batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l16297-l16428
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l16297-l16428
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 16297-16428
start: '16297'
end: '16428'
translation: The Koran (Al-Qur'an), Rodwell translation
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The passage introduces Sura XXXV, praising God as maker of heaven and earth
and sender of winged angels. It warns humans against deception by present life
and Satan, contrasts unbelievers with believers, presents natural phenomena as
signs of divine power, describes resurrection through the image of dead earth
revived by rain, affirms divine knowledge of human generation and lifespan, contrasts
God with powerless invoked gods, states individual moral responsibility and final
gathering, recalls earlier apostles and scriptures, and describes the revealed
Book as true and confirmatory of previous scriptures.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: God is described as maker of the heavens and earth and as employing angels
as envoys with two, three, and four wings.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: God's mercy is described as something He can open or withhold, and He is described
as nourishing humans with gifts from heaven and earth.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Satan is called a foe who calls his followers so that they may become inmates
of the flame.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Unbelievers are assigned terrible punishment, while believers and doers of
good works are assigned mercy and a great reward.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Winds raise clouds, clouds are driven to drought-dead land, and the earth
is given life after its death; this is explicitly linked to resurrection.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Humans are described as created from dust, then from germs of life, then made
into two sexes; conception, birth, aging, and lifespan are under divine knowledge
and the Book.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Two seas are contrasted as fresh and sweet versus salt and bitter; both yield
fish and ornaments, and ships move through their waters.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Night and day are described as entering upon one another, and the sun and
moon as journeying under laws to appointed goals.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: Gods invoked beside God are described as having no power over the husk of
a date stone and as unable to answer cries.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: A burdened soul is said not to bear the burden of another, even when close
kin are asked to carry it.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: Blind and seeing, darkness and light, shade and hot wind, and living and dead
are set in paired contrast.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: The speaker says the addressee is a bearer of good tidings and a warner, and
that no people has been unvisited by its warner.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:13
text: Earlier peoples are said to have treated apostles as liars, despite proofs,
scriptures, and an enlightening Book; unbelievers were then chastised.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:14
text: Water sent from heaven causes fruits of varied hues to grow; mountains, humans,
reptiles, and animals are also described as having varied hues.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:15
text: Those who recite the Book, observe prayer, and give alms are said to hope
for a merchandise that shall not perish and to receive wages and increase from
God.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:16
text: The revealed Book is described as truth and as confirmatory of previous Scriptures.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: God
description: Maker of the heavens and earth; source of mercy, guidance, nourishment,
judgment, creation, knowledge, and revelation.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Angels
description: 'Envoys employed by God, described with pairs of wings: two, three,
and four.'
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Humans / men
description: Addressed as recipients of divine favour, in need of God, and subject
to creation, moral responsibility, warning, and final gathering.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Satan / the Deceiver
description: A foe who deceives and calls followers toward the flame.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Unbelievers
description: Those who reject or treat messengers as liars and are assigned punishment
or chastisement.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:10
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Believers and doers of good works
description: Those assigned mercy, great reward, and recompense for recitation,
prayer, and almsgiving.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:12
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: The addressed messenger / warner
description: The addressee is described as sent with truth, as bearer of good tidings,
and as a warner.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Earlier apostles and warners
description: Previous apostles and warners sent to peoples before the addressee,
some treated as liars.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Gods invoked beside God
description: Beings invoked beside God, described as powerless, unable to hear or
answer, and as disowning association on the day of resurrection.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Knowledgeable servants
description: Servants possessed of knowledge who fear God.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
roles:
- id: role:1
label: creator
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: God is named maker of the heavens and earth and creator of humans from dust
and life-germs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: sustainer and provider
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: God nourishes humans with gifts of heaven and earth and sends water that
produces fruits.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:11
- id: role:3
label: judge and recompensor
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: God assigns punishment, mercy, reward, chastisement, wages, and final gathering.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:12
- id: role:4
label: revealer and confirmer of scripture
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Book revealed to the addressee is described as truth and confirmatory
of previous Scriptures.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: role:5
label: divine envoy
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Angels are explicitly called envoys employed by God.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:6
label: dependent moral recipients
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Humans are described as paupers in need of God and as subject to warning,
purity, and final gathering.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: foe and deceiver
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Satan is called a foe and the Deceiver who calls followers to the flame.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:8
label: rejecters subject to punishment
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Unbelievers are assigned terrible punishment, and earlier unbelievers who
rejected apostles are chastised.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:10
- id: role:9
label: rewarded faithful
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Believers and doers of good works receive mercy and reward; reciters, worshippers,
and almsgivers receive imperishable recompense.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:12
- id: role:10
label: warner and bearer of tidings
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: The addressee is called a bearer of good tidings and a warner, and every
people is said to have had a warner; earlier apostles came with proofs and scriptures.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:11
label: powerless false objects of invocation
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The invoked gods beside God are said to lack power and to be unable to answer
cries.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:12
label: knowers who fear God
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Only servants possessed of knowledge are said to fear God.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: winged angelic envoys
literal_form: Angels with pairs of wings, two, three, and four.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: dead land revived by clouds
literal_form: Winds, clouds, drought-dead land, and earth given life after death.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: dust and germs of life
literal_form: Human creation from dust and germs of life.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: two seas
literal_form: One sea fresh, sweet, and pleasant to drink; another salt and bitter;
both providing fish, ornaments, and ship routes.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: night and day, sun and moon
literal_form: Night entering day, day entering night, and sun and moon journeying
to appointed goals.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: husk of a date stone
literal_form: The husk of a date stone used as the measure over which invoked gods
have no power.
