba opening and its narrative units.
Motif mapping is more uncertain where supplied taxonomy labels are broad, especially
royal_legitimacy, sacred_exchange, and flood_and_renewal. Comparison claims rely
mainly on explicit editorial notes and one broad functional mapping.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-29'
notes: |-
No figures or taxonomy IDs beyond the supplied passage and available taxonomy list were added. The reptile that gnaws Solomon's staff was not mapped to 'serpent' because the passage does not identify it as a serpent.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg__l16026-l16159
passage_sha256=ad9a66c1468b8cc2c1e8abe06301b3deaffd24ac155eaed1953e37e3b6f01de0