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: burdened soul
literal_form: A heavy-laden soul whose burden cannot be carried by another, even
near kin.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:8
label: paired contrasts
literal_form: Blind and seeing, darkness and light, shade and hot wind, living and
dead.
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:9
label: water from heaven and varied hues
literal_form: Heaven-sent water, fruits of varied hues, mountain tracks of white,
red, and raven black, and varied hues among living creatures.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:10
label: the Book
literal_form: The Book of God recited by the faithful and the revealed Book described
as truth confirming previous Scriptures.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: sym:11
label: imperishable merchandise
literal_form: A merchandise that shall not perish, associated with recitation, prayer,
and almsgiving.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: sym:12
label: flame
literal_form: The flame to which Satan calls his followers.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Praise of the creator and angelic envoys
summary: God is praised as maker of heaven and earth and as the one who employs
winged angels as envoys.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Warning against deception and Satan
summary: Humans are told that God's promise is true, warned not to be deceived,
and told that Satan is a foe who calls followers to the flame; unbelievers and
believers receive contrasting outcomes.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Revival of dead earth as resurrection sign
summary: God sends winds and clouds to drought-dead land, gives life to earth after
death, and the passage states that resurrection will be like this.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Human generation under divine knowledge
summary: Human creation from dust and life-germs, formation into two sexes, conception,
birth, aging, and lifespan are placed under divine knowledge and the Book.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Natural and cosmic signs of divine power
summary: The passage describes two unlike seas, ships, night and day, sun and moon,
and the powerlessness of invoked gods beside God.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:6
label: Individual responsibility and final gathering
summary: No burdened soul can carry another's burden; those who purify themselves
do so for their own benefit, and the final gathering is unto God.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:7
label: Contrasts and universal warning
summary: The passage contrasts blind and seeing, darkness and light, shade and hot
wind, living and dead; it presents the addressee as a warner and states that every
people has received a warner.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: scene:8
label: Earlier rejection of apostles
summary: Earlier peoples rejected apostles who came with proofs and scriptures,
and unbelievers were chastised.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: scene:9
label: Varied hues and knowledgeable fear
summary: Water from heaven produces varied fruits, mountains and creatures display
varied hues, and knowledgeable servants are said to fear God.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: scene:10
label: Recitation, prayer, alms, and confirmed revelation
summary: Those who recite the Book, pray, and give alms hope for imperishable merchandise
and receive wages from God; the revealed Book is called truth confirming previous
Scriptures.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:10
- sym:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Creator deity with winged envoys
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: God is praised as maker of heaven and earth and as employing angels with
multiple pairs of wings as envoys.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy list has no direct creator-deity or angelic-envoy
family; no taxonomy reference is assigned.
- id: motif:2
label: Dead earth revived as image of resurrection
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
- death_rebirth
basis: The passage describes clouds reviving drought-dead land and explicitly states,
'So shall be the resurrection.'
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The imagery is explicitly tied to resurrection in the passage; broader
agricultural or seasonal interpretations are not added beyond the text.
- id: motif:3
label: Divine judgment with reward and punishment
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Unbelievers receive terrible punishment, believers receive mercy and reward,
rejecting peoples are chastised, and the faithful receive wages and increase.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:10
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: The passage states recompense and chastisement but does not give a detailed
afterlife topography.
- id: motif:4
label: Moral and cosmic dualities
taxonomy_refs:
- duality
basis: The passage contrasts fresh and salt seas, night and day, blind and seeing,
darkness and light, shade and hot wind, living and dead, and unbelievers versus
believers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The contrasts serve exhortation and divine sign-reading; they are not
presented as equal opposing divine powers.
- id: motif:5
label: Powerless false gods versus sovereign God
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Invoked gods beside God are described as powerless, unable to hear or answer,
and as disowning association on the day of resurrection.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference is only approximate because the main passage emphasis
is divine sovereignty and polemic against false invocation, not only judgment.
- id: motif:6
label: Universal warner and rejected messengers
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The addressee is a bearer of good tidings and warner; every people has had
a warner; earlier apostles came with proofs and scriptures but were rejected.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy lacks a direct messenger-prophet motif; 'wisdom'
is used only for the scriptural instruction and warning function.
- id: motif:7
label: Revelatory Book and imperishable recompense
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
- sacred_exchange
basis: Recitation of the Book, prayer, and almsgiving are associated with imperishable
merchandise, wages, divine increase, and a revelation confirming previous Scriptures.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: "'Sacred exchange' is used cautiously because the passage uses commercial
language for divine recompense, not a negotiated ritual bargain."
- id: motif:8
label: Human creation from dust and life-germs
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: God is said to create humans from dust and germs of life, make them two sexes,
and know conception, birth, aging, and lifespan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference directly matches this creation motif.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage presents the addressee's warning and revelation as continuous
in function with earlier apostles, warners, scriptures, and previous Scriptures.
claim_level: same_function
target: Earlier apostles, warners, scriptures, and previous Scriptures mentioned
within the passage
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:12
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: This is an internal continuity claim from the passage itself, not an
external historical-contact claim or a comparison to named non-Qur'anic texts.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 16316-16322
quote_or_summary: Sura XXXV opens by praising God as maker of the heavens and earth
and as employing angels as envoys with two, three, and four wings.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 16323-16331
quote_or_summary: God's mercy can be opened or withheld; humans are told to remember
God's favour and that no creator other than God nourishes them with gifts of heaven
and earth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 16337-16350
quote_or_summary: The passage warns that God's promise is true, names Satan as a
foe and deceiver who calls followers to the flame, and contrasts punishment for
unbelievers with mercy and reward for believers and doers of good works.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: lines 16355-16358
quote_or_summary: God sends winds that raise clouds and drives them to drought-dead
land, giving life to the earth after its death; the passage adds, 'So shall be
the resurrection.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief quotation included.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 16364-16368
quote_or_summary: God creates humans from dust and germs of life, makes them two
sexes, and knows female conception, birth, aging, and lifespan according to the
Book.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 16370-16374
quote_or_summary: 'Two seas are unlike: one fresh and sweet, the other salt and
bitter; both provide fish and ornaments, and ships cleave their waters in search
of divine bounties.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 16376-16384
quote_or_summary: Night and day enter upon one another, sun and moon journey to
appointed goals, and gods called upon beside God have no power over the husk of
a date stone, cannot answer cries, and will disown association on the day of resurrection.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 16386-16394
quote_or_summary: Humans are in need of God; a burdened soul cannot bear another's
burden or have it carried even by near kin; purification benefits the self, and
the final gathering is unto God.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 16396-16404
quote_or_summary: Blind and seeing, darkness and light, shade and hot wind, living
and dead are contrasted; the addressee is charged only with warning, sent with
truth as bearer of good tidings and warner, and every people has had a warner.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 16405-16410
quote_or_summary: Earlier peoples treated apostles as liars despite proofs, scriptures,
and an enlightening Book; God then chastised the unbelievers.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 16412-16418
quote_or_summary: God sends water from heaven causing fruits of varied hues; mountains
have tracks of varied hues, including white, red, and raven black; humans, reptiles,
and animals also vary in hue, and knowledgeable servants fear God.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 16420-16428
quote_or_summary: Those who recite the Book, pray, and give alms publicly and privately
may hope for imperishable merchandise; God pays their wages and increases them,
and the revealed Book is truth confirming previous Scriptures.
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: Extraction is based directly on the supplied passage. Motif taxonomy assignment
is strongest where the passage explicitly names resurrection, judgment, or dual
contrasts; other assignments are cautious because the available taxonomy list
lacks direct labels for some Qur'anic themes such as prophethood, revelation,
and creation.
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 external sources were used. Footnotes at the start of the passage were not treated as mythic narrative except where they supplied context, and no motif claims were derived from them.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg__l16297-l16428
passage_sha256=2b39474bae117037784c4acacc4697dfa6282a32be8427511cf9510bbc68bcff